The Best of YouTube Music: Rhythm and Blues

The best of YouTube Music: Rhythm and Blues is a compilation of the greatest hits from the genre. FromAretha Franklin to Stevie Wonder, enjoy the best of R&B.

What is Rhythm and Blues?

Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated as R&B or RnB, is a genre of popular music that originated in the African-American communities of the United States in the late 1940s. It is a combination of blues and African-American Jazz. The term “rhythm and blues” was first used by record companies in the United States in 1947.

The Origins of Rhythm and Blues

Rhythm and blues, popular music created by African American artists, has its roots in the jazz, gospel, and blues traditions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term “rhythm and blues” first referred to a style of music played by small groups of musicians in bars and clubs in New Orleans, Louisiana, during the 1920s. This music was characterized by a heavy beat, or “groove,” and often featured saxophone solos.

In the 1930s and 1940s, rhythm and blues evolved into a more commercial sound that incorporated elements of pop music. The term “rhythm and blues” was first used to describe this new style of music in 1949, when Billboard magazine launched a weekly chart that tracked its sales. The first No. 1 song on the chart was “My Baby Just Cares for Me,” a ballad sung by African American jazz singer Nina Simone.

During the 1950s, rhythm and blues became one of the most popular genres of music in the United States. Artists such as Ray Charles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding helped to define the sound of rhythm and blues with their soulful singing and funky grooves. In the 1960s and 1970s, rhythm and blues began to fuse with other genres of popular music, resulting in the creation of soul music, funk music, disco music, and hip hop music.

The Development of Rhythm and Blues

The music now known as rhythm and blues developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s from a combination of African American musical styles, including jazz, jump blues, and boogie woogie. The term “rhythm and blues” was first used in 1948 by Billboard magazine critic Jerry Wexler to describe a new style of music that emerged from the merger of these genres.

The resulting sound was a hard-hitting, up-tempo style of music that emphasized the rhythm over the melody, and featuredhorn sections, electric guitars, and powerfully emotive vocals. This new style of music quickly gained popularity with both black and white audiences, and by the early 1950s had become one of the most popular genres in the United States.

The popularity of rhythm and blues would decline in the late 1950s as another style of African American music, rock and roll, began to take hold. However, many elements of rhythm and blues would become incorporated into rock and roll, helping to create a truly American sound that would dominate popular music for decades to come.

The Best of YouTube Music: Rhythm and Blues

There is a lot of great music on YouTube, but it can be hard to find. This playlist is a compilation of some of the best Rhythm and Blues songs that YouTube has to offer. From classics to modern hits, this playlist has something for everyone.

The Best of YouTube Music: Rhythm and Blues – Sam Cooke

Considered one of the pioneers of soul music, Sam Cooke’s influence is still felt today. With hits like “A Change is Gonna Come” and “Wonderful World,” Cooke created a sound that would shape the sound of R&B for years to come.

The Best of YouTube Music: Rhythm and Blues – Ray Charles

Ray Charles is considered one of the pioneers of rhythm and blues music. His career spanned more than five decades and his influence can still be heard in today’s music.

Charles was born in Georgia in 1930 and was exposed to music at an early age. His mother was a gospel singer and his father was a sharecropper. He began playing piano when he was just five years old. By the time he was 15, he had lost his sight due to glaucoma.

Charles joined a local band after moving to Florida and soon began touring with them. He soon made his way to Seattle where he recorded his first single, “Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand” in 1949. The song became a hit and helped to launch his career.

Over the next few years, Charles released a number of successful singles including “I’ve Got a Woman” and “What’d I Say”. He also began experimenting with different genres of music, blending rhythm and blues with country, jazz, and pop. This unique sound helped to make him one of the most popular musicians of his time.

Charles continued to release successful albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s including “Genius + Soul = Jazz” and “True Love”. He also won a number of awards including 12 Grammy Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy.

Charles passed away in 2004 but his music continues to live on. He is considered one of the most influential musicians of all time and has been inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The Best of YouTube Music: Rhythm and Blues – James Brown

There’s no doubt that James Brown was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His unique style of soul and funk music was unlike anything that had come before, and it continues to inspire musicians to this day. While he’s best known for his hits like “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” there’s so much more to James Brown than just those songs.

If you want to explore the full range of James Brown’s music, you can do so on YouTube. There are hundreds of videos of him performing live, in the studio, and in interviews. You can also find footage of him dancing, which is something he was just as famous for as his music.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of James Brown or you’re just getting started, these are some of the best YouTube videos to watch.

1) “I Got You (I Feel Good)” – This is one of James Brown’s most iconic songs, and it sounds just as good today as it did when it was first released in 1965. This particular version is taken from a live performance in 1968, and it shows off both Brown’s musical talent and his incredible dance moves.

2) “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” – Another one of James Brown’s most popular songs, “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” is a funk classic. This live version from 1971 is particularly great, as it features some extended instrumental sections that really let the band show off their skills.

3) “Cold Sweat” – This 1967 song is one of James Brown’s most experimental, incorporating elements of soul, funk, and psychedelic rock. This live performance from 1968 is particularly great, as it features some stunning horn playing from the band.

4) “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” – This 1972 song was originally performed by The Temptations, but James Brown put his own unique spin on it with this live version from 1973. It starts with a slow build-up before eventually exploding into an amazing funk jam session.

5) “Please Please Please” – This is the song that started it all for James Brown, and it remains one of his best-loved songs to this day. This live performance from 1956 captures the raw energy and power that would come to define his career.