Rhythm and blues
A genre originating in African American communities in the 1940s.
Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within African American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to African Americans, at a time when 'rocking, jazz based music ... [with a] heavy, insistent beat' was starting to become more popular. The genre has undergone a number of shifts in meaning, from its early application to blues records to its later use as a blanket term for soul and funk, and eventually to contemporary R&B in the late 1980s.
- origin
- African American communities, 1940s
- field
- Popular music
- key_figure
- Jerry Wexler (credited with coining the term in 1948)
- predecessor_term
- Race music
- typical_instruments
- Piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, saxophone, sometimes background vocalists
- notable_early_artists
- Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Roy Brown, Wynonie Harris
Lore & Background
Rhythm and blues originated in the 1940s, with precursors coming from jazz and blues that overlapped in the late 1920s and 1930s through musicians such as the Harlem Hamfats, Lonnie Johnson, and Cab Calloway. The great migration of Black Americans to urban industrial centers in the 1920s and 1930s created a new market for these genres. In 1948, RCA Victor marketed black music under the name 'Blues and Rhythm,' and Louis Jordan dominated the R&B charts with songs based on boogie-woogie rhythms. The term 'rhythm and blues' replaced the Billboard category Harlem Hit Parade in 1949.
Reader's Guide
Rhythm and blues is significant as a foundational genre that contributed to the development of rock and roll in the mid-1950s. It encapsulated the African American experience of pain, freedom, joy, and aspirations, often addressing societal racism, oppression, and relationships. The term itself replaced the derogatory 'race music' and was used by Billboard from June 1949 until August 1969, when its chart was renamed 'Best Selling Soul Singles.' Over decades, R&B evolved to encompass soul, funk, disco, and contemporary R&B, reflecting shifts in production, audience, and industry marketing. The genre's typical band instrumentation and rehearsed arrangements created mellow, lilting textures, while lyrics often followed predictable chord patterns. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame defines originators such as Louis Jordan, Joe Turner, James Brown, and LaVern Baker as cornerstones of R&B and its transformation into rock and roll.
Did You Know?
- Jerry Wexler of Billboard magazine is credited with coining the term 'rhythm and blues' in 1948, though the term had been used in Billboard as early as 1943.
- The term 'rhythm and blues' replaced the common term 'race music,' which was coined by Okeh producer Ralph Peer.
- In the late 1980s, a newer style of R&B developed, known as 'contemporary R&B,' combining rhythm and blues with elements of jazz, soul, funk, disco, blues, and electronic music.
- The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame defines Louis Jordan and Big Joe Turner as laying the foundation for R&B in the 1940s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rhythm and blues and where did it originate?
R&B is a popular music genre that emerged from African American communities during the 1940s. It grew out of blues and jazz traditions, characterized by a driving, insistent beat that resonated with Black audiences of that era.
Who is credited with coining the term 'Rhythm and blues'?
Jerry Wexler, a record industry figure, is generally credited with popularizing the label in 1948. He used it as a marketing replacement for the older, now-outdated term 'race music' to describe records sold primarily to Black listeners.
What instruments typically define the early R&B sound?
The classic R&B lineup centers on piano, one or two guitars, bass, and drums, often joined by a saxophone and background vocalists. This ensemble gave the genre its punchy, danceable groove that set it apart from earlier jazz ensembles.
Who are some of the most notable early R&B artists?
Pioneers like Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Roy Brown, and Wynonie Harris helped define the genre's early sound in the late 1940s and into the 1950s. Their recordings established the energetic, beat-driven template that later soul and funk artists would build upon.
How has the meaning of 'R&B' shifted over the decades?
Originally applied to blues-based records, the label later expanded to encompass soul and funk in the 1960s and 1970s. By the late 1980s, 'contemporary R&B' came to describe a smoother, pop-influenced style quite distinct from the genre's gritty 1940s roots.
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