Drawing from the distinct tributaries of African American expression and African roots, R&B music is an amalgam of jump blues, big band swing, gospel, boogie, and blues. It originated during a 30-year period bridging the era of legally sanctioned racial segregation, international conflicts, and the struggle for civil rights (according to the Smithsonian’s Folklife Magazine). The Magazine says its formal qualities, stylistic range, marketing and consumption trends, and worldwide currency today reflect the changing social and political landscapes of American race relations and also city life, culture, and popular entertainment in mainstream America.
These sounds pay homage to those who paved the way for us sonically and culturally. They are a celebration of those who’ve come before us and those who will use these sounds to continue to innovate and evolve the genre tomorrow.
