Rhythm and blues (also known as R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences, first performed by African American artists. The electric blues is a type of Blues music distinguished by the amplification of the Guitar, the Bass guitar, and/or the Harmonica Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the A harmonica is a free reed Wind instrument which is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes (reed chambers or The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind A drum kit (also drum set or trap set) is a collection of Drums Cymbals and sometimes other Percussion instruments such as cowbells The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The organ (from Greek όργανον – organon "organ instrument tool" is a Keyboard instrument of one or more divisions each An electronic keyboard or digital keyboard is a type of Keyboard instrument. Contemporary R&B (also known as R&B, urban) is a Music genre of western Popular music (predominantly American and Canadian Reggae is a Music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s Ska ( pronounced /ska/ or in Jamaican Patois /skja/ is a Music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and which was the precursor Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Doo-wop is a style of vocal-based Rhythm and blues music which developed in African-American communities in the 1940s and which achieved mainstream popularity both in the 1950s Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of Rock and roll music and emerged in the early 1950s Popular music is Music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more A genre (ˈʒɑːnrə also /ˈdʒɑːnrə/ from French "kind" or "sort" from Latin: genus (stem gener-) is a loose set Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa It is now performed worldwide by people of many cultures and ethnic groups.

Writer/producer Robert Palmer defined "rhythm & blues as a catchall term referring to any music that was made by and for black Americans. Robert Franklin Palmer Jr ( June 19, 1945 &ndash November 20, 1997) was a 20th century American writer Musicologist, "^[1] He has used the term R&B as a synonym for jump blues. Jump blues is a type of Up-tempo Blues music influenced by Big band sound ^[2] Lawrence Cohn, author of Nothing but the Blues, writes that rhythm and blues was an umbrella term invented for industry convenience. An umbrella term is a word that provides a Superset or grouping of related concepts also called a Hypernym. 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. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Religious music (also sacred music) is Music performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence ^[3]

Late 1940s

In 1947, the term rhythm and blues was coined as a musical marketing term in the United States by Jerry Wexler of Billboard magazine. In popular usage "marketing" is the promotion of products especially Advertising and Branding However in professional usage the term has a wider meaning of The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Gerald "Jerry" Wexler ( January 10 1917 &ndash August 15 2008) was a music journalist turned music producer and was regarded See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry ^[4] It replaced the term race music, which originally came from within the black community, but was deemed offensive in the postwar world. African American music (also called black music) is an umbrella term given to a range of Music and Musical genres emerging from or influenced by the The term black people usually refers to a racial group of Humans with dark Skin color, but the term has also been used to categorise a number of diverse ^[5] In that year, Louis Jordan dominated the top five listings of the R&B charts with three songs, and two of the top five songs were based on the boogie-woogie rhythms that had come to prominence during the 1940s. Louis Jordan ( July 8, 1908 – February 4, 1975) was a pioneering American Jazz, Blues and Rhythm & blues Boogie-woogie is a style of Piano -based Blues that became very popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s but originated much earlier and was extended from piano ^[6]

Jordan's band, the Tympany Five (formed in 1938), consisted of him on saxophone and vocals, along with musicians on trumpet, tenor saxophone, piano, bass and drums. Tympany Five was a successful Rhythm and blues and Jazz dance band founded by Louis Jordan in 1938 ^[7]Lawrence Cohn described the music as "grittier than his boogie-era jazz-tinged blues". ^[8] Robert Palmer described it as "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a heavy, insistent beat". ^[9] Jordan's cool music, along with that of Big Joe Turner, Roy Brown, Billy Wright, and Wynonie Harris, is now also referred to as jump blues. For the Ice hockey player see Joe Turner Big Joe Turner (born Joseph Vernon Turner Jr Roy Brown may refer to Roy Brown (Montana politician, Montana state Senator and gubernatorial candidate Roy Brown (Manitoba politician Billy Wright can refer to Billy Wright (footballer, Wolverhampton Wanderers and England football captain Billy Wright (footballer born 1958 Wynonie "Mr Blues" Harris ( August 24, 1915 - June 14, 1969) born in Omaha Nebraska, was an American Blues Jump blues is a type of Up-tempo Blues music influenced by Big band sound

In 1948, RCA Victor was marketing black music under the name Blues and Rhythm. RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. That year found the Wynonie Harris remake of Roy Brown's original 1947 recording "Good Rockin' Tonight" in the #2 spot, following band leader Sonny Thompson's "Long Gone" at #1. For the television show see Good Rockin' Tonite. " Good Rocking Tonight " was originally a Jump blues song released in 1947 by Sonny Thompson (b August 22 1923 Centreville Mississippi - d August 11 1989 Chicago) was an American R&B bandleader and pianist popular in the 1940s and ^[10][11]

In 1949, the term rhythm and blues replaced the Billboard category Harlem Hit Parade. ^[3] Also in that year, "The Huckle-Buck", recorded by band leader and saxophonist Paul Williams, was the #1 R&B tune, remaining on top of the charts for nearly the entire year. Paul Williams (1915 – 2002 was an American Blues and Rhythm and blues Saxophonist and Composer. Written by musician and arranger Andy Gibson, the song was described as a "dirty boogie" because it was risque and raunchy. ^[12] Paul Williams and His Hucklebuckers' concerts were sweaty riotous affairs that got shut down on more than one occasion. Their lyrics, by Roy Alfred (who later co-wrote the 1955 hit "(The) Rock and Roll Waltz"), were mildly sexually suggestive, and one teenager from Philadelphia said "That Hucklebuck was a very nasty dance. "^[13][14] Also in 1949, a new version of a 1920s blues song, "Ain't Nobody's Business" was a #4 hit for Jimmy Witherspoon, and Louis Jordan and the Tympany Five once again made the top 5 with "Saturday Night Fish Fry". "Ain't Nobody's Business" is a Blues standard, an Eight-bar blues written in the 1920s by Pianist Porter Grainger, who had been Jimmy Witherspoon ( August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American Blues singer " Saturday Night Fish Fry " is a Popular song, best known through the version recorded by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. ^[15]

Early to mid 1950s

Working with African American musicians, Greek American Johnny Otis, who had signed with the Newark, New Jersey-based Savoy Records, produced many R&B hits in 1951, including: "Double Crossing Blues", "Mistrustin' Blues" and "Cupid's Boogie", all of which hit number one that year. A Greek American (Ελληνοαμερικανοί Ellinoamerikani) is a citizen of the United States, who is of Greek heritage or origin Johnny Otis (born John Alexander Veliotes on December 29, 1921 in Vallejo California) is an American Blues Newark is the largest city in New Jersey, United States and the County seat of Essex County. Savoy Records is the name of a US jazz Record label. Starting in the mid 1940s Savoy played an important part in popularizing Bebop. Otis scored ten top ten hits that year. Other hits include: "Gee Baby", "Mambo Boogie" and "All Nite Long". ^[16] The Clovers, a vocal trio who sang a distinctive sounding combination of blues and gospel, had the #5 hit of the year with "Don't You Know I Love You" on Atlantic Records. The Clovers are an American Rhythm & blues group History The group formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in Washington D Atlantic Records ( Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American Record label best known for its many recordings of Rhythm & blues, Rock ^[17][18][19] Also in July 1951, Cleveland, Ohio DJ Alan Freed started a late-night radio show called "The Moondog Rock Roll House Party" on WJW-AM (850). Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state Alan Freed (December 15 1921 &ndash January 20 1965 also known as Moondog, was an American Disc-jockey who became WKNR is an AM all-sports station in Cleveland Ohio, broadcasting at 850 kHz with its transmitter in North Royalton Ohio and ^[20] Freed's show was sponsored by Fred Mintz, whose R&B record store had a primarily African American clientele. Freed began referring to the rhythm and blues music he played as rock and roll. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African

Ruth Brown, on the Atlantic Records label, placed hits in the top 5 every year from 1951 through 1954: "Teardrops from My Eyes", "Five, Ten, Fifteen Hours", "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" and "What a Dream". Ruth Brown ( January 12 1928 &ndash November 17 2006) was an American R&B Singer, and actress noted for Atlantic Records ( Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American Record label best known for its many recordings of Rhythm & blues, Rock " Teardrops from My Eyes " written by Rudy Toombs, was the first upbeat major hit for Ruth Brown, establishing her as an important figure in Rhythm and " What a Dream " is a popular song It was written by Chuck Willis and was published in 1954. Faye Adams‘s "Shake a Hand" made it to #2 in 1952. Faye Adams (born Faye Tuell, Circa 1923/1925 Newark New Jersey) is an American Vocalist. In 1953, the R&B record-buying public made Willie Mae Thornton's original recording of Leiber and Stoller's Hound Dog the #3 hit that year. Willie Mae ("Big Mama" Thornton ( December 11, 1926 &ndash July 25, 1984) was an American Texas blues, Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (born April 25, 1933) and Mike Stoller (born March 13, 1933) are among the most influential ^[21] That same year The Orioles, a doo-wop group, had the #4 hit of the year with Crying in the Chapel. The Orioles were a successful and highly influential American R&B group of the late 1940s and early 1950s one of the earliest such vocal bands who established Doo-wop is a style of vocal-based Rhythm and blues music which developed in African-American communities in the 1940s and which achieved mainstream popularity both in the 1950s " Crying in the Chapel " was a song written by Artie Glenn for his son Darrell to sing ^[22]

In 1954 The Chords' "Sh-Boom" became the first hit to cross over from the R&B chart to hit the top 10 early in the year. The Chords were a 1970s British group commonly associated with the Mod revival, who had several hits in their homeland before the decline of the trend brought about their " Sh-Boom " (sometimes referred to as " Life Could Be a Dream " is widely considered to be the first popular Doo-Wop song Late in the year, and into 1955, "Hearts of Stone" by The Charms made the top 20. For the Southside Johnny album see Hearts of Stone (Asbury Jukes. The Charms were a rock band from Somerville Massachusetts. The band consisted of members Ellie Vee Joe Wizda Mark Nigro and Jason Meeker ^[23]

Mid to late 1950s

Fats Domino made the top 30 of the pop charts in 1952 and 1953, then the top 10 with "Ain't That a Shame". Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino (born February 26, 1928 in New Orleans Louisiana) is a classic R&B and Rock and roll "After "Ain't It a Shame" mainstream artists began covering Domino's songs ^[24] Ray Charles came to national prominence in 1955 with "I Got a Woman". Ray Charles Robinson ( September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) known by his Stage name Ray Charles, was an American " I Got a Woman " was a career-defining song for American R&B musician Ray Charles when released as a single in December of 1954. It was an upfront use of gospel music conventions in an R&B context. Big Bill Broonzy said of Charles' music: "He's mixing the blues with the spirituals. Big Bill Broonzy ( 26 June 1898 &ndash 14 August 1958) was a prolific American Blues Singer, songwriter . . I know that's wrong. "^[25] At the urging of Leonard Chess at Chess Records, Chuck Berry had reworked a fiddle tune with a long history, "Ida Red". Leonard Chess ( March 12, 1917 - October 16, 1969) was a record company executive founder of Chess Records. Chess Records was an American Record label based in Chicago Illinois. Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18 1926 in St "Ida Red" is an American traditional song of unknown origins The resulting "Maybellene" was not only a #3 hit on the R&B charts that year, but it also reached into the top 30 on the pop charts. " Maybellene " is a song by Chuck Berry that tells the story of a Hot rod race and a broken romance Alan Freed, who had moved to the much larger market of New York City, helped the record become popular with white teenagers. The City of New York White People is the second album by Handsome Boy Modeling School. Freed had been given part of the writers' credit by Chess in return for his promotional activities; a common practice at the time. ^[26] Also at Chess Records in 1955, Bo Diddley's debut record "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" climbed to #2 on the R&B charts and popularized the Bo Diddley beat. Bo Diddley ( December 30 1928 &ndash June 2 2008, born Ellas Otha Bates) was an original and influential American " Bo Diddley " is a Rhythm and blues song first recorded and sung by Bo Diddley at the Universal Recording Studio in Chicago and released Bo Diddley ( December 30 1928 &ndash June 2 2008, born Ellas Otha Bates) was an original and influential American

In 1956 an R&B "Top Stars of '56" tour took place. With headliners Al Hibbler, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, and Carl Perkins, whose "Blue Suede Shoes" was very popular with R&B music buyers. Al Hibbler ( August 16, 1915 - April 24, 2001) was a vocalist with several pop hits Franklin Joseph "Frankie" Lymon ( September 30, 1942 &ndash February 27, 1968) was an African-American Rock and Carl Lee Perkins ( April 9, 1932 &ndash January 19, 1998) was an American pioneer of Rockabilly music a mix of Rhythm " Blue Suede Shoes " is a Rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. Some of the performers completing the bill were Chuck Berry, Cathy Carr, Shirley & Lee, Della Reese, the Cleftones, and the Spaniels with Illinois Jacquet's "Big Rockin' Rhythm Nand. Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18 1926 in St Cities visited by the tour included Columbia, SC, Annapolis, MD, Pittsburgh, PA, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, NY, into Canada, and through the mid Western US ending in Texas. In Columbia the concert ended with a near riot as Perkins began his first song as the closing act. Perkins is quoted as saying, "It was dangerous. Lot of kids got hurt. There was a lot of rioting going on, just crazy, man! The music drove 'em insane. " In Annapolis 70,000 to 50,000 people tried to attend a sold out performance with 8,000 seats. Roads were clogged for seven hours. ^[27]

Two Elvis Presley records made the R&B top five in 1957: "Jailhouse Rock"/"Treat Me Nice" at #1, and "All Shook Up" at #5, an unprecedented acceptance of a non-African American artist into a music category known for being created by blacks. " All Shook Up " is one of the many hit songs of Elvis Presley. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa ^[28] Nat King Cole, a former jazz pianist who had had #1 and #2 hits on the pop charts in the early 1950s ("Mona Lisa" at #2 in 1950 and "Too Young" at #1 in 1951), had a record in the top 5 in the R&B charts in 1958, "Looking Back"/"Do I Like It". Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17 1919 &ndash February 15 1965 known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States " Mona Lisa " is an Academy Award-winning song written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for the Paramount Pictures film " Too Young " is a popular Song.The music was written by Sidney Lippman, the lyrics by Sylvia Dee.

In 1959, two black-owned record labels, one of which would become hugely successful, made their debut: Sam Cooke's Sar, and Berry Gordy's Motown Records. "Motown" redirects here For the city see Detroit Michigan. ^[29] Brook Benton was at the top of the R&B charts in 1959 and 1960 with one #1 and two #2 hits. Brook Benton ( 19 September 1931 — 9 April 1988) was an American Singer and Songwriter who was popular Benton had a certain warmth in his voice that attracted a wide variety of listeners, and his ballads led to comparisons with performers such as Cole, Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17 1919 &ndash February 15 1965 known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto; August 3 1926) is an American Singer of popular music, standards ^[30]

1960s- Present

Sam Cooke‘s #5 hit "Chain Gang" is indicative of R&B in 1960, as is Chubby Checker's #5 hit "The Twist". Sam Cooke ( January 22, 1931 &ndash December 11, 1964) was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and This article is about Sam Cooke's " Chain Gang " To see other uses see Chain gang (disambiguation. Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans on October 3, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter best known for popularizing the The Twist " The Twist " is a Twelve bar blues song that gave birth to the Twist Dance craze. ^[31][32] By the early 1960s, the music industry category previously known as rhythm and blues was being called soul music, and similar music by white artists was labeled blue eyed soul. Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. Blue-eyed soul (also known as white soul) is a term used to describe R&B or Soul music performed by white artists ^[33]

Motown had its first million-selling single in 1960 with The Miracles' "Shop Around". The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is an American Rhythm and blues group from Detroit Michigan, notable " Shop Around " is a 1960 single by The Miracles (credited as "The Miracles featuring Bill 'Smokey' Robinson " for the Tamla ( ^[34] In 1961, Stax Records had its first hit with Carla Thomas' pop-influenced "Gee Whiz! (Look at His Eyes), which featured violins, piano, drums and backup singers. Stax Records is an American record label founded in 1957 originally based out of Memphis Tennessee. Carla Thomas (born December 21 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee) is often referred to as the Queen of Memphis Soul. " ^[35] Its next major hit, the Mar-Keys' instrumental "Last Night", was released the same year. The Mar-Keys, formed in 1958 were a studio session band for the Stax label from Memphis Tennessee in the 1960s " Last Night " is an Instrumental recorded by The Mar-Keys. "Last Night" introduced the rawer Memphis soul sound, built around horns, electric organs, guitars, and drums, which became the sound the Stax would be most noted for. Memphis soul is stylish funky, uptown Soul music that is not as hard edged as Southern soul. ^[36]

By the 1970s, the term rhythm and blues was being used as a blanket term to describe soul and funk. A blanket term is a word or Phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul In the 2000s, the initialism R&B is almost always used instead of the full rhythm and blues, and mainstream use of the term usually refers to contemporary R&B, which is a modern version of soul and funk-influenced pop music that originated as disco faded from popularity. Acronyms, initialisms, and alphabetisms are Abbreviations that are formed using the initial components in a phrase or name Contemporary R&B (also known as R&B, urban) is a Music genre of western Popular music (predominantly American and Canadian Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Disco is a Genre of dance-oriented music whose origins are hard to define

References