Soul-Blues / R&B-Blues

History

Emerging from postwar rhythm and blues and the later rise of soul, the family took blues structures and married them to church-derived singing, urban arrangements, and Southern studio polish. Artists such as Bobby “Blue” Bland, Etta James, Little Milton, and Z.Z. Hill made this lane commercially durable, while later Southern soul-blues circuits and Blues Foundation categories kept it visibly alive long after mainstream pop moved on.

Sub-genres in this family

15 sub-genres · 15 written up

Defining artists

• Bobby Blue BlandSpotifyYouTube
• Little MiltonSpotifyYouTube
• Etta JamesSpotifyYouTube
• Z.Z. HillSpotifyYouTube
• Bobby RushSpotifyYouTube
• Johnny RawlsSpotifyYouTube

Essential listening

• Turn On Your Love Light — Bobby Blue BlandSpotifyYouTube
• Walking the Back Streets and Crying — Little MiltonSpotifyYouTube
• Id Rather Go Blind — Etta JamesSpotifyYouTube
• Down Home Blues — Z.Z. HillSpotifyYouTube
• Chicken Heads — Bobby RushSpotifyYouTube
• Make Them Dance — Johnny RawlsSpotifyYouTube

Sources

• Britannica on rhythm and blues and key soul-blues figures
• NMAAHC on R&B and soul’s gospel-blues roots
• Blues Foundation definitions and soul-blues categories