R&B Drumming
R&B is a style of music that incorporates and includes soul, funk, hip-hop and rap music. The past masters of the broad genre include Luis Jordan in 1940’s, Ruth Brown in early 1950’s, Sam Cooke in mid 1950’s, Ray Charles in early 1960’s, James Brown and Aretha Franklin in the mid 1960’s, to Stevie Wonder to Michael Jackson in the late 1970’s to 1980’s.
The characteristics of R’nB drumming are heavy dance grooves, often fast tempos. The drum beat was of greater importance and drummers would play louder, recordings had drummers uncharacteristically higher in the mix (the drum track was loud) and therefore giving the groove greater prominence. With the song Superstition (1972), by Stevie Wonder, the track starts with a great drum groove and fill. Hip-Hop turned to the other extreme and was all drum groove or at least dominated by the groove.
Here are some examples of R’nB drumming by some of the past masters
Wonderful World (1960), Sam Cooke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VF6JMotbHYM
Superstition (1972), Steve Wonder
Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough (1979), Michael Jackson
References
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2QYLS-daoU0
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/33663
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_and_blues
Recommended Listening
Further Reading
Learn R&B drumming with West London Drum Tutor, Drum Lessons in Harrow, Greater London, UK
from west london drum tutor, drum tuition and lessons in Harrow, Hatch End, Harrow Wealdstone, Pinner, Headstone, Roxeth, Rayners Lane, Queensbury, Pinner North Harrow, South Harrow, Kenton, Belmont, Cannons Park, Green Hill, Harrow on the Hill, Ealing, Uxbridge, Stanmore, Edgware, Watford, Wembley, Hillingdon, Barnet, Hampstead, Rickmansworth, St. Johns Wood, Kilburn, Moorpark, Croxley, Northwood, Swiss Cottage, London, UK