What is "rhythm and blues"

n. a style of music combining elements of jazz and blues having syncopated rhythms and a strong backbeat; it was developed by African Americans in the late 1940s

n. a combination of blues and jazz that was developed in the United States by Black musicians; an important precursor of rock 'n' roll [syn: R and B]

Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated as R&B or RnB, is a genre of popular African-American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, 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 piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, saxophone, and sometimes background vocalists. R&B lyrical themes often encapsulate the African-American experience of pain and the quest for freedom and joy. Lyrics focus heavily on the themes of triumphs and failures in terms of relationships, freedom, economics, aspirations, and sex.

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 contributed to the development of rock and roll, the term "R&B" became used to refer to music styles that developed from and incorporated electric blues, as well as gospel and soul music. In the 1960s, several British rock bands such as the Rolling Stones, The Who and The Animals were referred to and promoted as being RnB bands; posters for The Who's residency at the Marquee Club in 1964 contained the slogan. This tangent of RnB is now known as " British rhythm and blues". By the 1970s, the term rhythm and blues changed again and 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". It combines elements of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, pop, hip hop and dance. Popular R&B vocalists at the end of the 20th century included Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey.

The Rhythm & Blues was a tag team composed of The Honky Tonk Man and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in the World Wrestling Federation from 1988 to 1991 and later on in the independent circuit for a short run.

Rhythm and blues (R&B) is a popular music genre combining blues, gospel and jazz influences.

Rhythm and blues may also refer to:

• New Orleans rhythm and blues, type of R&B music from New Orleans, Louisiana
• Red Hot Rhythm & Blues, 1987 album released by Diana Ross on the RCA label
• Rhythm and Blues (professional wrestling), the tag team of The Honky Tonk Man and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in the WWF
• Rhythm and Blues Foundation, independent American nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of rhythm and blues music
• Rhythm and Blues (WSQ album)
• Rhythm & Blues (Robert Palmer album)
• "Rhythm and Blues," song by Twothirtyeight from their 2002 album You Should Be Living
• Rhythm and Blues (TV series), a 1992 NBC sitcom
• Rhythm and Blues, the third and fourth XM Radio satellites, launched on February 28, 2005 and October 30, 2006, respectively
• Contemporary R&B, new Rhythm and Blues
• Rhythm & Blues, an album by American blues musician Buddy Guy.

Rhythm and Blues is the ninth album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet and their third on the Elektra label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray and was first released in 1989.

Rhythm and Blues is the seventh studio album by Canadian singer Garou, and his eighth album overall. It was recorded in London at The Sanctuary recording studios by producers " SMV" and is a bilingual French / English dedicated to the spirit of R&B including covers of famous tracks The album contains 6 songs in French and 6 in English.