Portal:Rhythm and blues

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Wikipedia's Rhythm and Blues Portal

Introduction

Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to African Americans, at a time when "rocking, jazz based music ... [with a] heavy, insistent beat" was becoming more popular. In the commercial rhythm and blues music typical of the 1950s through the 1970s, the bands usually consisted of a piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, one or more saxophones, and sometimes background vocalists. R&B lyrical themes often encapsulate the African-American history and experience of pain and the quest for freedom and joy, as well as triumphs and failures in terms of societal racism, oppression, relationships, economics, and aspirations.

The term "rhythm and blues" has undergone a number of shifts in meaning. In the early 1950s, it was frequently applied to blues records. Starting in the mid-1950s, after this style of music had contributed to the development of rock and roll, the term "R&B" became used in a wider context. It referred to music styles that developed from and incorporated electric blues, as well as gospel and soul music. From 1960s to 70s, some British groups were referred to and promoted as being R&B bands. By the 1970s, the term "rhythm and blues" had changed once again and was used as a blanket term for soul and funk. (Full article...)

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"Burn" is an R&B-ballad song written by American singers-rappers and songwriters Usher, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. The song was produced by Dupri and Cox for Usher's fourth studio album Confessions (2004). "Burn" is about breakup in a relationship, and the public referred to it as an allusion to Usher's personal struggles.

Originally planned as the album's lead single, "Burn" was pushed back after favorable responses for the song "Yeah!". The song was released as the second single from the album in July 2004. The single topped various charts around the world, including the Billboard Hot 100 for eight non-consecutive weeks; however, it failed to attain the same success of its predecessor. "Burn" was certified platinum in Australia and gold in New Zealand and United States. The song was well-received by critics and garnered award nominations.

When Usher planned to make a new record after his third album, 8701, he decided to not branch out that much with musical collaborators and continue building music with his previous producers. Usher again enlisted record-producer Jermaine Dupri, who had collaborated on his two previous albums, along with The Neptunes, R. Kelly, among others to work on his fourth studio album Confessions. Dupri contacted his frequent collaborator Bryan-Michael Cox, who had also made hits like the 2001 single "U Got It Bad" for Usher. During the early session for the album, Dupri and Cox talked about a situation which later became "Burn". At that time, Usher's relationship with his two-year relationship with TLC's Chilli was flaming out.They said, "Yo, you gotta let that burn... That's a song right there", and started writing.

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The Miracles, c. 1962. Clockwise from top left: Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, Ronnie White, Claudette Robinson, and Smokey Robinson. Not pictured: Pete Moore.

The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and most influential groups in the history of pop, soul, R&B and rock and roll music. The group's international fame in the 1960s, alongside other Motown acts, led to a greater acceptance of Rhythm & Blues and pop music in the U.S., with the group being considered influential and important in the development of modern popular music.

Referred to as Motown's "soul supergroup", the Miracles recorded more than 50 chart hits, including 26 Top 40 pop hits, 16 of which reached the Billboard Top 20, seven Top 10 singles, and a number-one single ("The Tears of a Clown") while the Robinsons and Tarplin were members. Following the departure of Tarplin and the Robinsons, the rest of the group continued with singer Billy Griffin and managed by Martin Pichinson, who helped rebuild the Miracles. They scored two final Top 20 singles, "Do It Baby" and "Love Machine", a second No. 1 hit, which topped the charts before the group departed for Columbia Records in 1977. Recording as a quintet at Columbia with Billy's brother Donald Griffin replacing Marv Tarplin, after a few releases, they disbanded in 1978. In all, the group had more than fifty charted hits by the time they disbanded, and have won numerous music industry awards, including four songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, several BMI and ASCAP Songwriters' Awards, and Induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Full article...)

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The following are images from various rhythm and blues-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1The instruments of the skiffle group the Quarrymen, who would become the Beatles (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 2Kathy Young with the Earth Angels performing Kathy's hit "A Thousand Stars" during the festival of this genre celebrated at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May 2010 (from Doo-wop)
Image 3The Cleftones during their participation in the doo-wop festival celebrated in May 2010 at the Benedum Center. (from Doo-wop)
Image 4Herman Santiago, original lead singer of the Teenagers (from Doo-wop)
Image 5Alternative R&B artist Frank Ocean performing at the Coachella Festival in 2012 (from Alternative R&B)
Image 6The Jimi Hendrix Experience performing on Dutch television in 1967 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 7Led Zeppelin performing at Chicago Stadium in January 1975
Image 8The Ramones in Toronto (1976) (from Doo-wop)
Image 9Michael Jackson holds the record for the best-selling new jack swing album with his 1991 release, Dangerous. (from New jack swing)
Image 10Lead Belly's recordings would be a major part of British R&B repertoires, although he never performed in the UK (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 11Alicia Keys ranked fifth on Billboard Artist of the Decade list. "No One" ranks No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs of the decade. (from Contemporary R&B)
Image 12Chris Barber, one of the major figures in the early popularisation of the blues in Britain, playing at the Musikhalle, Hamburg, 1972 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 13The original line up of the Kinks, 1965 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 14The Moonglows, 1956 (from Doo-wop)
Image 15Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings at Middelburg in 2009 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 16Janet Jackson's Control, released in 1986, was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 1980s. (from New jack swing)
Image 17Alexis Korner in Hamburg in 1972 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 18Beyoncé was named by Billboard the most successful female act of the 2000s. (from Contemporary R&B)
Image 19Muddy Waters, a major influence on the movement, pictured in 1971 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 20Usher was cited by Billboard as the no. 1 Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade, with 7 number-one singles that accumulated 42 weeks at the top. (from Contemporary R&B)
Image 21Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac onstage in 1970 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 22The Animals in 1964 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 23The Jam in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1982 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 24John Lee Hooker, whose visit to England was the anticipated R&B event of 1964, shown in 1978 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 25Georgie Fame, leader of one of the most widely influenced R&B groups, in 1968 (from British rhythm and blues)