The Song Planner

Blues-R&B Groove

tagStarted 1940s rhythm-and-blues roots, with modern groove emphasis from the 1960s onwardPeak 1950s-1970s; continuing in soul-bluesLast big hit active through Southern soul-blues, adult R&B/blues and roots radio

Located in 1 route

Blues → Blues-Funk / Groove Blues

Blues-R&B Groove is blues aligned with rhythm-and-blues: backbeat, danceable pulse, horn riffs, organ, compact hooks and vocals that can sit between club blues and soul. It is less raw than country or Chicago blues and less explicitly funk than blues-funk, but rhythm is still the point. The tag fits blues songs built to sway, step, ride or work a room, especially where the hook matters as much as the solo.

History

Rhythm and blues grew directly from jump blues, urban blues, gospel and swing, so groove has always been part of blues history. Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Little Milton, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Johnny Otis, Junior Parker, Z.Z. Hill and Robert Cray each connected blues feeling to R&B structures. Soul-blues later kept that connection alive for adult audiences after mainstream R&B moved toward pop and hip-hop.

Defining artists

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Essential listening

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← Explore Blues

Sources

  • R&B/blues histories
  • soul-blues discographies
  • artist biographies
  • streaming/video checks