Rhythm & Blues (R&B) is a genre born from African-American musical traditions in the 1940s, blending jazz, gospel, and blues into a powerful cultural force. It evolved into one of the most influential genres worldwide, shaping soul, funk, hip-hop, and pop.
The term "rhythm and blues" was first used in the 1940s by record companies to replace the label "race music" when marketing African-American secular music. It emphasized the rhythmic drive and blues-based melodies that distinguished the style.
R&B is a popular music genre rooted in African-American communities, combining influences from jazz, gospel, and blues.
Its stylistic origins were in jazz, blues, gospel, boogie-woogie, and swing. Common instruments include a drum kit, electric guitar, piano, saxophone, horns, and later synthesizers. R&B musical traits include a strong backbeat and syncopated rhythms, emotional soulful vocals, call-and-response patterns from gospel traditions, and lyrics often centered on love, struggle, and resilience. Over time, R&B expanded into subgenres like doo-wop, soul, funk, disco, new jack swing, neo-soul, and contemporary R&B.
Emerging in urban African-American communities in the 1940s and 1950s, artists like Ruth Brown and Ray Charles defined early R&B.
In the 1960s, R&B became the foundation of Motown and soul music, influencing global pop culture. Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and the Supremes brought R&B into the soul era.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the genre expanded into funk and disco, later evolving into new jack swing and urban contemporary. Popular R&B artists included Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and Diana Ross, who expanded the genre into funk and disco, while Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston redefined R&B as global pop.
In the 1990s and 2000s, R&B was brought mainstream with artists like Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Usher, Alicia Keys, and Beyoncé.
In the 2010s and beyond, contemporary R&B fused with hip-hop and electronic sounds, with artists like Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Chris Brown, and SZA leading the genre.
A list of well-known R&B artists might include Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Usher, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Etta James, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, The Weeknd, SZA, and Chris Brown. These artists represent the breadth of rhythm & blues' evolution, from its gospel-blues roots to its modern fusion with hip-hop and pop.
Recommended Resources
Cincinnati's Urban Adult Contemporary station (WOSL), branded "R&B Cincy 100.3," is the station's on-air brand and homepage hub, featuring local news, events, contests, and streaming access. The website highlights community features such as "Buy Black 513," event listings, and recent tracks on the station. WOSL is owned by Urban One, which operates several stations in the area, and positions 100.3 toward rhythm & blues and classic soul listeners, who can listen live from its website.
https://rnbcincy.com/
The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame is an independent organization whose mission is to educate, celebrate, preserve, promote, and present rhythm and blues music globally. Founded in 2010 by professional basketball player LaMont "ShowBoat" Robinson, who was also an R&B activist, the museum began with Robinson's personal collections. A mobile museum debuted in 2012, and construction of a permanent location in Marks, Mississippi, started in 2022. Sponsorships and ticket data are provided.
https://rbhalloffamemarksms.com/
R&B Only is a COLORS Worldwide live concert series and merchandise hub featuring a multi-city tour with dates and ticket links listed on the website. Its index (home) page highlights upcoming R&B ONLY LIVE shows across U.S. cities and directs visitors to buy tickets and view merchandise. The site serves as the central hub for tour dates, direct ticketing links, merchandise tied to the R&B Only live events, and an embedded promotional video and other content.
https://www.rnbonly.com/
Launched in 2011, Rated R&B is an independent online magazine based in the United States dedicated to news, topics, and almost everything related to rhythm and blues and soul music. It publishes independent music reviews, features, interviews, and media. The index (home) page highlights recent album reviews, single and EP releases, tour announcements, and curated lists, showing the site's editorial focus on both current releases and historical content within the genre.
https://ratedrnb.com/
Founded in 1988, the Rhythm and Blues Foundation is an independent American non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the historical and cultural legacy of rhythm and blues music. The foundation provides financial support, medical assistance, and educational outreach through various grants and programs to support R&B and Motown artists from the 1940s through the 1970s. It has produced its annual Pioneer Awards since the 1980s. Contribution opportunities and contacts are featured.
https://www.rhythmandbluesfoundation.org/
ThisisRnB publishes timely rhythm and blues (R&B) and soul music news, album and concert reviews, artist interviews, playlists, and video features. Categories include Music News, Videos, Performances, Photos, Interviews, and Indie, along with advertising opportunities and an online store offering branded apparel and other merchandise. The website highlights both established names and emerging talent, as well as adjacent scenes such as gospel and cultural events.
https://thisisrnb.com/
