history of R&B

2. The term Rhythm and Blues (R&B) was first used by Billboard magazine in the late 1940s.
The "Rhythm & Blues" term was created to replace the name "race music," which until
then was the standard catch-all phase used in reference to most music made by blacks
at the time. After the "race music" term was deemed offensive, Billboard began using
the Rhythm & Blues name that Wexler created. R&B was and African-American urban
sound that evolved from blues and jazz. In the late 1940s R&B was described as rocking
and jazz based with a heavy and insistent beat. The lyrics consisted of everyday life such
as work, drinking and sex.

3. By the 60s rhythm and blues would include soul music, by the 70s disco and funk
were added to R&B. By the 90s, artists like Keith Sweat and Jodeci were taking love
songs to another level. Vocal harmonies and classic-soul were popularized by
Mariah Carey, TLC, R Kelly and Boyz ll Men. By the 21st century R&B would include
hip-hop and neo-soul.
The meaning behind the name is this: the "rhythm" part comes from the music's
typical dependance upon four-beat measures or bars and employ a backbeat
(beats two and four accented in each measure). And the "blues" portion came
from the lyrics and melodies of the songs, which were often sad, or 'blue' during
the music's emergence in the World War II era. Over time the name was shortened
to R&B as a matter of convenience.

4. Mary J Blidge
Faith Evans
Aaliyah
Keith Sweat
Ginuwine
R Kelly
Jodeci
Toni Braxton
Usher
Brandy
Monica
Maxwell
D’Angelo
Jagged Edge
SWV
Beyoncé
Rihanna
Chris Brown
Elle Varner