Black Artists That Redefined the R&B Sound

Rhythm and Blues has been a major staple in music, especially in shaping the history of Black artists and their sound.

R&B came from the blending of soul genres including blues, jazz, big band swing and more. Though the sound isn’t credited to a single artist, it was reported that producer and journalist Jerry Wexler coined the name in 1948 as a marketing term to replace the name “race music.”

Throughout the year, “rhythm and blues” has evolved into several subgenres such as neo-soul, doo-wop, quiet storm, new jack swing, funk and soul.

Though several Black artists are fundamental elements to the R&B sound, there are a few staple artists who are included in the growth of R&B and its ever-evolving sound we know and love today.

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So, here is a list of some of the Black artists who help define and redefine the sound we know and love as R&B.