Page "Rhythm and blues" Paragraph 3

Writer / producer Robert Palmer defined rhythm & blues as " a catchall term referring to any music that was made by and for black Americans ".

He has used the term " R & B " as a synonym for jump blues.

However, Allmusic separates it from jump blues because of its stronger, gospel-esque backbeat.

Lawrence Cohn, author of Nothing but the Blues, writes that " rhythm and blues " was an umbrella term invented for industry convenience.

According to him, the term embraced all black music except classical music and religious music, unless a gospel song sold enough to break into the charts.

Well into the 21st century, the term R & B continues in use ( in some contexts ) to categorize music made by black musicians, as distinct from styles of music made by other musicians.