Please elaborate on the term "R&B style"

When "R&B" emerged in the mid-1940s, it didn't even have a name. But as soon as the word appeared, it spread quickly and widely. Today, R&B has become synonymous with black pop music, although it is regarded more as a type of music that is different from rap, soul, and urban by special audiences and Mentioned by people in the recording industry. Early rock music was based on R&B, which was an extension of "country and western music" influenced by pop music. R&B is not only an important transitional music between blues and rock music, it is also the most important musical branch between blues and soul.

Of course, blues is undoubtedly an important part of R&B, but the jazz element is equally important. The earliest R&B artists came from the fields of "Big-Band" and "Swing-Jazz". Before World War II, when jazz was far more popular than it is today, it was music played for dancing, but there was usually a singer in the band. During World War II, many important jazz artists began to develop "Be Bop" and "Cool Jazz", a type of jazz with fewer dance elements. However, due to the influence and constraints of economic, military and other factors during the war, the number of "big bands" began to gradually decrease. But listeners, especially those in the rapidly growing African-American communities in big cities, still wanted to hear danceable music. So in order to adapt to the audience, musicians made "Boogie" music that was louder, used more electroacoustic instruments, and focused on "riff".

The R&B style that first became popular is usually referred to as "Jump Blues". It not only absorbs the swing rhythm and horn-based arrangement in jazz, but also absorbs the reply sections and harmonic structures commonly used in blues. Perhaps the most important pioneer of this style was Cab Calloway. On "Jump Blues," the singer's voice is harsher, the tempo is faster, and the instruments are played differently—the piano is played harder and the saxophone has a longer, sharper sound.

The most important and popular "jump blues" star was Louis Jordan, whose records were equally successful with black and white audiences. And he also deeply influenced Chuck Berry. Many of the early "jump blues" performers came from Los Angeles, where a large black community formed during the Great Depression and World War II. In the late 1940s, more cities began to have their own "jump blues" stars. Los Angeles-based independent record labels Specialty and Aladdin not only filled the void left by the major labels in this area by publishing "jump blues" records, but also made themselves successful. Joe Liggins, Tiny Bradshaw, Amos Milburn, Camille Howard, most of whom are now completely forgotten artists who all achieved great success in "jump blues" at that time and became the most prosperous black musicians of their time.

"Jump Blues" later morphed into several different styles. Singers known as "Shouters" added more energetic "gospel music" and "soul" to the restrained singing style of the "big band". "Fat" Joe Turner began his career as an artist in a Kansas jazz band. He is a double legend of R&B and "jazz". Not only did he easily switch from "jazz" to R&B, he even composed some early classic rock songs.

In addition, Wynonie Harris, Roy Brown, Roy Milton, and Nappy Brown were also from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. Important musicians in the "Big Louds", although they are not as famous as Turner.

At the beginning of the 1950s, "race" music was used by Jerry Wexler of Billboard magazine to rename R&B. As an A&R for Atlantic Records, Jerry popularized "jump blues" among pop music listeners and teenagers. Records by early Atlantic stars [Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, the Drifters, Chuck Willis] This preference for "jump blues" was maintained, but their rhythm, reply sections, and lyrics began to approach later rock music. In fact, Baker and Willis also achieved varying degrees of success in the early rock and roll field by relying on some songs that were popular with young audiences. In the early to mid-1950s, rock music began to emerge. Some music types that are obviously different from R&B have shown their talents, and they have exerted a huge influence on popular music culture by relying on their own strength. For example, "Street Blues" (Doo Wop) band, "Electric Blues", "New Orleans R&B", etc. The influence of these music in the history of rock and roll even exceeds that of the earlier, more jazzy R&B.

A significant number of artists not only survived the 1950s, but achieved success and recognition by publishing R&B records. Ike Turner, Ivory Joe Hunter, Faye Adams, Wynona Carr, Big Mama Thornton, Big Maybelle, these people are not pure blues artists, but their music is not rock and roll either. Although blues singers Bobby "Blue" Bland, Junior Parker, and Little Milton combined "electro blues" and "soul music" Together, they cannot be called pure rock singers. Occasionally, singers like Johnny Otis, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and Wilbert Harrison can win over the rock audience. admitted, too, through their most accessible songs. Harrison's "Kansas City" is a popular "jump blues" song.

Some singers in the 1950s began to popularize R&B more than before - adding elements of overt "gospel" and church music. To this day, we can still remember those great names: Ray Charles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John , Johnny Ace, Jessie Belvin, and Clyde McPhatter. As the godfathers of "soul music", some of these people later became superstars of "soul music" in the 1960s, such as Charles and Brown; while others withdrew due to changing times and unresolved personal problems. The music scene, like McPheet and John.

For R&B, the commemorative significance and late applause it has been given now cannot change the dilemma it faced at the beginning - it was difficult for early R&B records to be accepted by all new listeners.

In the 1940s and 1950s, R&B singers and record companies focused more on entertainment and were not committed to promoting diverse artistic works. Therefore, in the heyday of R&B, the songs people heard were composed of similar harmonies, progression patterns, and arrangements. However, although R&B has changed a lot since its inception, it still retains an extremely important part of rock music, soul music and rap music, and plays a role behind the music.

Recommended albums:

1. Collection (Various Artists) "Blues Masters Volume 5: Jump Blues Classics" ( Rhino

The greatest selection of "Jump Blues" including Big Jay McNeely, Wynonie Harris, Tiny Blade Works by Tiny Bradshaw, Big Joe Turner and others. Another album in the "Blues Masters" series, "More Jump Blues Classics", is of the same high standard.

2. Compilation (Various Artists) "Blues Masters Volume 14: More Jump Blues" (Rhino)

< p>It's on the same level as the album above. Includes works by Louis Jordan, Big Maybelle, Faye Adams and others.

3. "Big, Bad & Blue: The Anthology of Big Joe Turner" (Big, Bad & Blue: Big Joe Turner Anthology (Rhino)

Like Turner himself, this three-pack covers decades from the "big band" jazz era to the birth of rock and roll. It has witnessed the development history of R&B.

4. Louis Jordan "The Best Of Louis Jordan" (MCA)

Jordan recorded between the 1940s and 1950s There are many popular songs, and no album can cover them all in one go, but this selection is the best.

5. Compilation (Various Artists) "Atlantic Rhythm&Blues Vol.1-4" (Atlantic)

"Atlantic" is a modern The record company that has made the greatest contribution to R&B. This is part of a seven-disc set that was published until 1974 - a collection of representative songs from 1947 to 1962 before R&B transformed into rock music.

6. Compilation (Various Artists) "Specialty Story" (Specialty)

"Specialty" is also a famous early R&B and rock independent record company. This five-disc set is indeed a bit much for "non-professional" people, but there is no doubt that it contains great artists and works. It even features works by early rock stars Little Richard and Larry Williams.

7. Ruth Brown, "Rockin' in Rhythm: The Best of Ruth Brown" (Rhino)

Atlantic's early reputation was largely built on this singer, and this record includes all her good songs in the 1950s.

8. Soul on Fire: The Best of LaVern Baker (Rhino) by LaVern Baker

A singer who played an important role in the evolution of R&B to rock music.

9. "The Drifters" "Let Boogie-Woogie Roll: Greatest Hits (1953-1958)" ](Atlantic)

"Drifter"'s first record, Clyde McPhatter (Clyde McPhatter) also participated. They can actually be called a "street blues" band, but they still have strong traces of "jump blues".

10. Ike Turner (Ike Turner) "I Like Ike: The Best of Ike Turner" (Rhino)

Most of the songs in this album come from the 1950s and are a synthesis of R&B and "electro-blues".

11. "Birth of Soul" (Rhino) by Ray Charles

A set of three records, including Charles' music during the 1950s Works from the time of "Atlantic".

12. Johnny?%