Vocal Group / Harmony R&B
familyStarted 1947Peak 1954-1965, 1990-1998Last big hit still active
R&B built around the blended group voice rather than the beat. Stacked harmonies, call-and-response, tight unison runs and one lead floating over a cushion of background parts. Bass anchors, tenors and falsettos arc above, and the arrangement is the architecture. From street-corner doo-wop to multi-tracked 90s ensembles.
History
Grew from gospel quartets and 1940s jubilee groups into secular doo-wop on urban street corners. Labels like Atlantic, Chess and later Motown industrialized the group sound. The blend persisted through 70s soul harmony, then exploded again with 90s acts who layered studio overdubs, fusing barbershop precision with hip-hop attitude.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doo-wop
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/vocal-groups-ma0000004447
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_and_blues