R&B developed as a result of the Great Migration of rural Southern African American families to urban areas during the 1920s and 1930s, when record producer Jerry Wexler coined “rhythm and blues” as a marketing slogan in 1948.
Artists like Mary J Blige and Boyz II Men have pioneered modern R&B, creating songs with smooth harmonies that explore themes such as love, pain, and empowerment.
Origins
R&B music first burst onto the urban music scene during the 1940s, as African Americans relocated from rural regions such as Alabama to industrial hubs like New York, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Los Angeles as part of the Great Migration of 1916-60. R&B emerged during this cultural shift through amplified sounds that expressed social concerns as well as personal pride – all hallmarks of success for any genre of music!
Early R&B artists drew inspiration from diverse musical sources, including jazz, gospel and boogie-woogie. One popular subgenre in the 1940s called jump blues was fast paced dance music that featured highly energized guitar work; its appeal to young African American audiences made Ruth Brown one of its iconic artists who would eventually help pioneer rock and roll in later decades.
By the 1960s, R&B music had evolved into the more sophisticated “soul” genre. Aretha Franklin established this standard among R&B singers by offering sophisticated harmonies and socially conscious lyrics in her performances. Marvin Gaye from Motown followed suit. Later, Afrocentric rhythms and instrumentation was added into R&B through Isaac Hayes and Reverend Al Green; these artists combined church music with African rhythms for expanded genre that included funk and disco styles.
R&B evolved throughout the ’80s and ’90s, changing into something quite distinct from its roots in rock music. Nowadays, modern R&B typically incorporates acoustic instruments alongside keyboards, synthesizers, strong bass lines, looped drum beats and looped percussion beats that more resemble hip hop than rock music. R&B artists of this period also incorporated elements from pop music that continue today’s crossover trend.
Today’s R&B music has reached musicians from all around the globe. R&B continues to represent diverse cultures while remaining true to its origins as Southern “race music”. However, its modern manifestation has taken an impressive path from being just another form of Southern music into one of the most influential global styles of music today.
Styles
Over time, R&B music has undergone dramatic change and continues to develop into something entirely unique. This change can be attributed to various influences that it draws upon; but also because it combines elements from numerous genres – pop, soul, funk, disco and hip hop are among them.
The genre quickly gained traction during the 1940s and 1950s due to its upbeat rhythms and catchy melodies, with Louis Jordan becoming an especially beloved artist during this era. Louis created jump blues music which included shuffle beats, boogie-woogie bass lines, short horn patterns or riffs, making him particularly beloved among urban communities with large African American populations.
At this time, the Great Migration saw rural African Americans relocate to cities and towns throughout America, leading to an expansion of African American music as it gained more widespread appeal. Artists such as Mary J. Blige, TLC and Boyz II Men were some of the most iconic performers during this era – they showcased its musical characteristics while often including elements of rock ‘n’ roll into their compositions.
As the genre evolved, its sound started to take on more soulful overtones due to the influence of Motown, a Detroit-based label established by songwriter and producer Berry Gordy Jr. Motown was responsible for many hit songs from artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & the Supremes as well as Diana Ross & the Supremes; these hits also helped foster doo-wop vocal styles which featured harmonies and falsetto singing – something Motown produced many.
In the 1970s, R&B music took an inexorable turn toward funk. This style favored rhythm and groove over melody; made famous by bands such as Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament-Funkadelic, which popularized this subgenre of R&B. This combination of styles eventually created what is today considered contemporary R&B.
Today, R&B music remains popular in urban areas with large African American populations. The genre’s focus remains vocals and emotion while it incorporates elements from other genres into its sound; however, more recently there has been the development of trap-soul or electronic R&B which differs significantly from its original version in several key ways; keyboards and synthesizers rather than guitars dominate instrumentation while some singers like Alicia Keys prefer acoustic pianos instead; as well as hip hop elements which has seen artists like Drake and Bryson Tiller rise.
Influences
Rhythm and blues (R&B) is an ever-evolving genre with multiple influences. It can be traced back to urban music scenes in cities that arose as part of the Great Migration from rural Southern regions during 1916-1960 when African Americans moved northwards due to industrial opportunities as well as cultural pride; R&B emerged there along with Black music genres influenced by urban environments and Black America society.
R&B in this era was heavily influenced by jazz, gospel and jump blues styles that combined elements from each to appeal to a wider audience. This hybrid genre combined jazz, blues and boogie-woogie music into something distinctively African American audiences and laid the groundwork for rock and roll music. Louis Jordan and Big Joe Turner were two artists that quickly rose to popularity thanks to fast-paced rhythms ideal for dancing; Louis Jordan became famous thanks to Big Joe Turner.
In the 80’s, R&B evolved as singers began adding more soulful tones with emotional expression and storytelling in their vocal delivery. Vocal maestros like Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston helped define modern R&B; these vocalists also introduced harmony use into popular songs. Later on in the decade came Mary J Blige and Boyz II Men, using both smooth ballads and hip hop-influenced tracks to become chart-toppers.
Now more than ever, R&B music continues to change as artists refuse to be boxed in and push the limits of their craft. Artists such as Snoh Aalegra – a Swedish rapper mentored by Prince – illustrate that its influence spans generations and countries around the globe. Influences from global musical cultures contribute greatly to R&B’s development worldwide; increasingly less distinct boundaries between R&B and hip hop exist as more acts use production techniques similar to rappers in order to stay current and relevant in today’s music market.
Crossovers
R&B has an expansive history of collaborations between genres. Hip hop and R&B have long been inextricably linked since the early ’90s, thanks to groups like Jodeci and Bel Biv Devoe as well as Mary J. Blige and R. Kelly’s popularity as rappers; R&B singers often cite R&B as their main influence, while rappers frequently reference it when creating songs themselves. More recently artists like Ashanti and Keyshia Cole have made waves on both Billboard 200 and US R&B charts respectively with their sound which blend elements of Hip Hop, Pop, and Contemporary R&B elements into contemporary sounds that blend Hip Hop with Pop and Contemporary R&B elements to perfection.
R&b music has also been heavily influenced by other genres and helped to foster new ones. Indie Soul, for instance, is an amalgamation of R&B with styles such as rock, blues and folk that has grown increasingly popular due to the work of artists such as SAULT and Hiatus Kayote. Chris Brown and Usher have both taken an experimental approach when it comes to their sound experiments, opening themselves up to various sounds.
R&B music may have its roots in African American culture, yet its appeal has transcended cultures worldwide. Radio stations across America now play R&B songs featuring soulful lyrics and infectious beats; R&B remains timeless due to its blend of different genres which keeps it relevant among modern audiences.
At R&B’s core are its roots: blues, jazz and gospel music still remains prominent; however, modern artists’ ability to evoke emotion through lyrics has helped keep it popular with listeners. Thanks to an emerging young generation of innovators as well as its heavy blending with other musical genres such as hip-hop and reggae; R&B is well positioned to continue evolving as artists look for innovative methods of reaching their audiences; therefore making R&B ever more widely loved than before!