Enduring Soul: R&B Throughout The Years

Feb 16

Author: Julianna Cooper, Challenge America Program Coordinator

The music we now know as R&B or “Rhythm and Blues” spans a wide variety of sounds, even within the genre. Whether a fan of “Old School” R&B or an avid listener of the new wave of R&B artists, this music is defined by the Library of Congress as” a style of music developed after World War II that combines elements of pop, gospel, blues and jazz with a strong back beat.”

Today, we’re taking a stroll down memory lane, featuring an R&B song from each decade since its name - “Rhythm and Blues” - was coined in the 1940s.

1940s:
Caldonia (1946) - Louis Jordan and The Tympany Five

1950s:
I’ve Got a Woman (1957) - Ray Charles

1960s:
I Say A Little Prayer (1968) - Aretha Franklin

1970s:
O-o-h Child (1970) - The Five Stairsteps

1980s:
I Feel for You (1984) - Chaka Khan

1990s:
No Scrubs (1999) - TLC

2000s:
Crazy In Love (2003) - Beyonce

2010s:
Best Part (2017) - Daniel Caesar ft. H.E.R.

2020s:
Good Days (2020) - SZA

These picks don’t even scratch the surface of the amazing R&B music out there!

We’d love to know: what’s your favorite R&B song?