Are you a fan of R&B music, but not Rock? Or Vice Versa?

Happy Monday, Musicheads!

This week’s discussion topic is one that’s near and dear to my heart, because I hear it repeatedly from folks all the time. You must understand that I grew up in a predominately African-American neighborhood, and no one I directly knew- not one single person- got down with Rock Music in the way I did. In fact, I used to get chastised regularly by both family and friends for listening to what they would call, and I quote “That White People Music!” But just as quickly as I could sing every lyric to “Shout” by Tears for Fears; I could rap every lyric to “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest without batting an eyelash. I’ve just always been THAT kid.

Fast forward to now, being over the age of 30, I like what I like, and could really care less about what anyone else thinks. But to this day, I could never understand why someone would want to live in a musical “box” like that; constantly in fear of expanding their horizons. Besides, the way I look at it, you can call it R&B, or call it Rock and Roll; but it’s really all relative anyhow. Going back as far as the 1950’s, Rhythm and Blues was considered the “Gold Standard” in popular music; and Rock and Roll was born and raised directly out of that spirit. Furthermore, if you take into consideration all of the genres and sub-genres that have been a product of Rock and Roll; that in itself, makes R&B the single-handed most influential art form to come out of American popular music.

Need more proof? Just ask our friends across the pond over in England. If you were to pose this question to any of the bands/solo acts that have come from there in the last 60 years:

“What artists or styles of music have influenced your sound?"

9 times out of 10, you’ll get the same types of answers: Howlin Wolf, Willie Dixon, Little Richard, and Ray Charles. Surprised? Hell, we wouldn’t have The Beatles if it weren’t for Chuck Berry. There would be no Eric Clapton if it weren’t for B.B. King…….and we quite literally wouldn’t have The Rolling Stones if it weren’t for Muddy Waters….Their group was named after one of his songs, for Goodness Sakes!

In turn, think about how many artists that have come along since The Sixties that probably would have never even thought about picking up an instrument if it weren’t for The Beatles, Eric Clapton, or The Rolling Stones. That’s 5.....Count if Off.....FIVE decades of music that was built on the backbeat of Rhythm and Blues.

So Are you a fan or R&B Music, but not Rock? Or Vice Versa? Sound off in the comments below, and tell us how you really feel.

Until Next Time…..