Who put the "bop" in the bop-shebop-bop?
Who put the "ram" in the rama-lama-dingdong?
Starting as a 1940s mix of blues and jazz, R&B was by 1950 a diverse music. At its most bluesy, R&B got called "jump blues" and "boogie;" at its smoothest, it got called "doo-wop;" in the 1960s it got called "soul" often there were audible gospel and country influences. [Arkansas's R&B stars include Little Willie John, Junior Walker, the multi-generic star Louis Jordan, and Al Green.] Under any and all names, R&B was the single most important source of rock 'n' roll.
|
