R&B is a soul-soothing and amazing genre of music. And in the last decade, this genre has witnessed some phenomenally talented artists like Frank Ocean, The Weekend, and many more. R&B has grown and evolved to become one of the most preferred music genres in today’s world, and it has even engulfed hip-hop, to the point that many of today’s biggest rappers aren’t interested in rapping any more at all, but really want to be singers. But how did this genre of music start and evolve to what it is today? So, this article is going to be all about the history and evolution of R&B music.
Rhythm and blues or generally known as R&B is a genre of music that originated in the African American communities in the 1940s. The term ‘Rhythm and Blues’ was first introduced to the American audience in the late 1940s. The name was originally created by Billboard magazine for use as a musical marketing term. And later ‘Jerry Wexler’ of Billboard magazine was credited for the creation of the term. This genre of music had started a new fan following amongst teenagers at first, then later got the whole country to fall in love with it.

By the 1970s the term R&B was widely recognized as a music genre and it encompassed both soul and funk forms of music. R&B Music came into prominence with some great artists like Cab Calloway, The Harlem Hamfats, Count Basie, Louis Jordan, and others. As time progressed Blues, Doo Wop, funk, Disco, dance, and other forms of R&B music began to develop around the United States. In the early days, R&B music of 1950s throughout the 1970s was mainly bands who consisted of a piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, one or more saxophones, and sometimes background vocalists. And from that period to today, it has evolved and transformed into a whole new dimension of music.

In the last several decades, R&B music has been the soundtrack to the lives of millions. It has been the voice of reason and a moral compass. And this genre of music is truly soul touching. Creativity in the purest and undiluted form is the true definition of R&B music. The audience of R&B has expanded drastically and it is now loved by people all around the world. Music is known as the universal language, and Rhythm and Blues is definitely an upbeat chosen dialect.