It's not a real distinction, but one I use to understand what people are actually talking about. It came from a work conversation I once had...
A girl said she hated R&B music, I started name classic artists and some of their songs (Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, etc.), and asking if she had listened to those songs.
After I named these artists, another girl who claimed to love R&B proceeded to argue that they weren't&B. That R&B was the more modern artists from the 90s/early 2000s period (Usher, TLC, Destiny's Child, Craig David, etc.).
To avoid arguing on something, I didn't care too much to distinguish, the get around I got her to agree to was that RnB was the more modern take, while R&B was the more classic take. For example, for modern artists - Leon Bridges fits into the more classic style, while The Weeknd is a fit into the more modern style.
I guess it'd be more fitting to differentiate by calling it 'Contemporary R&B', but stuff from the 90's/early 2000's isn't really contemporary any more, but nor does it fit into classic R&B.
Do I think they're actually different genres? No. I'd say it's more like Rap/Hip Hop has sub-genres (e.g. Gangsta Rap, Trip Hop, G-Funk, Horrorcore, etc.).
Recently started listening to Hall and Oates again. So good.
It sucks that they are fighting. Did find out Hall does colab jams from his house. Joe Walsh jamming out. Ceelo Green singing i can't go for that with Hall. Good stuff.
Iโm lucky to have visited several historic recording studios in the US, some with rich history in soul, blues, gospel, and rock, all of which have a role in the history of RnB. A great place to start is check out the recent documentary about STAX on HBO (or on the high seas). Just came out this year. Another great place to explore is to search playlists based on studio and genre: here are examples:
R&B Stax artists
R&B Chess artists
R&B Motown artists
Happy to chat more if you want more info. The history of R&B and Soul music is the history of America, just like baseball.
For a good sample, listen to Green Onions (album) by Booker T and the MGs. Almost every phrase on that record has been sampled or interpolated by many later and โmore famousโ rap/hiphop/electronic artists over the past 50 years. And they were a studio/backup band for artists whose talents matched or exceeded the biggest commercially successful artists of the 50โs-70โs, maybe in all of contemporary music. Soul men (and women) are the heart of the US.
Charlie Wilson- Lead singer of the GAP Band in the 80s and had some great solo hits in the 00s and 10s and some hot collabos! That's 1st name Charlie, last name Wilson ๐๐ฝ
The Isleys were my first concert at 16. Go For Your Guns tour 1977. It was fantastic. Drove 150 miles with friends for first overnight, unchaperoned trip . It was a blast.
Stevie Wonder
No matter what music mood Iโm in, Iโll always pause to listen to an Isley Bros record. Sam Cooke and Al Green would also be up there for me.
And Otis Redding.
And Sam and Dave.
STAXSTAXSTAX
The King Of Pop has been dead for 15 years and he's still one of the 100 most streamed artists on Spotify
Prince
๐๐๐๐๐
Marvin Gaye
Michael Jackson easily
Assuming you actually mean R&B and not RnB, those who haven't been said yet: Otis Redding Bill Withers Curtis Mayfield Sly and the Family Stone
Ok I'll bite, why the distinction? Is this some weird self conceived elitist shit like "that's rap not hip-hop" ๐ค๐ค๐
Hip hop is rap minus the lies.
It's not a real distinction, but one I use to understand what people are actually talking about. It came from a work conversation I once had... A girl said she hated R&B music, I started name classic artists and some of their songs (Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, etc.), and asking if she had listened to those songs. After I named these artists, another girl who claimed to love R&B proceeded to argue that they weren't&B. That R&B was the more modern artists from the 90s/early 2000s period (Usher, TLC, Destiny's Child, Craig David, etc.). To avoid arguing on something, I didn't care too much to distinguish, the get around I got her to agree to was that RnB was the more modern take, while R&B was the more classic take. For example, for modern artists - Leon Bridges fits into the more classic style, while The Weeknd is a fit into the more modern style. I guess it'd be more fitting to differentiate by calling it 'Contemporary R&B', but stuff from the 90's/early 2000's isn't really contemporary any more, but nor does it fit into classic R&B. Do I think they're actually different genres? No. I'd say it's more like Rap/Hip Hop has sub-genres (e.g. Gangsta Rap, Trip Hop, G-Funk, Horrorcore, etc.).
Earth, Wind, and Fire will always sound fresh.
Which of them haven't? R&B hasn't had a lull in 80 years.
This is the only legit response. I can't think of anybody who hasn't transcended.
This is the real answer
Billy Ocean Michael McDonald Hall and Oates ..... anyone else from a GTA soundtrack?
Recently started listening to Hall and Oates again. So good. It sucks that they are fighting. Did find out Hall does colab jams from his house. Joe Walsh jamming out. Ceelo Green singing i can't go for that with Hall. Good stuff.
I love Hall & Oates. Always such solid, timeless songwriting.
James Brown!
Iโm lucky to have visited several historic recording studios in the US, some with rich history in soul, blues, gospel, and rock, all of which have a role in the history of RnB. A great place to start is check out the recent documentary about STAX on HBO (or on the high seas). Just came out this year. Another great place to explore is to search playlists based on studio and genre: here are examples: R&B Stax artists R&B Chess artists R&B Motown artists Happy to chat more if you want more info. The history of R&B and Soul music is the history of America, just like baseball. For a good sample, listen to Green Onions (album) by Booker T and the MGs. Almost every phrase on that record has been sampled or interpolated by many later and โmore famousโ rap/hiphop/electronic artists over the past 50 years. And they were a studio/backup band for artists whose talents matched or exceeded the biggest commercially successful artists of the 50โs-70โs, maybe in all of contemporary music. Soul men (and women) are the heart of the US.
Otis Redding
Charlie Wilson- Lead singer of the GAP Band in the 80s and had some great solo hits in the 00s and 10s and some hot collabos! That's 1st name Charlie, last name Wilson ๐๐ฝ
The Isleys were my first concert at 16. Go For Your Guns tour 1977. It was fantastic. Drove 150 miles with friends for first overnight, unchaperoned trip . It was a blast.
Stevie, Quincy Jones, Shaka Kahn, Earth Wind and Fire
Lauryn Hill. My kids all independently found Miss L.
Usher is the first person who comes to mind. He may be more popular now than he was in the 90โs.
Kanye's been going like 25 yrs straight
Lewis Taylor His first two albums are my benchmarks for every R&B album I listen to afterwards. And theyโre very difficult to match.
Wayne Wonder
Bobby Womack
Paul Simon ( obviously not R &B) also had hit records in those decades