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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Destiny's Child at the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show in 2013 (left to right: Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé Knowles, Michelle Williams)

Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited success, the original quartet comprising Knowles, Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett were signed in 1997 to Columbia Records as Destiny's Child. The group was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of the song "No, No, No" and their best-selling second album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999), which contained the number-one singles "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name", alongside successful singles "Bug a Boo" and "Jumpin', Jumpin'". Despite critical and commercial success, the group was plagued by internal conflict and legal turmoil, as Roberson and Luckett attempted to split from the group's manager Mathew Knowles due to favoritism of Knowles and Rowland.

In early 2000, both Roberson and Luckett were replaced with Williams and Farrah Franklin; however, Franklin quit after a few months, leaving the group as a trio. Their third album, Survivor (2001), whose themes the public interpreted as a channel to the group's experience, produced the worldwide hits "Independent Women", "Survivor" and "Bootylicious". In 2001, they announced a hiatus to pursue solo careers. The trio reunited two years later for the release of their fifth and final studio album, Destiny Fulfilled (2004), which spawned the international hits "Lose My Breath" and "Soldier". Since the group's official disbandment in 2006, Knowles, Rowland, and Williams have reunited several times, including at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show and 2018 Coachella festival. (Full article...)

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

Image 1The Ramones in Toronto (1976) (from Doo-wop)
Image 2The instruments of the skiffle group the Quarrymen, who would become the Beatles (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 3Janet Jackson's Control, released in 1986, was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 1980s. (from New jack swing)
Image 4Muddy Waters, a major influence on the movement, pictured in 1971 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 5Alternative R&B artist Frank Ocean performing at the Coachella Festival in 2012 (from Alternative R&B)
Image 6Kathy 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 7The original line up of the Kinks, 1965 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 8Chris 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 9Herman Santiago, original lead singer of the Teenagers (from Doo-wop)
Image 10The Animals in 1964 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 11Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac onstage in 1970 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 12Georgie Fame, leader of one of the most widely influenced R&B groups, in 1968 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 13Alexis Korner in Hamburg in 1972 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 14The Jam in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1982 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 15Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings at Middelburg in 2009 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 16The Moonglows, 1956 (from Doo-wop)
Image 17Usher 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 18Michael Jackson holds the record for the best-selling new jack swing album with his 1991 release, Dangerous. (from New jack swing)
Image 19The Cleftones during their participation in the doo-wop festival celebrated in May 2010 at the Benedum Center. (from Doo-wop)
Image 20Lead 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 21Alicia 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 22Beyoncé was named by Billboard the most successful female act of the 2000s. (from Contemporary R&B)
Image 23The Jimi Hendrix Experience performing on Dutch television in 1967 (from British rhythm and blues)
Image 24Led Zeppelin performing at Chicago Stadium in January 1975
Image 25John Lee Hooker, whose visit to England was the anticipated R&B event of 1964, shown in 1978 (from British rhythm and blues)