Tom Liu's Music Production Blog

Rhythm & Blues (R&B)

R&B (Rhythm and Blues) first started in the early 1950s to early 1960s In the 1950s it was frequently applied to blues records. During the mid-1950s, this type of music contributed in the development of rock and roll therefore the name “R&B” was used. R&B was created by the music journalist (but turned to a record producer) Jerry Wexler.

Instrumentation

• Vocals (Female and male)
• Backing vocals
• Drums
• Bass
• Guitars
• Piano
• Horn sections

Influences of R&B

Blues – It’s a joyful, thriving music full of upbeat rhythms and playful humor.

Boogie-woogie – It expresses a variety of emotions, boogie-woogie is mainly associated with dancing and Boogie-woogie dance.

Doo-wop – Subcategory of vocal group harmony including group harmony, a wide range of vocal parts, a simple beat etc.

Gospel – A song genre associated with Christian, based on culture and social context.

Facts about Rhythms and Blues

• R&B was a loose term used by music journalists and record companies to replace the term ‘race music’ in the 1940s and 1950s.

• R&B was first used to refer to any music by black artists.

• Current usage referring to urban black music styles with influences from soul, hip hop, other electronic music and pop.

• R&B forms a clear link between blues and soul music.

Jerry Wexler

Sam Cooke

Rhythm & Blues (R&B)

R&B (Rhythm and Blues) first started in the early 1950s to early 1960s In the 1950s it was frequently applied to blues records. During the mid-1950s, this type of music contributed in the development of rock and roll therefore the name “R&B” was used. R&B was created by the music journalist (but turned to a record producer) Jerry Wexler.

Instrumentation

• Vocals (Female and male)
• Backing vocals
• Drums
• Bass
• Guitars
• Piano
• Horn sections

Influences of R&B

Blues – It’s a joyful, thriving music full of upbeat rhythms and playful humor.

Boogie-woogie – It expresses a variety of emotions, boogie-woogie is mainly associated with dancing and Boogie-woogie dance.

Doo-wop – Subcategory of vocal group harmony including group harmony, a wide range of vocal parts, a simple beat etc.

Gospel – A song genre associated with Christian, based on culture and social context.

Facts about Rhythms and Blues

• R&B was a loose term used by music journalists and record companies to replace the term ‘race music’ in the 1940s and 1950s.

• R&B was first used to refer to any music by black artists.

• Current usage referring to urban black music styles with influences from soul, hip hop, other electronic music and pop.

• R&B forms a clear link between blues and soul music.

Jerry Wexler

Sam Cooke

Rhythm & Blues (R&B)

R&B (Rhythm and Blues) first started in the early 1950s to early 1960s In the 1950s it was frequently applied to blues records. During the mid-1950s, this type of music contributed in the development of rock and roll therefore the name “R&B” was used. R&B was created by the music journalist (but turned to a record producer) Jerry Wexler.

Instrumentation

• Vocals (Female and male)
• Backing vocals
• Drums
• Bass
• Guitars
• Piano
• Horn sections

Influences of R&B

Blues – It’s a joyful, thriving music full of upbeat rhythms and playful humor.

Boogie-woogie – It expresses a variety of emotions, boogie-woogie is mainly associated with dancing and Boogie-woogie dance.

Doo-wop – Subcategory of vocal group harmony including group harmony, a wide range of vocal parts, a simple beat etc.

Gospel – A song genre associated with Christian, based on culture and social context.

Facts about Rhythms and Blues

• R&B was a loose term used by music journalists and record companies to replace the term ‘race music’ in the 1940s and 1950s.

• R&B was first used to refer to any music by black artists.

• Current usage referring to urban black music styles with influences from soul, hip hop, other electronic music and pop.

• R&B forms a clear link between blues and soul music.

Jerry Wexler

Sam Cooke