Rhythm and Blues has been a major staple in music, especially in shaping the history of Black artists and their sound.
R&B came from the blending of soul genres including blues, jazz, big band swing and more. Though the sound isn’t credited to a single artist, it was reported that producer and journalist Jerry Wexler coined the name in 1948 as a marketing term to replace the name “race music.”
Throughout the year, “rhythm and blues” has evolved into several subgenres such as neo-soul, doo-wop, quiet storm, new jack swing, funk and soul.
Though several Black artists are fundamental elements to the R&B sound, there are a few staple artists who are included in the growth of R&B and its ever-evolving sound we know and love today.
READ MORE BLACK MUSIC MONTH STORIES:
- WTH Is Genre? 8 Times Black Artists Bent Sound
- Black Artists That Redefined the R&B Sound
- Black Gospel Artists That Redefined the Genre
So, here is a list of some of the Black artists who help define and redefine the sound we know and love as R&B.
