1. The Genre of R&B

2. What is R&B
“Rhythm and Blues”
Crossbreed of Jazz, Gospel, and
Blues
Tight Rhythm section (piano, bass,
guitar, drums)
Soulful singers and players
Funky/smooth chord changes and
bass riffs

3. Origins of R&B
Early 50’s & 60’s
Gospel music from african
american churches began to
influence the music.
Also during segregation, when
slavery was in the Americas many
of the slaves would sing along
while they worked in the fields and
this is how the blues was born, and
began to come into the music
scene
R&B began to take form once
these two genres of music began
to melt togther

4. Motown
60’s and 70’s of
R&B
Motown- first African American
owned record company.
Founded by Barry Gordy
Artist – Stevie Wonder, Smokey
Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Gladis
Knight, Diana Ross, The Four
Tops, The Supremes
First Time African American Music
was played over the radio for
everyone to listen too.

5. Mid 80’s and 90’s
This era of R&B was influenced by
Pop, Rock, and mainly Jazz, But
still keeping its gospel and Blues
Roots
During this time period the aspect
of fusion began to come into the
scene
Artists like Prince how had a very
pop and rock influence to his funky
tunes like, kiss, purple rain, wanna
be your lover.
Artists during this time period really
began to pull from many different
styles and backgrounds to add to
add to their music

6. Stevie Wonder
Stevie wonder has been involved
in music for 60 years
100’s of hits, Sir Duke, Isn't She
Lovely, Do I Do, You Are The
Sunshine of My Life
Important figure to not just R&B
but music in its entirety
Almost over 23 Albums, 8 of these
albums going platinum or double
platinum

7. Turn of the
Century and
Music
During the turn into the 20th Century
it was a very exciting time and you
could hear it this through the music
Styles where very synthesizers and
drum machines.
The most popular style during this
era was a Mix of Hip Hop and R&B
which was called New Jack Swing.
New Jack Swing was a party syle of
music that was played all over the
country in night clubs and on the
radio
Artist that were in the era of New
Jack Swing would be people like
Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, Bell Biv
Devoe Boyz Two Men exct

8. 21st Century of
R&B
New Styles and interpretations of
Soul, R&B, and Funk
The genre is really starting to take
form to what it is we know today
This decade we have artists like
Usher, Beyoncé, Brian McKnight,
Eric Benet, Mariah Carey, Luther
Vandross, Alicia Keys and many
more
Also the Neo-Soul era began with
artists like D’angelo, Jill Scott,
Maxwell ext