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rhythm and blues
noun
: popular music typically including elements of blues and African American folk music and marked by a strong beat and simple chord structure
Examples of rhythm and blues in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stax Records was founded in the late 1950s and blended rhythm and blues styles into one sound.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024
Aykroyd had grown up in Ottawa, the Canadian capital, a worshipful acolyte of rhythm and blues.
—John Belushi, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024
The year was 1969 and Graham was all of 18 years old when he was invited to play with a rhythm and blues band.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 22 Feb. 2024
His show took us back in time to old school rhythm and blues, in what was the most gorgeous, stunning Super Bowl halftime show ever.
—Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024
The bar will feature jazz to rhythm and blues and reggae to rock bands once or twice a week.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 12 Feb. 2024
Dateline Jazz, rock ’n’ roll and rhythm and blues were Sessions’ favorites, his bandmates said.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 8 Dec. 2023
Dishes like butternut shrimp bisque, puppy drum amandine and roast duck in pecan gravy merge Cajun cuisine and urban Creole cooking in a style that has become as uniquely New Orleans as James Booker’s slippery rhythm and blues.
—Brett Anderson, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2023
With a first show so tasty and memorably laden with hit after hit – and this doesn’t even touch on the oddly complementary rhythm and blues jazz of Donald Fagen’s Steely Dan – the Eagles’ farewell easily competes with the likes of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé for tour of the year.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 8 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rhythm and blues.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1933, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near rhythm and blues
Cite this Entry
“Rhythm and blues.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhythm%20and%20blues. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
rhythm and blues
noun
: popular music with elements of blues and African American folk music
More from Merriam-Webster on rhythm and blues
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rhythm and blues
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