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 an African-American 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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"Untitled (How Does It Feel)" is a song by American R&B and neo soul musician D'Angelo, released January 1, 2000 on Virgin Records in the United States and in the United Kingdom on EMI in 1999. It was issued as a radio single in promotion of his second studio album Voodoo (2000). The song was written and produced by D'Angelo and R&B musician Raphael Saadiq at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Originally composed as a tribute to influential musician Prince, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" contains a vintage style and sound similar to that of Prince's early musical work, and its lyrical content is suggestive of a man's plea to his lover for sex and desire. The song exhibits musical elements of soul, funk, rock, and quiet storm. Much like most of Voodoo, the song contains prominent overdubbing of D'Angelo's vocals.

The song received generally favorable reviews from music writers that praised its similarity to Prince's musical style, and it earned D'Angelo a number of awards. "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" proved to be the most commercially successful single from Voodoo, and it also earned notice for its controversial music video. Directed by Paul Hunter and manager Dominique Trenier, the video consists of entirely one shot featuring a muscular D'Angelo appearing nude and lip-synching to the track. It received much airplay on music video networks such as MTV and BET. While initial reaction to the music video was mixed with praise for its sexuality and accusations of sexual objectification, it earned D'Angelo a number of accolades and helped increase his mainstream notice. The video also contributed the success of the single.

The music video for "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" had a considerable impact on D'Angelo's career, as it helped engender an image of him as a sex icon to a younger generation of fans. This status for D'Angelo lead to his period of absence following the conclusion of the supporting tour for Voodoo. In 2001, the song won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song. The U.K. single's cover artwork is an homage to musician Jimi Hendrix and Electric Lady Studios. Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" number 4 on its list of the top singles of 2000.

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Jacquet, New York City, c. May 1947 (Photograph by William Paul Gottlieb)

Jean-Baptiste Illinois Jacquet (October 30, 1922 – July 22, 2004) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, best remembered for his solo on "Flying Home", critically recognized as the first R&B saxophone solo.

Although he was a pioneer of the honking tenor saxophone that became a regular feature of jazz playing and a hallmark of early rock and roll, Jacquet was a skilled and melodic improviser, both on up-tempo tunes and ballads. He doubled on the bassoon, one of only a few jazz musicians to use the instrument. (Full article...)

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

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