rhythm and blues
"Rhythm and blues," often abbreviated as R&B, is a music genre that emerged in the 1940s among African American communities, blending jazz, gospel, and blues elements.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2Music
(genre)A genre of music that began in the 1940s, characterized by a strong beat, soulful vocals, and a blend of jazz, gospel, and blues influences.
Example
- Ray Charles is considered one of the pioneers of rhythm and blues.
- Rhythm and blues laid the foundation for many modern music genres.
C1Music
(historical)A term used in the 1940s to describe African American popular music, replacing the derogatory term 'race music'.
Example
- The term 'rhythm and blues' was coined to give a more respectful name to African American music styles.
C2Cockney Rhyming Slang
(slang)A term used to refer to shoes.
Example
- He put on his best rhythm and blues for the night out.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "rhythm and blues":