What is Rhythm and blues?
{{Infobox Music genre | name = Rhythm and Blues (R&B) | color = white | bgcolor = #0069E1 | stylistic_origins = {{hlist|[[Jazz]]|[[Blues]]|[[Jump blues]]|[[Gospel music|Gospel]]|[[Electric blues]]}} | cultural_origins = ''[[1940s]]''; [[United States]] | instruments = {{hlist|[[Drum kit]]|[[Double bass]]|[[Saxophone]]|[[Horn (instrument)|Horns]]|[[Piano]]|[[Organ (music)|Organ]]|[[Electric guitar]]|[[Human voice|Vocals]]|[[Vocal harmony|Background vocalists]]}} | popularity = Significant from 1940s to 1960s; iconic afterwards | derivatives = {{hlist|[[Soul music|Soul]]|[[Funk]]|[[Doo-wop]]|[[Hip hop]]|[[Ska]]|[[Rocksteady]]|[[Reggae]]|[[Rock and roll]]|[[Punk rock]]|[[Electro music|Electro]]|[[Post-disco]]|[[Urban contemporary|Urban]]|[[Hard bop]]}} | subgenres = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B]]|[[Smooth R&B]]|[[Slow jam]]|[[Neo soul]]|[[Hip hop soul]]}} | fusiongenres = {{hlist|[[Juke Joint blues]]|[[rockabilly]]}} | regional_scenes = | local_scenes = [[New Orleans rhythm and blues|New Orleans R&B]] | other_topics = [[List of R&B musicians]] }} '''Rhythm and blues''' (also known as '''R&B''' or '''RnB''') is a [[Pop music|popular music]] genre combining [[jazz]], [[gospel music|gospel]], and [[blues]] influences, first performed by [[African American]] artists. It is now performed worldwide by people of many [[culture]]s and [[ethnic group]]s. == Contemporary R&B == During the [[1960s]], [[James Brown (musician)|James Brown]] and [[Sly & the Family Stone]] had used parts of [[psychedelic rock]] and other styles in their music. Funk became a big part of [[disco]] music. In the early 1980s, funk and soul had become [[sultry]] and more [[sexual]] with the work of [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and others. The modern style of ''contemporary R&B'' came to be a major part of [[American popular music]]. R&B today defines a style of African-American music. It combines elements of [[soul music]], [[funk music]], [[pop music]], and (after 1986)