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Play all. Shuffle. Contemporary R&B (commonly referred to as simply R&B) is a music genre that combines rhythm and blues with elements of pop, soul, funk, hip hop and electroni...
Feb 25, 2024 · February 25, 2024 by The Guitar Guy. The History of R&B Music: From Roots to Contemporary Sounds. Have you ever wondered about the roots and evolution of R&B music, from its golden age to contemporary sounds? As an avid music enthusiast, I’ve always been intrigued by this genre’s rich history and diversity. Table of Contents.
- 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...
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Oct 18, 2023 · Oct 18, 2023. Credit: Photo by israel palacio on Unsplash. Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated as R&B, has undergone a remarkable evolution over the past 70+ years, transforming African American...
Contemporary R&B (or simply R&B) is a popular music genre that combines rhythm and blues with elements of pop, soul, funk, hip hop, and electronic music. The genre features a distinctive record production style and a smooth, lush style of vocal arrangement.
- Late 1970s and early 1980s, North America
Jan 30, 2024 · Contemporary R&B came to the mainstream in this decade, melding classic R&B elements with increased use of electronic instruments, smooth production techniques, and influences from pop, funk, rock, and hip-hop.