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R&B has blessed this earth for many years now, without R&B there would not be any hip-hop, reggae, country music, jazz, pop, rock, and gospel music. We all have to appreciate Rhythm and Blues, without it where would any of us be? R&B is a genre of popular African American Music that started to emerge in the 40s. Back then it was more about the instruments then it was about vocals. The 40s were when blues and jazz sound came from trumps and saxophones. AS R&B started to evolve, during the 50’s is when a couple of vocal artist started to combine their talents on top of these instruments giving the real funk to R&B. Artist such as ray Charles and Ruth Brown dominated R&B, giving it more exciting tune, in our case, giving it a more lit sound. Back in the 40’s and 50’s African Americans didn’t have much, but they surly had music, which no one could ever take away their sound. R&B music was a way to escape from  the constant oppression and segregation of black from the whites. It was a way of showing the whites we are talented and strong and deserve to be here on this earth just as much as the next white being.

 

 

Ray Charles was the biggest artist to shape R&B music in the 40's his ability to create different sound with different instruments. Ray and many other artist was a  huge success because he brought vocals on top of his piano playing. Ray Charles alone goes down in R&B history due to the fact the he was blind and had an "I don't give a fuck attitude" That many opposed but so many others loved. He showed the world not only am I black and blind, but I am able to see the racist things that are going on around me. That is what R&B was and still is about, being yourself and being proud of who you are. That the government may can limit the African American ability to move up on the social ladder, But he can not take the god given talent and soul one was born with.
Back in the 50's, in the black community R&B and Gospel was always separate from each other, no one dared to turn gospel music into R&B music. Until Ray Charles came along and did just that. The late Ray Charles even stated "When I started to sing like myself - as opposed to imitating Nat Cole, which I had done for a while - when I started singing like Ray Charles, it had this spiritual and churchy, this religious or gospel sound. It had this holiness and preachy tone to it. It was very controversial. I got a lot of criticism for it." Ray Charles was heavily criticized by "Christian Black Folk" That it made him go even harder with his own style of music. That's why Ray is a mogul in R&B history, he did the inevitable transferring church music into R&B. It was something he couldn't help because that is his sound, it was something again he didn't care about because he was doing something he loved. As you can see artist like Ray are the reason R&B music and artist now are able to express who they are without feeling ashamed about it. The History of R&B is not to be ignorant musicians, but showing the world that it doesn't matter what people say, they will talk about you till the day you die. So why not be who you are, instead of being what someone wants you to be.

 

Moving on up the timeline during 1970's, As R&B music continued to expand out more, becoming international and not just local. You could see how apposed to the 50's the 70's started to become more than just about instruments and vocals. It started to become a trend, with fashion and dance moves.  Michael Jackson had to be the star idol during the late 70's, R&B wasnt becoming your more traditional church going, jazz playing music. It was becoming more of

everyone's favorite artist, some may not have like Michael as a person. One thing is for sure, they loved his music and his moves. Michael was more than just an entertainer he was an artist. growing up Michael and his brother sung mainly R&B music. As Michael got older and branched off to become a solo artist he wanted to create his own sound from the traditional R&B music he uses to perform. Michael was definitely gifted with playing different instruments as well. unlike Ray Charles, Michael didn't know how to play the sax, besides, music was evolving and during the 70's it was more about the guitar sound and the bass of the drum. During the 70's it was a time where hippies was significant and many people were big on world peace. That is exactly what Michael wanted to convey in his music, is world peace. Michael even states "If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with." Michael strayed from traditional R&B by speaking about world peace, child hunger, and love. He brought more of a pop sound instead of the typical gospel blues. Many people across the world listen to Michael music, his music was inspirational. He shared the R&B culture internationally with the world, that is why Michael Jackson is a legend. His music didn't just touch the African American community, while touching all races.

 

As you can see Michael Jackson and Ray Charles are two completely different artists but both bring a similar vibe to R&B. Both artist brought a new funk vibe that no one has ever heard of. Ray brings the gospel and soul, while Michael brings the funk and pop to R&B. These creative individuals both shine a new light, showing that Country music and gospel can transition into. One they both artist talked about in their music was love. Both spoke about the love for a woman, but Michael also spoke about the love for the world. Ray didn't speak about anything other sex, love, dancing. I feel as though Ray only sung about songs that he knew people would listen to and buy and Michael did songs that he felt strongly about that he knew the world could listen to. Both of them had different audiences and different visions. Michael was more international while Ray would of been more local, but both in their different ways brought together races as one with their music. Which that to me is what Rhythm and Blues is all about, bringing everyone together through the love of music.