Radio Zona

Rhythm and blues, along with soul music wound their way up the ladder of popular music genres as far back as the 1920s and 30s.

As inspirations for much of what we know in rock and roll and in the R&B genre itself, R&B and soul needed the likes of powerhouses such as James Brown and Aretha Franklin to hit the mainstream.

Because of its roots in African American culture and rhythms, it took some time for R&B and soul to reach the rest of the world, except when covered by a country music star or Elvis Presley.

Today, the genre is home to much of the same smooth, soulful crooning that made it popular 50 years ago, with the modern touch of being more provocative.

Artists such as Usher, R. Kelly, and Mary J. Blige belt out soulful, soothing, and oft times sexy tracks to the delight of millions.

At turns inspirational, explosive, and heart rending, R&B and soul has long been a defining pillar of American music history.