Introduction
Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within the African-American community in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to African Americans, at a time when "rocking, jazz based music ... [with a] heavy, insistent beat" was becoming more popular. In the commercial rhythm and blues music typical of the 1950s through the 1970s, the bands usually consisted of a piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, one or more saxophones, and sometimes background vocalists. R&B lyrical themes often encapsulate the African-American history and experience of pain and the quest for freedom and joy, as well as triumphs and failures in terms of societal racism, oppression, relationships, economics, and aspirations.
The term "rhythm and blues" has undergone a number of shifts in meaning. In the early 1950s, it was frequently applied to blues records. Starting in the mid-1950s, after this style of music had contributed to the development of rock and roll, the term "R&B" became used in a wider context. It referred to music styles that developed from and incorporated electric blues, as well as gospel and soul music. By the 1970s, the term "rhythm and blues" had changed once again and was used as a blanket term for soul and funk. (Full article...)
Selected article
"We Belong Together" is a pop/R&B song recorded by Mariah Carey for her tenth studio album The Emancipation of Mimi (2005) and released as the album's second single in 2005. Written and produced by Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, and Johnta Austin, the song was inspired by 1980s R&B and soul. Its arrangement is built on simple piano chords and an understated back beat, and its lyrics chronicle a woman's desperation for her former lover to return after their separation.
Following a career-decline between 2001 and 2003, Carey achieved considerable success with "We Belong Together" as the song topped the charts in many countries, including Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Philippines, South Africa, and the United States Billboard Hot 100 for fourteen non-consecutive weeks. The song is also the most successful song by a female artist in the history of Billboard.
In the U.S., the song also repeatedly broke many BDS Airplay records. The song was warmly received by critics, and won Carey a number of industry awards, including two Grammy Awards in 2006.
Further information: The Emancipation of Mimi
"We Belong Together" was not composed until late into the production of The Emancipation of Mimi.[2] Following an unsuccessful career period between 2001 and 2003, Carey began production on the album in 2004. By November of that year she had considered the album complete, but some of what became its more popular tracks had yet to be written.[2] Antonio "L.A." Reid, the chairman of Island Def Jam Records, encouraged Carey to attempt additional studio sessions with producer Jermaine Dupri. "L.A. was like, 'You and Jermaine Dupri make magic together, why aren't you in the studio with him?'" she recalled. "'I said, 'I love Jermaine, is he free? I know he's doing a million things.' [...] But Jermaine said, 'Come on down.'"[2]
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WikiProjects
Selected biography -
Robert James Byrd (July 1, 1930 – July 27, 1990), known by the stage name Bobby Day, was an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and songwriter. He is best known for his hit record "Rockin' Robin", written by Leon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas. Day also wrote the top-10 Billboard hits "Little Bitty Pretty One" (1957, Thurston Harris) and "Over and Over" (1965, the Dave Clark Five). (Full article...)
General images -
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Alternative R&B artist Frank Ocean performing at the Coachella Festival in 2012 (from Alternative R&B) -
Usher was cited by Billboard as the no. 1 Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade, with 7 number-one singles that accumulated 42 weeks at the top. (from Contemporary R&B) -
Alexis Korner in Hamburg in 1972 (from British rhythm and blues) -
Herman Santiago, original lead singer of the Teenagers (from Doo-wop) -
The Cleftones during their participation in the doo-wop festival celebrated in May 2010 at the Benedum Center. (from Doo-wop) -
The Moonglows, 1956 (from Doo-wop) -
The Jimi Hendrix Experience performing on Dutch television in 1967 (from British rhythm and blues) -
Muddy Waters, a major influence on the movement, pictured in 1971 (from British rhythm and blues) -
The original line up of the Kinks, 1965 (from British rhythm and blues) -
Chris Barber, one of the major figures in the early popularisation of the blues in Britain, playing at the Musikhalle, Hamburg, 1972 (from British rhythm and blues) -
Janet Jackson's Control, released in 1986, was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 1980s. (from New jack swing) -
Alicia Keys ranked fifth on Billboard Artist of the Decade list. "No One" ranks No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs of the decade. (from Contemporary R&B) -
The Animals in 1964 (from British rhythm and blues) -
The Ramones in Toronto (1976) (from Doo-wop) -
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings at Middelburg in 2009 (from British rhythm and blues) -
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Lead Belly's recordings would be a major part of British R&B repertoires, although he never performed in the UK (from British rhythm and blues) -
Kathy Young with the Earth Angels performing Kathy's hit "A Thousand Stars" during the festival of this genre celebrated at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May 2010 (from Doo-wop) -
Led Zeppelin performing at Chicago Stadium in January 1975 -
The Jam in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1982 (from British rhythm and blues) -
The instruments of the skiffle group the Quarrymen, who would become the Beatles (from British rhythm and blues) -
John Lee Hooker, whose visit to England was the anticipated R&B event of 1964, shown in 1978 (from British rhythm and blues) -
Georgie Fame, leader of one of the most widely influenced R&B groups, in 1968 (from British rhythm and blues) -
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