The history of R&B

The term Rhythm and Blues, R&B, was first used by Billboard magazine in the late1940 s. R&B ′was an African-American urban sound that evolved from blues and jazz. In the late 1940 s R&B ′was described as rocking and jazz based with a heavy and insistent beat. R&B was becoming popular because of it dance ability. By 1949 the term had replaced Billboard’s category Harlem Hit Parade.

The lyrics of R&B were about everyday life. The songs were about work, sex, and drinking. Paul Williams and His Hucklebuckers recorded “The Huckle-Buck that became a R&B hit. The song was called dirty boogie and was considered raunchy and risque for its time. Their concerts were hot and wild, sometimes shut down.

By the 1950 s R&B was starting to define the sound of Rock n Roll. In the early fifties Little ′Richard started recording for RCA Records and by the mid fifties had hits with “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally.” Fats Domino had a hit with “Ain’t That a Shame.” Bo Diddly and Chuck Berry would influence and create beats that became mainstays in Rock n Roll.By the 1960 s rhythm and blues would include soul music. In the seventies disco was added to ′the R&B category as was funk. By the 1980 s R&B was defining music that included soul, funk, ′rock n roll and pop music.

By the 90 s artists like Levert, Keith Sweat, Jodeci, and BellBivDeVoe were taking love songs in ′the R&B genre to another level. Classic-Soul and vocal harmonies were being popularized by Mariah Carey, TLC, R. Kelly, and Boyz II Men. Going into the 21st century R&B would include New Jack Swing, Hip-hop, and Neo-Soul.

R&B audiences are usually teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 to 25 and are mostly females. This could be due to the explicit lyrics, artists, music and how the music videos are shot and what they contain within them. Females are usually targeted by R&B artists because they stereo typically write songs about love, being in love and heartbreak these type of songs will appeal to teenage girls and young adults as it usually relates to them. Fast R&B songs usually will attract to women as they involve fashion and synergy within the narrative or theme.

Male R&B artists usually target a female audience because the male artists are portrayed as sexy or in a sexual way through their lyrics and nudity. The female audience will find this attractive and appealing because they will be physically attracted to the artist. However the male audience will be attracted to the jewelery worn, cars, cash/wealth, fashion and women in minimal clothing.

R&B fans are usually from a African American black background due to R&B being rhythm, blues and soul which comes from African America in the 1950's. This type of music would be something their parents and grandparents would have listened to interesting their children in the same type of music.