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Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music ... [with a] heavy, insistent beat" was becoming more popular. In the commercial rhythm and blues music typical of the 1950s through the 1970s, the bands usually consisted of a piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, one or more saxophones, and sometimes background vocalists. R&B lyrical themes often encapsulate the African-American experience of pain and the quest for freedom and joy, as well as triumphs and failures in terms of relationships, economics, and aspirations.
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Ruth Alston Brown was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the "Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atlantic Records in the 1950s, such as "So Long", "Teardrops from My Eyes" and "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean". For these contributions, Atlantic became known as "the house that Ruth built". Brown was a 1993 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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"The Honeydripper " is an R&B song by Joe Liggins and his Honeydrippers which topped the US Billboard R&B chart for 18 weeks, from September 1945 to January 1946.
"Eddie My Love" is a 1956 doo wop song. According to BMI and ASCAP, the song was written by Maxwell Davis (BMI), Aaron Collins, Jr. (ASCAP), and Sam Ling (BMI). Maxwell Davis played sax on the Teen Queens record. Aaron Collins was the brother of the Teen Queens. Sam Ling was an alias of Saul Bihari, co-founder of Modern, RPM, and other labels.
"Reconsider Me" is a country/soul ballad written by Margaret Lewis and Mira Smith.
The Four Fellows were an American doo-wop group formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953. The combo possessed a more polished and professional style than much of their regional contemporaries, reflecting upon influences from gospel and barbershop music. In the Four Fellows' recording career, they underwent multiple line-up changes with lead singer Jimmy McGowan remaining the sole consistent member of the group until it disbanded in 1956. The group released several singles, but their one and only national hit came in 1955, with the distribution of "Soldier Boy", a Top 10 song on the Billboard R&B charts.
References
- ↑ "ASCAP Repertory entry for this song". ASCAP. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ↑ Gérard Herzhaft, Paul Harris, Jerry Haussler Encyclopedia of the Blues 1997 p. 30 "His brother JIMMY LIGGINS (1924-1984), a guitar and sometimes harmonica player, was also successful with "Drunk" and "Saturday Night Boogie-Woogie Man," which made his reputation on the West Coast."
- ↑ Brian Ward Just My Soul Responding: Rhythm And Blues 0203214455 2003 p.77 ""Came home one night with a spinning in my head/reached for the pillow, missed the whole darned bed", moaned Jimmy Liggins on "Drunk"."
- ↑ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 14, 1953. p. 49.
- ↑ "Top R & B Records". Billboard. January 2, 1954. p. 30.
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