Rhythm and blues

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Rhythm and blues (disambiguation). "R&B" redirects here. For the modern style of music also called "R&B", see Contemporary R&B.

Rhythm and blues

Stylistic origins

Jazz, blues (especially jump andelectric), gospel

Cultural origins

1940s1950s, United States

Typical instruments

Drum kit, bass guitar, saxophone,horns, piano, organ, electric guitar, vocals, background vocals

Derivative forms

Funk, ska, soul, rock and roll,reggae, disco, beat music, power pop, psychedelic rock, garage rock, pub rock (UK), mod revival

Subgenres

Contemporary R&B Smooth jazz

Fusion genres

Rockabilly

Local scenes

New Orleans R&B British R&B

Other topics

List of R&B musicians, British Invasion, Mod (lifestyle)

Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B and RnB, is a genre of popular African-American music that originated in the 1940s.[1] The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a heavy, insistent beat" was becoming more popular.[2] The term has subsequently had a number of shifts in meaning. In the early 1950s, the term rhythm and blues was frequently applied toblues records.[3] Starting in the mid-1950s, after this style of music contributed to the development of rock and roll, the term "R&B" became used to refer to music styles that developed from and incorporated electric blues, as well as gospel and soul music. By the 1970s, rhythm and blues was used as a blanket term for soul and funk. In the 1980s, a newer style of R&B developed, becoming known as "Contemporary R&B".
Contents
[hide]

1 Etymology 2 History

o o o o o o

2.1 Precursors 2.2 Late 1940s 2.3 Afro-Cuban rhythmic influence 2.4 Early to mid-1950s 2.5 Late 1950s 2.6 1960s and later

3 British rhythm and blues 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading

Etymology[edit source | editbeta]

Jerry Wexler of Billboard magazine coined the term "rhythm and blues" in 1948 as a musical term in the United States.[4] It replaced the term "race music", which originally came from within the black community, but was deemed offensive in the postwar world.[5][6] The term "rhythm and blues" was used

by Billboard in its chart listings from June 1949 until August 1969, when its "Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles" chart was renamed as "Best Selling Soul Singles".[7] Writer/producer Robert Palmer defined rhythm & blues as "a catchall term referring to any music that was made by and for black Americans".[8] He has used the term "R&B" as a synonym for jump blues.[9] However, Allmusic separates it from jump blues because of its stronger, gospel-esque backbeat.[10] Lawrence Cohn, author of Nothing but the Blues, writes that "rhythm and blues" was an umbrella term invented for industry convenience. According to him, the term embraced all black music except classical music and religious music, unless a gospel song sold enough to break into the charts.[11] Well into the 21st century, the term R&B continues in use (in some contexts) to categorize music made by black musicians, as distinct from styles of music made by other musicians. [12] In the commercial rhythm and blues music typical of the 1950s through the 1970s, the bands usually consisted of piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, and saxophone. Arrangements were rehearsed to the point of effortlessness and were sometimes accompanied by background vocalists. Simple repetitive parts mesh, creating momentum and rhythmic interplay producing mellow, lilting, and often hypnotic textures while calling attention to no individual sound. While singers are emotionally engaged with the lyrics, often intensely so, they remain cool, relaxed, and in control. The bands dressed in suits, and even uniforms, a practice associated with the modern popular music that rhythm and blues performers aspired to dominate. Lyrics often seemed fatalistic, and the music typically followed predictable patterns of chords and structure.[13]

History