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  • James Lee Purify, Sr. (1944 - 2021)
  • Herbert C. Abramson (1916 - 1999)
    He was born in 1916 in Brooklyn, New York City and initially studied to be a dentist but he landed a job with National Records producing such performers as The Ravens, Billy Eckstine and Joe Turner. Ab...
  • Ashley Ingram
    Member of the Group.. Imagination
  • Errol Kennedy
    Errol Kennedy (born 9 June 1953 in Montego Bay, Jamaica) is a Jamaican-British musician (drummer, singer), songwriter, composer, producer and original member of the British soul, funk and pop band Im...
  • Leee John
    Leslie McGregor "Leee" John (born 23 June 1957) is a British musician, singer and actor of St Lucian descent. He was born in Hackney, London, and educated in New York City, later studying drama at th...

Contemporary R&B, also simply known as R&B, is a music genre that combines elements of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, pop, hip hop and dance.

Although the abbreviation "R&B" originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African-American music originating after the decline of funk and disco in the 1980s.

Some sources refer to the style as urban contemporary (the name of the radio format that plays hip hop and contemporary R&B).

Contemporary R&B has a polished record production style, drum machine-backed rhythms, an occasional saxophone-laced beat to give a jazz feel (mostly common in contemporary R&B songs prior to the year 1995), and a smooth, lush style of vocal arrangement. Electronic influences are becoming an increasing trend, and the use of hip hop or dance-inspired beats are typical, although the roughness and grit inherent in hip hop may be reduced and smoothed out. Contemporary R&B vocalists are often known for their use of melisma, popularized by vocalists such as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey.