- Patti Labelle
- Paul Hardcastle
- Peabo Bryson
- Peoples Choice
- Percy Sledge
- Phil Perry
- Phyllis Hyman
- Pleasure
- Pointer Sisters
- Prince
- Quincy Jones
- R Kelly
- Ray Charles
- Regina Belle
- Richard Fields
- Rick James
- Rick James and Teena Marie
- Roberta Flack
- Roberta Flack and Donnie Hathaway
- Ronnie Dyson
- Roscoe Gordon
- Rose Royce
- Sam and Dave
- Sam Cooke
- Sammy O’
- Shalamar
- Sly and The Family Stone
- Smokey Robinson
- Solo
- Solomon Burke
- SOS
- Spinners
- Staple Singers
- Steve Arrington
- Stevie Wonder
- Stylistics
- Supremes Scherrie and Lynda
- Tank
- Teddy Pendergrass
- Teena Marie
R&B MIDI Files
Jerry Wexler of Billboard magazine coined the term “rhythm and blues” or ” R&B ” in 1948 as a musical term in the United States. It replaced the term “race music”, which originally came from within the black community, but was deemed offensive in the postwar world. The term “rhythm and blues” was used by Billboard in its chart listings from June 1949 until August 1969, when its “Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles” chart was renamed as “Best Selling Soul Singles”.
Writer/producer Robert Palmer defined rhythm & blues as “a catchall term referring to any music that was made by and for black Americans”. He has used the term ” R&B ” as a synonym for jump blues. However, Allmusic separates it from jump blues because of its stronger, gospel-esque backbeat. Lawrence Cohn, author of Nothing but the Blues, writes that “rhythm and blues” was an umbrella term invented for industry convenience. According to him, the term embraced all black music except classical music and religious music, unless a gospel song sold enough to break into the charts. Well into the 21st century, the term R&B continues in use (in some contexts) to categorize music made by black musicians, as distinct from styles of music made by other musicians.
In the commercial rhythm and blues music typical of the 1950s through the 1970s, the bands usually consisted of piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, and saxophone. Arrangements were rehearsed to the point of effortlessness and were sometimes accompanied by background vocalists. Simple repetitive parts mesh, creating momentum and rhythmic interplay producing mellow, lilting, and often hypnotic textures while calling attention to no individual sound. While singers are emotionally engaged with the lyrics, often intensely so, they remain cool, relaxed, and in control. The bands dressed in suits, and even uniforms, a practice associated with the modern popular music that rhythm and blues performers aspired to dominate.
This excerpt is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%26B