Overview
Rhythm and blues developed from blues, jazz, gospel, dance music, and postwar Black popular music. It emphasizes groove, vocal expression, rhythm sections, backbeat, and strong song forms.
This page belongs to the Genres and Traditions area of the Malone Global University Music Department. Genre pages should teach musical sound, history, community, performance practice, recordings, artists, instruments, technologies, and cultural context together.
On This Page
Genre Links
Use these links to move through related genre pages, glossary pages, listening guides, artist directories, timelines, album guides, and song guides.
Groove and Vocals
R&B often centers groove, strong vocal phrasing, emotional delivery, and rhythm section interaction.
Historical Bridge
R&B links blues and gospel traditions to soul, funk, rock and roll, pop, and contemporary R&B.
Modern R&B
Contemporary R&B includes electronic production, hip-hop influence, smooth vocal layering, and modern studio techniques.
Study Questions
- What musical traits help listeners recognize this genre or tradition?
- What instruments, voices, rhythms, textures, forms, or production techniques are common?
- What historical roots and communities shaped this music?
- Which artists, recordings, songs, albums, or performances are useful starting points?
- How does this genre connect to other genres and traditions?