From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966
R&B Influential Popularity On Rise In Mainstream Pop Here and The U. K.
O P I N I O N
Chicago — In 1966, Rhythm and Blues has achieved a peak position as a powerful influence on the total music business. A study of the Hot 100 chart will show that dozens of top selling records are R&B oriented, and this fact has not been lost upon the manufacturers. Key labels — major and independents — are making every attempt to improve their stance in the R&B field.
Examples are many: Capitol Records in recent months has been adding personnel with the distinct aim of improving that label’s image in the R&B market. United Artists Records has revived it’s Veep label as an R&B vehicle. Mercury Records here in Chicago, is making a determined push to solidify their brand in the R&B field. It is known as well that RCA Records plans a more greater, expanded field in current R&B activities with their sound.
But the phenomenon does not stop here. R&B is very big overseas — particularly in England. In addition to R&B records selling strongly there, the British record business currently mirrors a strong influence in pop market preference for the current R&B popularity.
This is all to the good, for it represents on the part of the music-record business an awareness that R&B is one of the great streams of American music.
The R&B idiom encompasses blues in all it’s variety, and blues is the bedrock of much of jazz; it encompasses the gospel, or “church” sound; it encompasses rock and roll; and via the blues strains it includes much of American folk music. In brief, R&B has brought to the music industry a vitality and depth which can derive only from the roots.
That this is now so fully understood reflects credit on the record industry and the record buyer. It is to the credit of NARA (National Association of Radio Announcers) and its members that there is now a keen awareness of the importance of the field.
Finally, it must be pointed out that success entails a burden or obligation which is willingly borne by those who are dedicated. It is NARA’s obligation to do all it’s power to maintenance the excellence of R&B music; to foster it’s growth on all cultural and economical levels. END
___
(Information and news source: Billboard; August 13, 1966)
