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Rhythm & Blues

Despite racial prejudice & segregation, white people listened to black music. As proof, look at the following grosses for a variety of black artists in 1944:

Late Night Radio Shows

DJs--all it took to become a disc jockey was a sponsor & an idea for the (15-30 minute) show ... anyone could host a program!!

 

Top DJs on AM Radio
Alan Freed
Murray the K
Wolfman Jack
Alan Freed Murray the K Wolfman Jack

 

Alan Freed video about Alan Freed & payolaFreed with (L to R) LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown & Clyde McPhatter

Freed with Little Richard & Bill Haley

Another DJ--Bill Haley (WPWA in Chester, PA) ... yes, that Bill Haley!

 

Precursors of Rock & Roll

Louis Jordan - "Caldonia" video of Louis Jordan

(#1 R&B, 1945)

 

R&B Artists

 

Listen to examples of Rhythm & Blues

Bessie Smith

greatest, most influential Blues singervideo of Bessie Smith

another fine blues singer: Billie Holiday: video of Billie Holiday

 

Each of the following R&B songs is in "12-bar blues" form ... [more examples]

Bessie Smith - Mean Old Bedbug Blues'Mean Old Bedbug Blues' by Bessie Smith

Other R&B Artists:

Memphis Slim - All By Myself'All By Myself' by Memphis Slim

Joe Turner & Pete Johnson - Roll 'em Pete'Roll 'em Pete' by Joe Turner & Pete Johnson

Otis Spann - Bloody Murder'Bloody Murder' by Otis Spann

Elmore James - Sunnyland'Sunnyland' by Elmore James

B.B. King - Sweet Sixteen'Sweet Sixteen' by B.B. King

Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog'Hound Dog' by Big Mama Thornton

Hottest single in the country (released 3/53),
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

Review musical characteristics on the "Converging Styles" handout
Pop - C&W - R&B

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