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Jan 4, 2021 · For nearly a century, rhythm and blues (R&B) and its later offspring, soul, have provided a soundtrack for the everyday hardships and joys of life in the American experience. In this article, we’ll explore the roots of these genres, and take a look at some of the most influential R&B and soul artists of all time.
- 1920s – 1940s: Jazz and Blues
- 1950s and 60s: The Golden Age of R&B
- 1970s and 80s: Funk, Disco and New Jack Swing
- Mainstream Contemporary R&B, Hip Hop Soul and Neo-Soul
The origins of R&B can be traced back to the Jazz and Blues of the 1920s and 30s. When African American musicians were performing a mixture of Blues, Jazz, and Gospel music in the clubs and juke joints of the South. Singers like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, sang about the hardships of life and the struggle for civil rights. Their music was raw, emot...
The contemporary sound of R&B really started to take shape in the 1950s and 60s. Crucially, during this time was the rise of doo-wop, a vocal style that relied heavily on harmonies and falsetto singing. Doo-wop groups like The Drifters and The Platters had a string of hits during this time and helped to popularize the sound of R&B. Soul music also ...
In the 1970s, R&B took a turn towards Funk. Credited as an invention of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, Funk emphasises rhythm and groove over melody. It’s characterised by heavy bass lines and percussion-led rhythms, rather than melody and chord progression. This combination gives the music a distinctly danceable, infectious feel. Importantly,...
With the popularity of New Jack Swing, came a mainstream sound in 90s R&B that heavily leaned into contemporary Hip Hop production. Dominated by the likes of TLC, then Puff Daddy and his Bad Boy label signees, Faith Evans, 112 and Mary J Blige. The term ‘Hip Hop Soul’ was originally used to describe this sound. In the late 1990s, R&B saw the emerge...
R&B music, or Rhythm and Blues, is a musical art form that arose in urban communities such as Baltimore and Washington DC after World War II.
Feb 25, 2024 · Fueled by Jazz’s improvisational nature and Blues’ emotional depth, these two influential music genres created a dynamic platform for the birth of R&B. The soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics reflected the experiences, struggles, hopes, and dreams of their creators.
- R&B music has its roots in African American musical traditions such as gospel, jazz, and blues. It emerged during the early 20th century and was in...
- Over time, R&B music evolved to incorporate elements of rock and roll, funk, soul, disco, hip hop, and electronic music. These influences led to va...
- Some influential artists in the evolution of R&B include Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Beyoncé...
- Contemporary R&B often incorporates elements from other genres like pop or electronic music and embraces modern production techniques. It tends to...
Jun 12, 2023 · R&B began with the soulful croonings of Sam Cooke, Etta James, and others and continues to The Weekend and Chris Brown. Today, the genre is referred to as Contemporary R&B. This term differentiates modern R&B pop, funk, and rap fusions from the earlier, more soulful and spiritual sounds of R&B.
Feb 25, 2018 · Soul music is a combination of R&B (Rhythm and Blues) and gospel music and began in the late 1950s in the United States. While Soul has a lot in common with R&B, its differences include its use of gospel-music devices, its greater emphasis on vocalists, and its merging of religious and secular themes.
R&B/SOUL Doo-wop, Motown, contemporary R&B. Origins: 1960s. BOOKS Where Did Our Love Go? The Rise & Fall of the Motown Sound by Nelson George,...
