Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within the African-American community in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to African Americans, at a time when "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 history and experience of pain and the quest for freedom and joy, as well as triumphs and failures in terms of societal racism, oppression, relationships, economics, and aspirations.
Lloyd Price was an American R&B and rock 'n' roll singer, known as "Mr. Personality", after his 1959 million-selling hit, "Personality". His first recording, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", was a hit for Specialty Records in 1952. He continued to release records, but none were as popular until several years later, when he refined the New Orleans beat and achieved a series of national hits. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jamesetta Hawkins, known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter who performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Mama", "Something's Got a Hold on Me", and "I'd Rather Go Blind". She faced a number of personal problems, including heroin addiction, severe physical abuse, and incarceration, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album Seven Year Itch.
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, known professionally as Kenny G, is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, and producer. His 1986 album Duotones brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with global sales totaling more than 75 million records.
102.2 Jazz FM was an Independent Local Radio for London run by GMG Radio. The station was based in and broadcast from Castlereagh Street in London. The station experimented with its core playlist over its fifteen-year history, incorporating smooth jazz, mainstream jazz, soul, jazz fusion, acid jazz, blues and rhythm and blues. In 1994, the station changed its name to JFM to encourage more listeners who were put off by the 'Jazz' in the station's name. Richard Wheatly was appointed in 1995 to turn the station around when there was only three months' money left to run the station. He made a number of sweeping changes to the playlist, selling a sister station and changing the name back to Jazz FM, as well as starting up a record label and spin-off business deals and opportunities which helped Jazz FM swing into the black and make a profit in 2001.
Chieli Minucci is an American guitarist who co-founded the band Special EFX.
Contemporary R&B is a popular music genre that combines rhythm and blues with elements of pop, soul, funk, hip hop, and electronic music.
Russ Freeman is a smooth jazz guitarist who is the founder and leader of The Rippingtons.
Bradley Joseph, who was born in 1965, is an American composer, arranger, and producer of contemporary instrumental music. His compositions include works for orchestra, quartet and solo piano, while his musical style ranges from "quietly pensive mood music to a rich orchestration of classical depth and breath".
"Cruisin'" is a 1979 single written, produced, and performed by American singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson for Motown Records' Tamla label. One of Robinson's most successful singles outside of his work with the Miracles, "Cruisin'" hit number one on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100 and was also a Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at number four the week of February 2, 1980. It was a top-five hit on the Soul chart as well.
Bob (Robert) Baldwin is an American, New York–born contemporary jazz pianist, music composer, music producer, author, inventor, radio host, and creator of the NewUrbanJazz Lounge and City Sketches Inc. His views on owning his own recorded masters have been referred to as ‘the Ray Charles of contemporary jazz and soul music’ by his peers. As of January 1, 2023, he owns all but 7 of his 33+ studio projects.
Michael Lington is a Danish-American contemporary saxophonist, songwriter, producer, recording artist and a purveyor of soul and contemporary jazz.
Oli Silk is a British smooth jazz keyboardist, producer and composer.
Cindy Lynn Bradley is an American smooth jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player and composer.
David Dyson is an American bassist, songwriter, arranger, and producer. Throughout his career he has performed with an array of artists including New Kids on the Block, Meshell Ndegeocello, Lalah Hathaway, Pieces of a Dream, George Duke, Regina Bell, Jonathan Butler, Najee, Candy Dulfer, Rick Braun, Gerald Albright, Norman Brown, Bobby Lyle, Doc Powell, and Michael Franks.
Marcus Johnson is an American jazz musician, producer and entrepreneur.
Timothy Bowman Sr. is an American smooth jazz gospel musician. He started his music career, in 1996, with the release of, Love, Joy, Peace, by INSP Media Group alongside Diamante Records, and they released his first three albums, 1998's Paradise and 2000's Smile. The subsequent album, This Is What I Hear, was released by Liquid 8 Records in 2004. His fifth album, Tim Bowman, released in 2008 by Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records. This album was his breakthrough release upon the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.
Timothy Bowman Jr. is an American gospel musician. He started his music career in 2012 with the release of Beautiful by Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records. This album was his breakthrough release upon the Billboard magazine Gospel Albums and Independent Albums charts. The song "He Will", featuring Vickie Winans, his paternal aunt, charted on the Billboard magazine Hot Gospel Songs chart. He is a Grammy, Dove, and Stellar Award nominated artist. His critically acclaimed album "Listen" debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Gospel Albums, and garnered 2 No. 1 singles off the project "I’m Good" and "Fix Me”
Leavin' is a studio album by American recording artist Natalie Cole, released on September 26, 2006, by Verve Records. The album consists of ten cover versions of various R&B and pop songs and two original songs: "5 Minutes Away" and "Don't Say Goodnight ". It was the second of Cole's albums to be released by Verve Records and her first album in four years, following Ask a Woman Who Knows (2002). Cole promoted the album as a return to her R&B roots, distancing herself from an identification as a jazz artist.
Lin Rountree is an American soul/urban jazz trumpeter, record producer, and composer. He has recorded eight solo albums, the last six for Trippin N' Rhythm Records. Between the years 2011 - 2023 Lin Rountree released 21 singles that landed on the National Billboard Top 25 Smooth Jazz Chart which included four number 1 singles; "Pass The Groove", "Fluid" in 2020, "Release" in 2021 and "Solid" in 2023. Rountree's sixth solo album, Stronger Still, peaked at #20 on the Billboard Top 50 Jazz Albums Chart. In 2014, Lin Rountree appeared alongside Jordin Sparks and CeeLo Green in the film, Sparkle.
