rhythm and blues

noun

Updated on: 28 Mar 2018

Definition of rhythm and blues

: popular music typically including elements of blues and African-American folk music and marked by a strong beat and simple chord structure

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Recent Examples of rhythm and blues from the Web

Hosted by Anchorage radio personality Don Megga, the show features local artists celebrating the works of rhythm and blues legends such as Lauryn Hill, Luther Vandross and Prince.

— yoshina okamoto, Anchorage Daily News, "Coming up: Dervish, Step Afrika! and Songs for a Mad King," 23 Mar. 2018
The eight-piece outfit from Birmingham, Alabama hearkened back to a time when Al Green mixed his gospel beliefs with rhythm and blues.

— jason keil, azcentral, "Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band keep spirit of Grateful Dead alive at Pot of Gold," 18 Mar. 2018
Jackson and the Janks -- A fusion of traditional and gospel songs with New Orleans rhythm and blues.

— kara martinez bachman, NOLA.com, "This spring, North Shore music fans have a plethora of options to catch outdoor concerts," 14 Mar. 2018
Crenshaw, a retired electrician, said Mahoney — who enjoyed rhythm and blues and at one point worked for the D.C. government — had lived in the apartment building about five years and had an ex-wife and children.

— peter hermann, Washington Post, "Man charged in fatal stabbing of 71-year-old Northwest D.C. resident," 27 Feb. 2018
Two members of Tower of Power seriously injured by train in Oakland (Jan. 12): Two members of longtime Oakland rhythm and blues band Tower of Power were hit by a train in Oakland near Jack London Square minutes before a scheduled show at Yoshi’s.

— aidin vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, "With tragedy and tumult, 2017 was a grim year for Bay Area music," 29 Dec. 2017
While singing in a church choir, she was discovered by an agent and joined a rhythm and blues band.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Vernon Edition," 26 Dec. 2017
Jacob's Well Coffeehouse ROCKVILLE — Jacob's Well Coffeehouse will kick off its 2018 season with gospel, rhythm and blues music by the Corinne Kelley Collier Quartet on Friday, Jan. 5.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Vernon Edition," 26 Dec. 2017
The band melds rhythm and blues, rock and hip-hop into a strong, meaty sound, emphasizing repertoire from various pockets of the city’s music scene.

— New York Times, "Pop, Rock and Jazz in NYC This Week," 21 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rhythm and blues.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.