History of Pop Music

Origins  Rhythm and Blues was the description given to music that was primarily marketed to African-Americans during the 1940s.  R & B is a term that has been used to describe different types of music over the years. 1940s & 1950s: Blues 1960s: Motown & Soul 1970s: Soul & Funk 1980s-Present: Soul & hip hop  R & B used to be called “race” music until 1948 at which point it was deemed offensive and changed.  Early R & B sounded very similar to early rock n’ roll and at times was basically synonymous.  Early artists include: Lloyd Price, Solomon Burke, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, and Nat King Cole Sam Cooke Lloyd Price Fats Domino Ray Charles Nat King Cole

Doo Wop Type of music that developed during the 1950s and 1960s in Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago. Based around vocal harmonies. Important Doo Wop groups included: Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, The Platters, The Penguins, The Ink Spots, The Drifters, and the Five Satins Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers

Motown  Motown was founded by Berry Gordy in 1960 in Detroit, MI.  The first artist signed to Motown was Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.  Between 1961 and 1971, Motown had 110 top 10 hits.  Motown boasted a stable of artists greater than any other, the list includes all of the following: The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells, The Spinners, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jr. Walker, Lionel Ritchie, Rick James, Boys II Men, Erykah Badu.The Temptations

Memphis Soul  While Berry Gordy was recording in Detroit, a number of artists were creating great music in Memphis, TN.  The two main record labels were Stax and Hi Records.  The sound was a little rougher than Motown, complete with horns and saxophones.  The Memphis artists include the following: Otis Redding, Rufus & Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, Al Green, Booker T. & the MGs, The Staple Singers, Wilson Pickett Otis Redding, Isaac HayesAl Green

Other Important Artists of the 60s & 70s  Soul music became more important than just music, it united people in a way that other music did not.  Artists came from all corners of the United States, including Chicago, Philadelphia, NYC, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and other major cities.  Some of the major artists of this era include: Aretha Franklin (Queen of Soul) James Brown (Godfather of Soul) James Brown Curtis Mayfield Sly & the Family Stone, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Barry White, The Isley Brothers, Etta James, Archie Bell & the Drells, Ike & Tina Turner, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Parliament Funkadelic, Teddy Pendergrass, & Gil Scot- Heron. Sly & the Family StoneIke & Tina TurnerParliament Funkadelic

Michael Jackson, Prince, & the 1980s  R & B’s popularity hit a new high in the 1980s due to the unrivaled popularity of Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston.Michael Jackson PrinceWhitney Houston Prince video  The creation of MTV in the early 1980s turned many R & B artists into even bigger sensations.  Other artists who enjoyed popularity during the 1980s: New Edition/Bobby Brown New Edition Luther Vandross Janet Jackson Rick James Teena Marie Cameo

1990s R & B  Artists from the 1980s still continued to dominate the charts during the 90s (MJ, Prince, Janet)MJ  New artists began to emerge during the 1990s that would become major forces in popular music. (Mariah Carey, Usher, TLC, R. Kelly, Aaliyah)Mariah Carey Aaliyah  90s R & B had many different styles and faces: Neo-Doo Wop (Boys II Men, Shai) Smooth (R. Kelly, Keith Sweat) Hip Hop (Mary J. Blige, SWV) Neo-Soul (Maxwell, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, Jill Scott)Maxwell Erykah BaduJill Scott

R & B Today  R & B still dominates the radio stations, clubs, and youth culture.  Some recent artists have had crossover success with the general public. (Destiny’s Child/Beyonce, Usher, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, John Legend)Alicia Keys  Other artists have pushed R & B into different more adventurous areas (Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, How to Dress Well, & Miguel)Frank Ocean