What is R&B?

R & B is the abbreviation for rhythm and blues. It originated in the 1940s. The term used to be used by record companies to describe recordings marketed mainly to urban African American. By the 1970s, rhythm and blues was used as a blanket term for soul and funk. In the 1980s a newer style of R & B developed, becoming known as contemporary R & B. African Americans then started to migrate to urban industrial centres of Chicago, Detroit, New York, Los Angeles in the 1930s. This created a new market of Jazz, blues and many other similar genres.
British rhythm and blues developed in the 1960s. This was mainly because of the response to the recordings of American artists. Many bands tried to outdo black rhythm and blues performers. This developed out the trad jazz, sciffle and folk club scenes.

Typical instruments that are usually used are drum kit, double bass, saxophone, horns, piano, organ, electric guitar, vocals and background vocalists.
Many famous R & B artists are or were Aaliyah, Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder and many more.

The British modern subculture was musically centred on rhythm and blues and later soul music, performed by artists that were not available in small London clubs around which the scene was based. This resulted in a number of bands forming to fill this gap in. For example Small Faces.

British artists music was much different to artists in America. It had a much different tone and emphasised on guitars. They have been criticised for exploiting the massive classification of African American music but they also populated it bringing it to the British world and also American audiences. They also contributed to build the reputation of existing and past rhythm and blues artists.