Several of the musicologists that we consulted suggested that R&B or rhythm and blues should be a separate form of music.

This music was created in the 1950s by such greats as The Clovers, Bo Diddley, Ruth Brown and Muddy Waters.

One of the first supporters of the Hall and also on the Board of Advisors, the late Harry Turner, wrote a very informative book telling about his life-long love for R&B entitled This Magic Moment.

Over the years Harry became friends with hundreds of the artists that have made what he calls America’s Golden Music.

Here’s what Harry had to say about the beginning of R&B: “And with the advent of R&B music, music traditionalists were repulsed by this unsophisticated music form. To them, music should only have been performed and recorded by trained students of music. Imagine how offended they must have been by this upstart music, performed largely by less educated blacks and aimed at black audiences!”

Besides The Clovers and Ruth Brown, Harry states that Joe Turner, Chuck Willis, Ray Charles, Lavern Baker, the Drifters, Clyde McPhatter and Ivory Joe Hunter were also pioneers in R&B music.

As R&B became more popular, the music world began to see what has been been called by the music industry: cross over and “cover” records.

Here’s what Harry Turner had to say: “Sales of records by black artists increased ‘crossover’ appeal to white kids. And seeing the popularity of the music among us teenagers, record companies (even major labels) realized there was a simple way to appeal to more kids. Using popular mainstream artists, they re-recorded songs that were already moving up the record charts. Radio stations that never would have aired the original black or country versions quickly played the homogenized versions.”

“This was the birth of the infamous ‘cover’ record. The covers were tamer than the originals, and parents’ fears were eased sufficiently to allow their kids to buy more records.”

“With all this going against it, how did R&B get even as far as it did? The jukebox certainly played a part. Millions of kids were greatly influenced by what they heard on the jukeboxes in establishments throughout the country. Places that featured jukeboxes often had areas for dancing, so it was natural that jukebox operators provide as much danceable music as possible. R&B was the first danceable music of all, and there was no juke box censorship.”

R&B producer Ralph Bass has stated that early rock n roll did as much to break down America’s racial barriers as the civil rights acts and marches.

Harry concludes his book saying that R&B has certainly not died. Just witness the movies that have capitalized on this form of music: American Graffiti, The Big Chill, American Hot Wax, Pretty Woman, Sister Act, etc. Also the sales of CDs by such greats as Fats Domino, James Brown and Elvis have skyrocketed.