When did Marvin Gaye release the album What's Going On?
Marvin Gaye released the album What's Going On in 1973. This record introduced jazz influences that loosened the rigid structures of earlier rhythm and blues.
Questions about Contemporary R&B
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who produced the new jack swing sound in 1986?
Teddy Riley began producing recordings that included hip hop influences in 1986 to create what critics called new jack swing. Janet Jackson followed with Control in 1986 alongside producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who crafted a new sound fusing funk rhythms with heavy synthesizers and percussion.
Which soundtrack became the best-selling soundtrack of all time?
Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard soundtrack sold over 45 million copies worldwide in 1992 to become the best-selling soundtrack of all time. Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey recorded several Billboard Hot 100 number one hits together including One Sweet Day which became the longest-running number one hit in Hot 100 history.
What year did the Grammy Awards enact Best R&B Album starting in 1995?
The Grammy Awards enacted Best R&B Album starting in 1995 when Boyz II Men won the first award for their album II. TLC won in 1996 for CrazySexyCool, Tony Rich took the prize in 1997 for Words, Erykah Badu won in 1998 for Baduizm, and Lauryn Hill claimed it in 1999 for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
How did electronic influences change modern R&B in the 2010s?
Electronic influences and machine-made instruments began dominating the genre in the 2010s with Auto-Tune and new computerized synths giving R&B a more futuristic feel. Apple Music defined electro-R&B as existing at the intersection of R&B and electronic music while creating abstract hip-hop blending the moodier end of electro with minimal beats.