Rhythm and blues and Pequannock: Difference between pages

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{{mergeto|Pequannock Township, New Jersey}}

'''Rhythm and blues''' (or '''R&B''') is a musical [[marketing]] term introduced in the [[United States]] in the late [[1940s]] by [[Jerry Wexler]] at [[Billboard magazine]], used to designate upbeat [[popular music]] performed by [[African American]] artists that combined [[jazz]] and [[blues]]. It replaced the term [[race music]], which was deemed offensive, and was initially used to identify the style of music that later developed into [[rock and roll]]. By the [[1970s]], rhythm and blues was being used as a blanket term to describe [[soul music|soul]] and [[funk music|funk]] as well. Today, the acronym "R&B" is almost always used instead of "rhythm and blues", and defines the modern version of the [[soul music|soul]] and [[funk]] influenced African-American pop music that originated with the demise of [[disco]] in [[1980]].

'''Pequannock''' is a small [[suburban]] township located in [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris County]] northern [[New Jersey]]. It is primarily a bedroom community to nearby [[New York City]] and home to roughly 4,661 residents. What the town lacks in entertainment or commerce it makes up for in historical significance.

==Original rhythm and blues==

{{genrebox|name=Rhythm and blues

|color=#0000E1

|bgcolor=white

|stylistic_origins=Upbeat [[blues]], [[hard bop]], and [[gospel music|gospel]]

|cultural_origins=[[1940s]] US

|instruments=[[Guitar]] - [[Bass guitar|Bass]] - [[Saxophone]] - [[Musical keyboard|Keyboard]]

|popularity=Significant from 1940s to 1960s

|derivatives=[[Rock and Roll]] - [[Soul music]] - [[Funk]]

|subgenrelist=List of R&B genres

|subgenres=[[Doo wop]]

|fusiongenres=

|regional_scenes=

|other_topics=

}}

In its first manifestation, rhythm and blues was the predecessor to [[rockabilly]] and [[rock and roll]]. It was strongly influenced by [[jazz]] and [[jump blues|jump music]] as well as black [[gospel music]], and influenced jazz in return ([[hard bop]] was the product of the influence of rhythm and blues, [[blues]], and [[gospel music]] on [[bebop]]) and African tribal beats.

== Linguistic Significance ==

The [[first rock and roll record|first rock and roll]] consisted of rhythm and blues songs like ''[[Rocket 88]]'' and ''[[Shake, Rattle and Roll]]'' making an appearance on the popular music charts as well as the R&B charts. ''[[Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On]]'', the first hit by [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] was an R&B [[cover]] song that made number one on pop, R&B and [[country and western]] charts.

Pequannock is thought to have been derived from the Lenni Lenape "Paquettahhnuake", meaning, "cleared land ready or being readied for cultivation". Pompton has been cited by some sources to mean "a place where they catch soft fish".

Musicians paid little attention to the distinction between jazz and rhythm and blues, and frequently recorded in both genres. Numerous swing bands (for example, [[Jay McShann]]'s, [[Tiny Bradshaw]]'s, and [[Johnny Otis]]'s) also recorded rhythm and blues. [[Count Basie]] had a weekly live rhythm and blues broadcast from Harlem. Even a bebop icon like arranger [[Tadd Dameron]] also arranged for [[Bull Moose Jackson]] and spent two years as Jackson's pianist after establishing himself in bebop. Most of the studio musicians in R&B were jazz musicians. And it worked in the other direction as well. Many of the musicians on [[Charlie Mingus|Charlie Mingus's]] breakthrough jazz recordings were R&B veterans. [[Lionel Hampton|Lionel Hampton's]] big band of the early 1940s, which produced the classic recording "Flying Home" (tenor sax solo by [[Illinois Jacquet]]) was the breeding ground for many of the bebop legends of the 1950s. [[Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson]] was a one-man fusion, a bebop saxman and a [[blues shouter]].

== Historic Pequannock ==

The [[1950s]] was the premier [[decade]] for classic rhythm and blues. Overlapping with other genres such as jazz and rock and roll, R&B also developed regional variations. A strong, distinct style came out of New Orleans and was based on a rolling piano style first made famous by[[ Professor Longhair]]. In the late 50's, [[Fats Domino]] hit the national charts with ''[[Blueberry Hill (song)|Blueberry Hill]]'' and ''[[Ain't That a Shame]]''. Other artists who popularized this Louisiana flavor of R&B included [[Clarence "Frogman" Henry]], [[Frankie Ford]], [[Irma Thomas]], [[The Neville Brothers]] and [[Dr. John]].

Incorporated in [[1740]] as one of the largest townships in the region, this 6.96 square mile bedroom community composed of [[Pompton Plains]] in its northern portion and old Pequannock in its southern was once a vast 176 square mile region of [[rural]] [[farmland]] settled by the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] after its purchase by [[Arent Schuyler]] and associates in the late [[1690]]'s.

It was not in the US but through the thriving [[United Kingdom|UK]] pop scene of the early 1960s that R&B reached the height of its popularity. Without the same kind of racial distinctions that refused it acceptance in the USA, white British performers and listeners adopted this novel style of music without question, and groups such as [[The Rolling Stones]] and [[Manfred Mann]] brought it to a wider audience. The term fell into disfavor in the [[1960s]], being replaced by [[soul music]].

During the [[Revolutionary War]], [[George Washington]]'s troops camped on what is now the site of the Pequannock Valley Middle School. Washington himself of course made sure to get a room in the nearby Mandeville Inn.

It was not until the 1980s that the term ''R&B'' regained ordinary usage. During that time, the soul music of [[James Brown (musician)|James Brown]] and [[Sly Stone]] had adapted elements from [[psychedelic music]] and other styles through the work of performers like [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]]. Funk also became a major part of [[disco]], a kind of dance pop [[electronic music]]. By the early 1980s, however, funk and soul had become sultry and sexually-charged with the work of [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and others. At that time, the modern style of ''contemporary R&B'' came to be a major part of [[American popular music]].

During the Civil War, Pequannock was a stop on the underground railroad. The Giles Mandeville House, a field and quarrystone structure located at 515 Turnpike, which served as a waypoint for many runaway slaves, still stands today in use as the Manse of the adjacent First Reformed Church since 1953.

----

{{genrebox|name=Contemporary R&B

|color=#0000E1

|bgcolor=white

|stylistic_origins= [[Funk]], [[soul music]], and [[pop music]]

|cultural_origins=Early [[1980s]] US

|instruments=[[synthesizers]] - [[Musical keyboard|Keyboard]] - [[Drum machine]]

|popularity=Moderate since 1980s around the world, especially in recent years in the United States

|derivatives=

|subgenrelist=List of R&B genres

|subgenres=[[Quiet Storm]]

|fusiongenres=[[New Jack Swing]] - [[Hip-hop soul]] - [[Neo soul]] - [[2Step]]

|regional_scenes=

|other_topics=[[List of R&B musicians|Musicians]]

}}

== Other Pequannock Information ==

==Contemporary R&B==

People in Pequannock do lots of hardxcore drugs and get trashed nearly every night. Hooray Beer!

The term '''R&B''' today defines a style of [[African-American]] music, originating after the demise of [[disco]] in [[1980]], that combines elements of [[soul music]], [[funk music]], [[pop music]], and (after [[1986]]) [[hip hop music|hip-hop]] in the form known as '''contemporary R&B'''. In this context only the abbreviation "R&B" is used, not the full expression.

Pequannock people are usually white. Notar needs to leave town.

== Current statistics==

Often referred to as "[[urban contemporary]]" (the name of the [[radio format]] that plays hip-hop and R&B music) or "urban pop", contemporary R&B is distinguished by an slick, electronic [[record production]] style, [[drum machine]]-backed rhythms, and a smooth, lush style of vocal arrangement. Uses of hip hop inspired beats are typical, although none of the roughness and grit associated with hip-hop soul or neo soul is present in this format.

*Population ([[2000]] Census): 4,661

===History===

*Housing Units: 1,675

With the transition from soul to R&B in the early to mid [[1980s]], solo singer [[Luther Vandross]] and new stars like [[Prince (artist)|Prince]] (''[[Purple Rain (album)|Purple Rain]]'') and [[Michael Jackson]] (''[[Off the Wall]]'') took over, and dominated the charts throughout the [[1980s]]. Female R&B singers like [[Whitney Houston]], [[Janet Jackson]] gained great popularity during the last half of the decade; and [[Tina Turner]], then in her 50s, came back with a series of hits with crossover appeal. Also popular was [[New Edition]], a group of teenagers who served as the prototype for later [[boy bands]] such as the [[New Kids on the Block]], [[The Backstreet Boys]], and others.

*Land Area: 1.67 square miles

*Water Area: 0.07 square miles

*Zip Codes: 07440, 07444

*Area Code: (973)

*County: Morris

*State: New Jersey

[http://www.hometownlocator.com/ZCTA.cfm?ZIPCode=07440 2000 Census Info]

== External links ==

In [[1986]], [[Teddy Riley (new jack swing)|Teddy Riley]] began producing R&B recordings that included influences from the increasingly popular genre of [[hip hop music]]. This combination of R&B style and hip-hop rhythms was termed [[new jack swing]], and artists such as [[Keith Sweat]], [[Guy (band)|Guy]], [[Jodeci]], and [[BellBivDeVoe]] (featuring former members of New Edition). Another popular, but short-lived group, with more pronounced R&B roots was [[Levert]], whose lead singer, [[Gerald Levert]], was the son of O'Jays lead vocalist [[Eddie Levert]].

*[http://www.pequannocktownship.org/ Pequannock Township Official Website]

In the early 1990s, R&B group [[Boyz II Men]] repopularized classic-soul inspired vocal harmony, and several similar groups (among them [[Shai (band)|Shai]], [[Soul for Real]], and [[Dru Hill]]) would follow in their footsteps. Boyz II Men, and several of their competitors, benefited from lush ballads from producers such as [[Babyface]] and [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]], who brought Michael Jackson's sister [[Janet Jackson]] to fame during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As a solo artist, Babyface and contemporaries such as [[Brian McKnight]] eschewed prominent hip-hop influences, and recorded in a smooth, soft style of R&B termed [[quiet storm]].

*[http://www.pequannock.org/ Pequannock School District]

*[http://www.hometownlocator.com/ZCTA.cfm?ZIPCode=07440 2000 Census Information]

In the early [[1990s]], [[alternative rock]], [[adult contemporary]], and [[gangsta rap]] ruled the charts, and R&B artists began adding even more of a rap/hip-hop sound to their work. New jack swing had its synthesizer-heavy rhythm tracks replaced by grittier [[East Coast hip-hop]] inspired backing tracks, resulting in a genre labeled "[[hip-hop soul]]" by [[Sean "Puffy" Combs]], producer for [[Mary J. Blige]]. Blige and other hip-hop soul artists such as [[R. Kelly]], [[Montell Jordan]], [[Brandy (entertainer)|Brandy]], and [[Aaliyah]], moreso than their slicker new jack swing predecessors, brought hip-hop slang, style, and attitudes to R&B music

*[http://www.pequannocklacrosse.org/ Pequannock Lacrosse Club]

*[http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/njpequa.htm Revolutionary Petition of Patriots (May 1776)]

During the mid-[[1990s]], highly successful aritsts like the aforementioned Boyz II Men, [[Mariah Carey]], and girl group [[TLC]] brought contemporary R&B to the mainstream. Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey recorded several [[Billboard Hot 100]] #1 hits, including the longest-running #1 hit in Hot 100 history, "[[One Sweet Day]]". In addition, both Boyz II Men and TLC released albums in [[1994]], ''[[II (Boyz II Men album)|II]]'' and ''[[CrazySexyCool]]'', respectively, that sold over ten million copies, earning them [[RIAA certification|diamond]] certification from the [[Recording Industry Association of America]]. Other top-selling R&B aritsts from this era included singer [[Toni Braxton]], singer/songwriter/producer [[R. Kelly]], and girl group [[En Vogue]].

During the later part of the decade, [[neo soul]], which added a [[1970s]] soul music influence to the hip-hop soul blend, arose, led by artists such as [[D'Angelo]], [[Lauryn Hill]], and [[Maxwell (musician)|Maxwell]]. Several artists, most notably [[Missy Elliott]] further blurred the line between R&B and hip-hop by recording in both genres simultaneously.

During the late-[[1990s]] and early [[2000s]], the influence of pop on R&B could be heard in the work of several pop musicians, most notably [[Jennifer Lopez]] and the later recordings of [[*NSYNC]] and the early recordings of [[98 Degrees]]. *NSYNC's lead singer [[Justin Timberlake]] went on to make several successful solo recordings that showed heavy influences from both R&B and hip hop music. Other pop stars who perform heavily R&B influenced pop music (sometimes referred to as "dirty pop","urban pop", or a modern definition of "hip-pop") include [[Britney Spears]], [[Gwen Stefani]], and [[Pink (musician)|Pink]].

In the [[United Kingdom]], R&B found its way into the [[UK garage]] subgenre of [[2Step]], typified by R&B-style singing accompanied by [[breakbeat]]/[[jungle music|jungle]] rhythms. Among the most notable 2Step artists is [[Craig David]], who crossed over to American R&B audiences in the early 2000s.

In addition, several producers have developed specialized styles of song production. [[Timbaland]], for example, became notable for his hip-hop and [[jungle music|jungle]] based syncopated productions in the late-[[1990s]], during which time he produced R&B hits for [[Aaliyah]], [[Ginuwine]], and singer/rapper [[Missy Elliott]]. By the end of the decade, Timbaland's influences had shifted R&B songs towards a sound that apporximated his own, with slightly less of a hip-hop feel. [[Lil' Jon]] became famous for a style he termed "crunk & b", deriving its influences fro mthe [[Southern hip hop]] subclassification of [[crunk]] music. Jon gave his main R&B artist, [[Ciara]], the title of "the Princess of Crunk & B", and [[Brooke Valentine]] and Usher have also recorded R&B songs with strong crunk influences.

===The present day===

By the [[2000s]], the cross-pollination between R&B and hip-hop had increased to the point where, in most cases, the only difference between a record being a hip-hop record or an R&B record is whether its vocals are rapped or sung. Modern R&B lacks the [[hardcore hip hop|hardcore]] and soulful urban "grinding" feel on which hip hop-soul relied, and began to focus more on solo acts rather than groups as the [[2000s in music|2000s]] progressed. Some of the artists who have successfully recorded in this style include [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]], [[Beyoncé Knowles|Beyoncé]] and [[Destiny's Child]], [[Mario (singer)|Mario]], [[Ashanti]], "the Princess of Hip Hop and R&B", and [[Ciara]], the "Princess of Crunk & B".

Other artists, such as [[Alicia Keys]] and [[Angie Stone]], moved on to neo soul instead. Neo soul continues to be popular, with new artists like [[John Legend]] and ''[[American Idol]]'' winner [[Fantasia Barrino|Fantasia]] showcasing classic influences in their work. Some R&B singers have used elements of [[Caribbean music]] in their work, especially [[dancehall]] and [[reggaeton]].

Quiet storm, while still existent, is no longer a dominant presence on the pop charts, and is generally confined to urban [[adult contemporary]] radio. Most of the prominent quiet storm artists, including Babyface and Gerald Levert, began their careers in the 1980s and 1990s, although newer artists such as [[Kem]] also record in the quiet storm style, and its influence can still be seen in singles such as [[Mariah Carey]]'s "[[We Belong Together]]"

==Contemporary R&B subgenres==

These are the major subgenres of ''contemporary R&B'', roughly, in chronological order of popularity.

===Quiet storm===

{{see details|Quiet Storm}}

Quiet storm is a broad category of R&B and jazz-based music that is mellow, laid-back and often romantic. Its name comes from an innovative radio show that originated at [[WHUR]] at Howard University in the mid-1970s, named after [[Smokey Robinson]]'s hit [[1975]] single and album ''[[Quiet Storm]]''. Unlike contemporary R&B, quiet storm shows little influence from hip-hop, and generally plays to the urban adult contemporary crowd. The genre achieved great mainstream success during the [[1980s]] with artists like [[Luther Vandross]], [[Anita Baker]], and [[Sade Adu|Sade]]. Among other notable quiet storm musicians are [[Lionel Richie]], [[Gerald Levert]], [[Joe Thomas|Joe]], and [[Brian McKnight]].

===New jack swing===

{{see details|New jack swing}}

A fusion of hip-hop music and R&B, new jack swing was distinguished by significant use of [[rapping|rapped]] choruses or bridges and prominent use of drum machines such as the [[Roland TR-808]]. [[Teddy Riley]] and his group [[Guy (music group)|Guy]] are credited with being the inventor of the genre; other notable figures include [[Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis]], [[Jodeci]], and [[Boyz II Men]]. A female alternative, '''new jill swing''', was championed by acts such as [[Janet Jackson]], [[Shanice]], [[TLC]], and [[SWV]].

===Hip-hop soul===

{{see details|Hip-hop soul}}

Essentially new jack swing for the [[1990s]], hip-hop soul took the style further towards a pure hip-hop sound, usually accompanied by a nervy, [[gangsta rap]]-esque image. Among its most notable figures were [[Montell Jordan]], [[BLACKstreet]], [[Groove Theory]], and the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul", [[Mary J. Blige]]. Note that despite the use of the term "soul" in the genre's name, it is actually a subgenre of R&B, not soul music (a genre which died out in the early 1980s.)

===Neo soul===

{{see details|Neo soul}}

Neo soul blends a hip-hop influenced R&B sound with the classic soul of the 1970s. True neo soul is characterized by an earthy feel, accented by soul-styled harmonies, and accomponied by [[alternative hip hop]] beats. It generally has a much less mainstream sound than general R&B music. Some artists of this genre include [[Tony! Toni! Toné!]], [[D'Angelo]], [[Erykah Badu]], [[Lauryn Hill]], and [[Jill Scott]]. The genre is most noted for the inclusion of [[Alicia Keys]] onto its roster, although some question her inclusion, as they feel her version of neo soul has been "dumbed down" for mass consumption.

==See also==

* [[List of R&B musicians]]

==Samples==

<!--Needed: Luther Vandross, New Edition, SOS Band, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, etc.-->

*[[Media:Untitled(HowDoesItFeel).ogg|Download sample]] of [[D'Angelo]]'s "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" from ''[[Voodoo (album)|Voodoo]]''; accompanied by a controversial video featuring nothing but the nude singer, D'Angelo, who is one of the most renowned male artists of the [[hip hop]]/R&B/70's soul fusion [[neo soul]]

[[Category:R&B]]

[[Category:Radio formats]]

[[Category:American styles of music]]

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