59 Fun Facts About R&B

Which Billboard writer coined 'rhythm and blues' in 1948, replacing 'race music' on the charts?

He later became a legendary Atlantic Records producer for Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles.

What was Billboard's first chart of records popular with African American listeners, from 1942, called?

It was renamed Rhythm and Blues in 1949, and that name lasted on the chart until 1969.

Ruth Brown's string of 1950s hits earned which label the nickname 'the house that Ruth built'?

The pun borrows Yankee Stadium's nickname; Brown later helped found the Rhythm and Blues Foundation to fight for royalties.

Which singer nicknamed 'The Genius' pioneered soul in the 1950s and was later played by Jamie Foxx?

Friends called him 'Brother Ray'; his 'Georgia on My Mind' was the first of his three Hot 100 number ones.

The Genius's first Billboard 200 number one, in 1962, was a collection of what kind of songs?

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music helped merge country, R&B and pop audiences.

Sam Cooke, the 'King of Soul', died in 1964 after being shot by whom?

The Los Angeles courts ruled it justifiable homicide, a verdict his family has questioned ever since.

Which singer known as 'Mr. Excitement' had hits with 'Lonely Teardrops' and 'Higher and Higher'?

His stage moves influenced Elvis Presley, James Brown and Michael Jackson.

Etta James's signature 1960 ballad, later a wedding-dance staple, is called what?

She sang everything from gospel to rock and roll, and won three Grammys late in her career.

Berry Gordy founded Motown's first label, Tamla Records, in which year?

The company was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation the following year.

The Motown studio at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit was known by what name?

Gordy bought it as a photography studio in 1959 and lived upstairs for the first few years.

How many Hot 100 number ones did the Supremes score, a record for an American vocal group?

Most were written and produced by the Holland-Dozier-Holland team.

Stevie Wonder is the only artist to win Album of the Year with how many consecutive releases?

Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life did it between 1973 and 1976.

The 1972 hit 'Superstition' is famous for the sound of which keyboard instrument?

It was Wonder's first Hot 100 number one in a decade.

Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' was originally written and recorded by which singer?

On hearing her version he reportedly said, 'That little girl done took my song away from me.'

In 1987 Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into which institution?

Rolling Stone has twice named her the greatest singer of all time.

How did the singer of '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay', the first posthumous Hot 100 No. 1, die?

Otis Redding recorded it with guitarist Steve Cropper days before his death; it was released in January 1968.

Which Motown singer's 1971 album What's Going On let him break free of the label's production system?

He went on to produce Let's Get It On, I Want You and the divorce album Here, My Dear himself.

The 'Prince of Motown' was shot dead in 1984 by whom, one day before his 45th birthday?

'Sexual Healing', released two years earlier, had won him his first two Grammys.

Al Green's biggest hits, produced by Willie Mitchell, were on which two-letter Memphis label?

Mitchell coached him to stop imitating Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke and find his own falsetto.

Which Al Green song is considered his signature tune?

He became an ordained pastor and spent the 1980s recording gospel.

Barry White's 1974 number-one instrumental hit was credited to which 40-piece ensemble he conducted?

He got his break in 1972 producing the girl group Love Unlimited before his own bass-voiced hits.

Earth, Wind & Fire was formed in 1969 in which city by Maurice White?

The band grew out of White's earlier group, the Salty Peppers, and has sold over 90 million records.

Before his solo career, Teddy Pendergrass was the lead singer of which Philadelphia group?

A 1982 car crash left him paralysed from the chest down, but he kept recording.

Chaka Khan first found fame in the 1970s as lead vocalist of which funk band?

Her 1984 cover of Prince's 'I Feel for You' was the first R&B crossover hit to feature a rapper.

Chaka Khan's debut solo single 'I'm Every Woman' later became a pop hit for which singer?

The 1992 cover appeared on The Bodyguard soundtrack, the best-selling soundtrack ever.

Which single gave Prince the No. 1 US film, album and single simultaneously in 1984?

He later changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol during a dispute with Warner Bros.

Which producer, leader of the group Guy and later Blackstreet, is called the inventor of new jack swing?

The style fused hip-hop beats with R&B vocals and ruled the charts from the late 1980s to the early 1990s.

Which two Janet Jackson albums, made with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, turned her into a global star?

Rhythm Nation 1814 remains the only album to place seven singles in the Hot 100 top five.

Anita Baker rose to fame in 1986 with which platinum album, home to the Grammy-winning 'Sweet Love'?

She had started out in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8.

Sade, the band behind 'Smooth Operator', formed in 1982 in which city?

They have not had a drummer since 1986 and use session players instead.

Luther Vandross won the 2004 Grammy for Song of the Year for which ballad?

He racked up eleven consecutive platinum albums and over 40 million records sold.

The famous rendition of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at Super Bowl XXV, later a top-20 single, came in which year?

It came just before The Bodyguard made her a movie star as well.

'I Will Always Love You', from The Bodyguard soundtrack, still holds which record?

Along with 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' it is among the best-selling singles of all time.

Boyz II Men's 'End of the Road' set a then-record in 1992 by spending how many weeks at number one?

The group broke the record twice more, with 'I'll Make Love to You' and 'One Sweet Day'.

Boyz II Men set another chart record with 'One Sweet Day', a 1995 duet with which singer?

Their debut Cooleyhighharmony had launched them in 1991 with 'Motownphilly'.

Which TLC album received a diamond certification from the RIAA?

The Atlanta trio's four number ones were 'Creep', 'Waterfalls', 'No Scrubs' and 'Unpretty'.

En Vogue, formed in Oakland in 1989, reached number two on the Hot 100 with which debut single?

Only the Supremes have scored more number-one R&B singles among female groups.

Jodeci, the quartet behind 'Forever My Lady' and 'Stay', formed in 1988 in which city?

K-Ci and JoJo later scored a huge hit as a duo with 'All My Life'.

Mary J. Blige's 1992 debut, credited with bringing hip-hop soul to the mainstream, is called what?

Its 1993 remix album was the first by a singer to feature a rapper on every track.

Toni Braxton's biggest hit, 'Un-Break My Heart', was written by which songwriter?

It followed 'You're Makin' Me High' as the second Hot 100 number one from her album Secrets.

How many number-one R&B hits has producer Babyface written and produced?

He co-founded LaFace Records with L.A. Reid and has won 13 Grammys.

'The Boy Is Mine', a 1998 number one, was a duet between Monica and which singer?

Both singers titled their second album after it, and both albums are their best sellers.

The singer of 'Have You Ever?' starred in which UPN sitcom from 1996 to 2001?

She also played Cinderella opposite Whitney Houston in the 1997 TV film.

One diva's first five US singles all hit number one, starting with her 1990 debut. Which was the first?

The streak ran from her 1990 debut to the title track of Emotions.

Which rapper featured on the 1995 'Fantasy' remix that introduced its singer's hip-hop-flavoured sound?

She leaned into that sound on Butterfly and Rainbow later in the decade.

Lauryn Hill's 1998 debut album made her the first woman to win how many Grammys in one night?

She was also the first rapper to win Album of the Year.

Erykah Badu's 1997 debut, which made her the 'Queen of Neo Soul', is titled what?

Her career began when she opened for D'Angelo in Fort Worth in 1994.

D'Angelo's 1995 debut, credited with launching the neo-soul movement, is called what?

It included a cover of Smokey Robinson's 'Cruisin'' and the top-ten hit 'Lady'.

Usher's 2004 album Confessions is certified 14-times platinum. Which of its four number ones came first?

It remains the best-selling album by a Black artist this century.

Alicia Keys's debut album, which won five Grammys and contained 'Fallin'', is titled what?

She was signed by Columbia at 15 but left after disputes to release it on J Records.

Destiny's Child, formed in Houston in 1990, originally performed under what name?

The quartet signed with Columbia in 1996 and broke through with 'No, No, No'.

How many Grammys had Beyoncé won after the 2025 ceremony, the most of any artist?

She reached 35 at the 2025 ceremony, and is also the only woman whose first eight studio albums each debuted at number one.

Ne-Yo first got noticed for writing which 2004 hit for Mario?

Its success led to a Def Jam contract under Jay-Z and his own breakthrough 'So Sick'.

Rihanna was declared a National Hero of which country in 2021?

She had already been named an ambassador by its government in 2018, and is the first female musician billionaire.

The Weeknd released three mixtapes in 2011 that were later compiled into which album?

House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence had been released after he began posting music anonymously in 2009.

Frank Ocean joined which Los Angeles hip-hop collective in 2010 before releasing Nostalgia, Ultra?

His 2012 debut Channel Orange helped define alternative R&B.

SZA signed to which label in 2013, later releasing her acclaimed debut Ctrl there?

She had first gained attention online with two self-released EPs.

Silk Sonic, whose 'Leave the Door Open' topped the Hot 100, pairs Bruno Mars with which artist?

Mars invited him to record during the 24K Magic World Tour.

What does the stage name H.E.R. stand for?

Gabriella Wilson adopted the name in 2016 and has since won an Oscar and five Grammys.