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Rhythm and Blues (RnB)
By Kavita Trivedi
Flashy cribs, pimped out rides, sexy women- and of course
all that bling!
Over the last decade, these luxuries have fast become the
trademark of RnB music. Luxuries aside, Rhythm and Blues is
one of the most popular and dominant music forms to take the
music industry by storm.
RnB first originated from America, in particular the deprived
black areas of the Deep South. Then known as only the Blues,
this form was heavily influenced by church and gospel music.
Musicians such as Muddy Waters had a huge following amongst
the black communities. By the mid 1950s, this musical form
developed into a more rhythmic, soulful and louder sound known
as Urban Blues, which later became more famously known as
Rhythm and Blues (RnB).
This soulful form of music was mainly diluted by white artistes
and sang to the mainstream, resulting in some truly shocking
cover versions. However, these covers served their purpose
by opening the world's ears to a new sound, so creating a
way for RnB to crossover with the original singers.
Motown, already the most successful independent American recording
company in 1964, did much to promote RnB, with 14 number one
pop singles and 20 number one singles on the RnB charts. In
1966 alone, seventy-five percent of Motown's releases made
the charts, and then along came Aretha Franklin in 1967 with
'Respect', which went straight to number one on both mainstream
and RnB charts. Aretha became known as 'The Queen of Soul'
and RnB was here to stay.
By the late 1990s,
RnB was more trendy and commercialised and fans saw the rise
of acts such as R Kelly, TLC, Dru Hill with forays into rap
and hip hop. P Diddy, Dr Dre, Eminem and 50 Cent are some
of the most popular acts today, with Whitney Houston, Mary
J Blige, Usher and Destiny's Child flying the flag for the
girls.
Rhythm and Blues is not just a US dominated genre. Homegrown
UK RnB acts such as Mis-teeq, The 411, Craig
David, Jamelia
and Lemar prove that you don't need a church in your back
garden to sound soulful. Although these days a diamond studded
crucifix round your neck might help.
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