R&B is a genre of pop music with black origins characterized by soulful vocals and improvisation. Some of the most influential R&B artists include Michael Jackson, who had immense commercial success both with The Jackson 5 and as a solo artist, Stevie Wonder who recorded numerous hit songs from the 1960s to 1980s and won 22 Grammys, and Whitney Houston who dominated the 1980s and 1990s with many number-one hits and sold over 200 million records. Current leading R&B artists are Drake, the top-ranked hip hop artist on the Billboard charts who is also the most-streamed artist on Spotify, Rihanna who had her breakthrough in 2007 with her hit "Umbrella" and

2. WHAT IS R&B
1) Short for Rhythm and Blues
2) A kind of pop music of black origin with a
soulful vocal style featuring much
improvisation

3. INFLUENTIAL R&B ARTISTS
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson is probably the most
famous R&B singer ever. Originally started
at the age of 10 with the group The
Jackson 5, continued his singing as a solo
artist for the next 40 years, during the
years 1964 - 2004.The Jackson 5 set a
record for reaching number one on the
Billboard Hot 100 with their first four
singles: "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The
Love You Save," and "I'll Be There." As a
solo artist, Michael Jackson got 13 number
one singles on the Billboard 100, more
than any other male artist, including Billie
Jean, Beat It, and Man In The Mirror.
Michael Jackson has got best selling
album of all-time, Thriller, with over 65
million copies sold.

4. INFLUENTIAL R&B ARTISTS
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is one of America's greatest
singer-songwriters who recorded numerous hit
songs from the 1960s through the ‘80s.
Including Finger TIps, I Just Called to I Love
You, Signed and Delivered and many more. In
total he has won 22 Grammy’s and therefore
shows how great and influential he is.

5. INFLUENTIAL R&B ARTISTS
Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston’s first No. 1 R&B single was
You Give Good Love, released in 1985. Houston
has many number one R&B hits including
Saving All My Love for You, Exhale (Shoop
Shoop), Heartbreak Hotel (with Faith Evans
and Kelly Price) and How Will I Know. During
the 1980s and 1990s she dominated the music
industry. She set records for the best selling
soundtrack of all-time, The Bodyguard. She
also sold over 200 million records, earning
hundreds of awards including 22 American
Music Awards (most of any female), 19 NAACP
Image Awards, and six Grammys. Her enduring
legacy is credited with influencing such
singers as Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson.

6. CURRENT R&B ARTISTS
Drake
Drake was and is currently the top Billboard
100 top R&B/Hip Hop ranking. Drake has
released 4 albums and has had 2 UK number 1.
He has featured on many other artists tracks
including, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and
many more. He is currently the most listened
artist on Spotify in the world, showing his
popularity in modern day music listeners.

7. CURRENT R&B ARTISTS
Rihanna
Rihanna released her debut album Music of the
Sun in 2005, then had her big breakthrough
with the 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad,
which featured the number 1 hit Umbrella. Her
2012 album Unapologetic reached number 1 on
the Billboard 200. Over her career, she has sold
over 40 million albums and is 10th most
listened to on Spotify. She has also won 8
Grammys.

8. CURRENT R&B ARTISTS
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles is a multi-platinum, Grammy
Award-winning R&B artist. She was originally
in the group Destiny’s Child however once they
broke up she continued her career as a solo
artist. Overall she has won 18 Grammys and is
known for being one of the most influential
singers of our generation.