rhythm and blues

American  

[rith-uhm uhn blooz] / ˈrɪð əm ən ˈbluz /

Also rhythm-and-blues

noun

1. a folk-based but urbanized form of Black popular music that is marked by strong, repetitious rhythms and simple melodies and was developed, in a commercialized form, into rock-'n'-roll.

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rhythm and blues British  

noun

1. R B. (functioning as singular) any of various kinds of popular music derived from or influenced by the blues

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Etymology

Origin of rhythm and blues

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rhythm and blues

Americans were settling down, ballrooms were fading, and audiences were turning to bebop, rhythm and blues, and singers such as Frank Sinatra.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026

One of the most successful African musical act of the 2000s, husband and wife duo Amadou & Mariam achieved global fame by combining West African influences with rhythm and blues.

From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2025

“To me, it was just great music. And it was mixed with the rhythm and blues. Between hearing the rhythm and blues and the bluegrass, I always wanted to put ‘em together.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2024

He never learned to read or score music, but he had a strong ear for pop idioms, including country, jazz, and rhythm and blues.

From New York Times ● May 1, 2024

Organizers invited an exhilarating mix of performers: there would be rock and roll, rhythm and blues, folk and country.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

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