#rhythm_and_blues

[swedish-honky-tonk]

Small Faces. Collage.

[expeditiemuziek]

The emergence of 'rhythm and blues'

My newest post covers briefly the development from worksongs into modern rhythm and blues, as usual illustrated by many examples.

From the worksongs of the American slaves, a singing style gradually developed that was called 'blues' around 1920. The blues, like the worksongs, expressed the feeling of discontent that the inferior position of the African-American population entailed. Other topics were relationship problems and natural disasters.

During this development, there has been cross-fertilisation between (rhythm and) blues and other emerging genres.  Initially, these were mainly the (negro) spirituals and gospel songs and, from the 1920s, old-style jazz ('Dixieland' in New Orleans) and later in swinging dance orchestras, such as Count Basie and his band. After the war, this was mainly rock 'n roll. In the 1980s, the term 'R&B' was further expanded to include hip-hop, having already been used for soul, funk and even disco. 

Check my post here: https://hermanvandenbosch.com/2025/11/09/from-blues-to-rhythm-and-blues/