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'''Rhythm and blues''' (abbr. ''R&B ''or ''RnB'') a catchall term invented for industry convenience, originally used in the 1940's by record companies to categorize recordings targeted for urban ''African Americans''. These works incorporated rocking, jazz based music with a heavy pounding beat, expressing African-American experiences of pain in the struggle for freedom and joy.
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'''Rhythm and Blues''', often abbreviated '''R&B''' or '''R'n'B''', is a [[music]] [[genre]] that originated in the 1940s. It originally applied to an upbeat form of the [[blues]] which was becoming increasingly popular among black Americans living in northern cities such as [[Chicago]] and [[St Louis]]. A typical R&B act in the 1950s thru the 1970s consisted of a vocalist (usually with background support), piano, one or more guitars, bass, drums, and (sometimes) saxophone. Lyrics are generally blues-orientated and reflect passions of pain, joy and other emotions. Largely due to [[Chuck Berry]], R&B became almost synonymous with [[Rock 'n' Roll]] in the 1950s and the term became used in a wider context to include styles like [[electric blues]], [[gospel music|gospel]] and [[soul music|soul]].


A typical commercial rhythm and blues music lineup from the 1950s through the 1970s usually consisted of piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, saxophone, and sometimes background vocalists. R&B lyrics focused heavily on the themes of freedom, poverty, aspirations, and sex, the singers usually strive to remain emotionally detached and "cool", the bands dressed in suits, even uniforms, and the music typically followed repetitious stock sequences of chords and structure.
In the early 1960s, R&B became very popular in Great Britain where bands like [[The Rolling Stones]], [[The Who]] and [[The Animals]] became famous exponents. The genre has continued to evolve through the following decades and there are now sub-genres including [[funk]], [[disco]], [[hip hop music|hip hop]], and [[electronic music]].


In the 1970s, RnB was used as a catchall term for soul and funk, referring to any music that was made by and for black Americans. In the 80s, a newer styles of R&B emerged. Termed "Contemporary R&B", it combined elements of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, pop, hip hop and dance. Contemporary R&B vocalists include Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
Besides the above, famous R&B and soul performers include [[Louis Jordan]], [[Howling Wolf]], [[Muddy Waters]], [[Fats Domino]], [[Little Richard]], [[Bo Diddley]], [[James Brown]], [[Ray Charles]], [[Ruth Brown]], [[Etta James]], [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Mariah Carey]] and [[Whitney Houston]].

Revision as of 15:42, 26 May 2023

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Rhythm and Blues, often abbreviated R&B or R'n'B, is a music genre that originated in the 1940s. It originally applied to an upbeat form of the blues which was becoming increasingly popular among black Americans living in northern cities such as Chicago and St Louis. A typical R&B act in the 1950s thru the 1970s consisted of a vocalist (usually with background support), piano, one or more guitars, bass, drums, and (sometimes) saxophone. Lyrics are generally blues-orientated and reflect passions of pain, joy and other emotions. Largely due to Chuck Berry, R&B became almost synonymous with Rock 'n' Roll in the 1950s and the term became used in a wider context to include styles like electric blues, gospel and soul.

In the early 1960s, R&B became very popular in Great Britain where bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Animals became famous exponents. The genre has continued to evolve through the following decades and there are now sub-genres including funk, disco, hip hop, and electronic music.

Besides the above, famous R&B and soul performers include Louis Jordan, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, James Brown, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Etta James, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.