Rhythm and Blues in History

• 1992-06-30 "End of the Road" single released by Boyz II Men (Grammy Award Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song 1993, Billboard Song of the Year 1992)

• 1996-02-13 "The Score" second studio album by Fugees is released (Billboard no. 1 year end Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums 1996)

• 1998-06-21 "Don't Be Cruel" second studio album by Bobby Brown is released (Grammy Award Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, 1990)
• 1998-11-03 "400 Degreez" 3rd studio album by Juvenile is released (Billboard no. 1 year end Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums 1999)
• 1999-03-03 "Fortunate" single by soul singer Maxwell released (Billboard Music Award Best R&B Single of the Year, 1999)

• 2005-09-15 "Be Without You" single released by Mary J. Blige (Billboard Song of the Year 2006, Grammy Award Best R&B Song, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 2005)

• 2007-11-09 Alicia Keys releases her 3rd studio album "As I Am" (Grammy Award Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 2008, 2008 Billboard Album of the Year)
• 2011-09-12 "Love On Top" single released by Beyoncé (Grammy Award Best Traditional R&B Performance 2013, Billboard Song of the Year 2012)
• 2021-09-27 R&B artist R. Kelly is convicted on nine counts of racketeering and sex trafficking after a six-week trial in New York [1]

• 2023-05-19 Pop-R&B vocal group the Spinners donate nearly 400 stage outfits to the Motown Museum in Detroit, Michigan

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 116

• 1910-02-21 Al Sears, American jazz and R&B saxophonist (Duke Elllington Orchestra; Johnny Hodges - "Castle Rock"), born in Macomb, Illinois (d. 1990)
• 1910-08-08 (Lucius) "Lucky" Millinder, American swing and rhythm-and-blues bandleader (Rosetta Tharpe; Who Threw The Whiskey in the Well), born in Anniston, Alabama (d. 1966)
• 1911-07-10 (Charles) "Cootie" Williams, American jazz, jump-blues, and R&B trumpeter (Duke Ellington Orchestra, 1929-40 & 1962-74), born in Mobile, Alabama (d. 1985)
• 1913-05-31 Jimmy Shirley, American jazz and R&B electric guitarist, and early proponent of the Vibrola vibrato arm ("whammy bar"), born in Union, South Carolina (d. 1989)
• 1914-11-05 Jack McVea, American swing jazz, and R&B clarinetist, saxophonist, and bandleader, born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2000)
• 1915-04-30 Mabel Scott, American gospel and R&B vocalist ("Boogie Woogie Santa Claus"), born in Richmond, Virginia (d. 2000)
• 1916-07-07 Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes, American jazz and R&B guitarist (Art Tatum), born in Newport News, Virginia (d. 1989)
• 1916-07-09 Joe Liggins [Theodro Elliott], American jazz, R&B, and jump blues pianist, songwriter, and vocalist ("The Honeydripper"; "Pink Champagne"), born in Seminole, Oklahoma (d. 1987)
• 1917-01-10 Jerry Wexler, American music producer who coined the term "rhythm and blues" (Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2008)
• 1917-03-12 Leonard Chess [Lejzor Czyż], Polish-American blues and R&B record company executive (Chess Records), born in Motal, Poland (now Belarus) (d. 1969)
• 1917-09-05 Art Rupe [Goldberg], American gospel, R&B, and early rock record producer and label executive (Specialty Records - Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Lloyd Price), born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania (d. 2022)
• 1917-12-18 Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, American blues, jazz, and R&B alto saxophonist, born in Houston, Texas (d. 1988)
• 1918-06-13 "Wild Bill" Moore, American R&B and jazz tenor saxophone player ("We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll": Marvin Gaye's "Mercy, Mercy Me"), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1983)
• 1918-12-24 Dave Bartholomew, American R&B, rock, and jazz musician, composer, producer, and songwriter ("I Hear You Knocking"; "Ain't That A Shame"; "Walkin' To New Orleans"), born in Edgard, Louisiana (d. 2019)
• 1920-02-24 (Edwin) Eddie Chamblee, American jazz and R&B saxophonist, bandleader, and occasional vocalist, born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 1999)
• 1921-08-13 Jimmy McCracklin [Walker], American R&B pianist, and composer ("The Walk"; "Tramp"), born in Elaine, Arkansas (d. 2012)

• 1921-12-28 Johnny Otis [Ioannis Veliotes], American R&B musician, songwriter, producer and talent scout ("Willie and the Hand Jive"; "Cupid's Boogie"), known as "the godfather of rhythm and blues", born in Vallejo California (d. 2012)
• 1923-12-05 Johnny Pate, American jazz bassist (Stuff Smith, James Moody), pop, soul and R&B arranger and producer (The Impressions, Peabo Bryson), born in Chicago Heights, Illinois
• 1923-12-30 Frank Motley, American R&B and jazz double-trumpeter and bandleader (The Motley Crew), born in Cheraw, South Carolina (d. 1998)
• 1925-04-14 Bill Harris, American R&B and jazz guitarist (Clovers - "Ting-A-Ling"; "Devil Or Angel"), born in Nashville, North Carolina (d. 1988)
• 1927-04-29 (Cecil James) "Big Jay" McNeely, American R&B saxophonist, born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2018)
• 1928-02-11 Raoul Cita, R&B pianist and songwriter (Harptones), born in New York City (d. 2014)
• 1928-12-13 Joe Messina, American soul, jazz, and R&B session guitarist (Soupy Sales; The Funk Brothers), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2022) [1]
• 1929-12-03 Clarence Ford, American jazz and R&B clarinet and saxophone player, born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1994)
• 1930-11-03 Mable John, American blues, R&B, and gospel vocalist (Tamla-Motown; Ray Charles; "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)"), and minister, born in Bastrop, Louisiana (d. 2022)
• 1931-07-11 Thurston Harris, American R&B and pop vocalist (The Sharps - "Little Bitty Pretty One"), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 1990)
• 1932-02-28 Rocky Dijon [Kwasi Dzidzornu] Ghanaian rock and R&B percussionist (The Rolling Stones, Taj Mahal, Stevie Wonder), born in British Gold Coast colony, Africa (d. 1993)
• 1932-11-15 Clyde McPhatter, American R&B and doo-wop tenor vocalist, arranger and songwriter (The Dominos, 1950-53 - "Sixty Minute Man"; The Drifters, 1953-55 -"Honey Love"; solo - "Treasure My Love"), born in Durham, North Carolina (d. 1972)
• 1933-04-27 Calvin Newborn, American R&B and jazz guitarist, born in Whiteville, Tennessee (d. 2018)
• 1934-01-26 Huey "Piano" Smith, American R&B pianist ("Rockin' Pneumonia & Boogie Woogie Flu"; "Having a Good Time"), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2023) [1]
• 1934-02-07 "King" Curtis [Ousley], American Grammy Award-winning R&B, rock, jazz, and session saxophonist bandleader ("Memphis Soul Stew"; Aretha Franklin; John Lennon), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 1971)

• 1934-05-14 Grady Gaines, American jazz, blues, and R&B tenor saxophonist (Little Richard; Sam Cooke, James Brown, Jackie Wilson), born in Waskom, Texas (d. 2021)
• 1934-06-16 Little Caesar [Carl Burnett], American pop and R&B vocalist (Little Caesar & the Romans - "Those Oldies but Goodies (Remind Me of You)"), born in the USA
• 1935-02-03 Johnny "Guitar" Watson, American R&B and funk guitarist ("Space Guitar"; "A Real Mother for Ya"), born in Houston, Texas (d. 1996)
• 1935-06-29 Johnnie Richardson, American R&B musician (Johnnie & Joe), born in Montgomery, Alabama (d. 1988)
• 1935-10-12 Paul Humphrey, American jazz, R&B, and rock session and touring drummer, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2014)
• 1935-10-12 Sam Moore, American R&B and soul vocalist (Sam & Dave - "Soul Man"), born in Miami, Florida
• 1936-01-29 James Jamerson, American session pop and R&B bass guitarist (Motown Records), born in Edisto, South Carolina (d. 1983)
• 1936-02-09 Johnny Heartsman [Eastman], American R&B, soul and electric blues session musician and songwriter, born in Houston, Texas (d. 1996)
• 1936-03-24 Don Covay [Randolph], American R&B musician and songwriter ("Chain of Fools"), born in Orangeburg, South Carolina (d. 2015)
• 1936-04-17 Pete Graves [Alexander Walton], American pop and R&B vocalist (The Moonglows - "Blue Velvet"), born in Jemison, Alabama (d. 2006)
• 1936-11-01 [Zephire] Andre Williams, American R&B musician ("Shake a Tail Feather"; "Jailbait"), born in Bessemer, Alabama (d. 2019)
• 1937-02-20 Nancy Wilson, American Grammy Award-winning R&B and jazz vocalist ("Guess Who I Saw Today"; "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am"), and actress, born in Chillicothe, Ohio (d. 2018)
• 1937-09-04 Gene Ludwig, American jazz and R&B Hammond B-3 organist (Sonny Stitt, Arthur Prysock), born in Twin Rocks, Pennsylvania (d. 2010)
• 1938-09-20 Eric Gale, American jazz, R&B, session and touring guitarist (Negril; Stuff; Paul Simon's One-Trick Pony; Bob James; Grover Washington, Jr.), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1994)
• 1939-01-03 (Gwendolyn) Dianne Brooks, American R&B, jazz, session and touring vocalist (Three Playmates - "Sugah Wooga"; solo - "Walking On My Mind"; Anne Murray), born in New Jersey (d. 2005)

• 1939-06-06 Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, American R&B and soul pianist, bandleader, songwriter, and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2008)
• 1939-12-17 James Booker, American R&B musician (Gonzo), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
• 1940-04-29 George Adams, American jazz and R&B tenor saxophonist and flautist (Charles Mingus; Gil Evans; McCoy Tyner; Adams/Pullen Quartet), born in Covington, Georgia (d. 1992)
• 1940-09-13 (Lionel) "Linc" Chamberland, American R&B and jazz-fusion guitarist, born in Norwalk, Connecticut (d. 1987)
• 1941-02-05 Barrett Strong, American R&B vocalist ("Money (That's What I Want)"), piano player, and songwriter ("I Heard It Through the Grapevine"; "Just My Imagination"; "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"; "War"), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2023) [1]
• 1941-08-24 Ernest Wright Jr, American R&B vocalist (Imperials - "Tears On My Pillow"; "Goin' Out of My Head"), born in Brooklyn, New York
• 1941-09-03 Billy Hawks [Hawkes], American R&B and jazz Hammond B3 organist, born in Richmond, Virginia
• 1941-11-24 Wayne Lamar Jackson, American soul and R&B trumpeter (Mar-Keys, The Memphis Horns), born in West Memphis, Arkansas (d. 2016)
• 1942-03-07 (Hamilton) Bohannon, American R&B and disco percussionist, bandleader, songwriter, and record producer ("Save Their Souls"), born in Newnan, Georgia, d. 2020)
• 1942-10-05 Richard Street, American R&B musician (The Temptations, 1971-93 - "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2013)
• 1942-10-12 Melvin Franklin (né English), American R&B bass vocalist (The Temptations, 1960-94 - "Ball of Confusion"), born in Montgomery, Alabama (d. 1995)
• 1942-12-19 Cornell Dupree, American jazz and R&B session guitarist (Atlantic Records - Aretha Franklin), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 2011)
• 1943-03-07 Leon Sylvers III, American R&B, disco, and funk multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer (The Sylers), born in Memphis, Tennessee
• 1943-12-20 Walter "Wolfman" Washington, American funk, R&B, and blues guitarist (Johnny Adams; The Roadmasters), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2022)
• 1944-02-04 Florence LaRue, American pop and R&B vocalist (5th Dimension - "Up, Up, And Away"), born in Plainfield, New Jersey
• 1944-03-15 Ralph MacDonald, Trinbagonian-American jazz and R&B percussionist and songwriter ("Just the Two of Us"; "Where Is The Love"), born in Harlem, New York (d. 2011)
• 1944-04-19 Bernie Worrell, American R&B and funk keyboardist (Funkadelic - "Cosmic Slop"), born in Long Branch, New Jersey (d. 2016)
• 1944-06-02 Antone Tavares, American R&B musician (Tavares - "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel"), born in Providence, Rhode Island
• 1945-10-23 Ernie Watts, American jazz, R&B, and pop session and touring soprano and tenor saxophonist (Charlie Haden's Quartet West; Carole King; Frank Zappa; The Rolling Stones), born in Norfolk, Virginia

• 1945-11-16 Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, American rhythm and blues guitarist, and songwriter ("Take Me To The River"; "Love And Happiness"), born in Germantown, Tennessee (d. 2014)
• 1946-06-30 Billy Brown, American R&B vocalist (The Moments - "Love on a Two-Way Street"; Ray, Goodman & Brown - "Special Lady"), born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
• 1946-09-07 Alfa Anderson, American R&B vocalist (Chic - "Le Freak"), born in The Bronx, New York
• 1946-11-03 Tommy Dee [DeGeneres], American R&B keyboard player (John Fred & His Playboys - “Judy in Disguise"), born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• 1947-01-03 James Mtume [Forman], American Grammy Award-winning jazz and R&B percussionist, songwriter, record producer (Miles Davis, 1971-75; "Juicy Fruit"), social activist, and radio personality, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2022)
• 1947-10-03 Ben Cauley, American R&B trumpeter (The Bar-Kays - "Soul Finger") and Otis Redding plane crash survivor, born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 2015)
• 1947-10-14 Norman Harris, American soul, R&B, and disco session guitarist (Philadelphia International; O'Jays; Salsoul Orchestra), born in Danville, Virginia (d. 1987)
• 1948-03-12 Dana Walden, American R&B keyboardist (Champaign - "How 'Bout Us"), born in Champaign, Illinois
• 1948-04-07 Ronnie Wilson, American R&B keyboardist (Gap Band - "Burn Rubber On Me"), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (d. 2021)
• 1948-12-17 James Alexander, American R&B bassist (The Bar-Kays - "Soul Finger"; "Shaft"), born in Memphis, Tennessee
• 1949-01-05 George Brown, American R&B and funk drummer (Kool & the Gang - "Celebration"), born in Jersey City, New Jersey (d. 2023) [1]
• 1949-02-23 Larry Demps, American soul singer (Dramatics - "In the Rain"; "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get"), born in Detroit, Michigan
• 1949-08-02 "Fat" Larry James, American R&B drummer and bandleader (Fat Larry's Band), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1987)
• 1949-11-12 Arthur "Pooch" Tavares, American R&B musician (Taveres - "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel"), born in New Bedford, Massachusetts
• 1950-04-18 Bill Sudderth III, American R&B trumpet player (Atlantic Starr - Touch a Four Leaf Clover), born in White Plains, New York
• 1950-04-25 Steve Ferrone, British session and touring funk, rock, and R&B drummer (Average White Band, 1974-83; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1994 to 2017), born in Brighton, England
• 1950-07-21 Larry Tolbert, American funk and R&B drummer (Raydio), born in the USA
• 1950-11-21 David Williams, American R&B, pop and rock session and touring guitarist (Michael Jackson; Madonna; Rod Stewart; Bryan Ferry), born in Newport News, Virginia (d. 2009)
• 1951-04-13 Peabo Bryson, American R&B, soul, and pop vocalist ("Show and Tell"; "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love"; "A Whole New World"), born in Greenville, South Carolina

• 1951-07-25 Verdine White, American soul-funk, and R&B bassist songwriter (Earth, Wind & Fire - "Mighty, Mighty"; "That's The Way Of The World"), and philanthropist, born in Chicago, Illinois
• 1951-07-28 T. M. Stevens, American rock, pop, and R&B session and touring bass guitarist (Shocka Zooloo; The Pretenders, 1986-87), born in New York City
• 1952-04-23 Narada Michael Walden, American rock, R&B, and jazz fusion musician and producer ("I Don't Want Nobody Else (To Dance with You)"; Divine Emotions"), born in Kalamazoo, Michigan
• 1952-06-23 Anthony Jackson, American jazz, jazz-fusion, R&B, session and touring electric 4 and 6-string bassist (Philadelphia International Records, Billy Paul, Paul Simon, Chaka Kahn, Steve Kahn, Al DiMeola, Roberta Flack), born in New York City
• 1953-03-02 William Simmons, American R&B saxophonist and keyboardist (Midnight Star - "No Parking On The Dance Floor"; "Operator"), born in the USA
• 1954-01-08 Jerry Vivino, American rock and R&B saxophonist (Max Weinberg 7; Vivino Brothers), born in Paterson, New Jersey
• 1955-10-01 Howard Hewett, American R&B vocalist (Shalamar), born in Akron, Ohio
• 1955-12-08 Nathan East, American jazz, R&B, and rock session and touring bass player (Fourplay; Phil Collins), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• 1956-07-02 Jeffrey Cooper, American R&B and funk guitarist (Midnight Star - "No Parking On The Dance Floor"; "Operator"), born in the USA
• 1956-12-26 Kashif Saleem [Michael Jones], American R&B, disco, and soul keyboardist (B.T. Express, 1976-79 - "Can't Stop Groovin' Now, Wanna Do It Some More"), songwriter, and record producer, born in Harlem, New York (d. 2016)
• 1958-03-21 Lynn Mabry, American R&B and rock session and touring vocalist (P-Funk; Brides of Funkenstein; Talking Heads; Sheila E), born in Vallejo, California
• 1958-10-13 Joseph Richard Sylvers, American R&B musician (The Sylvers)
• 1960-01-02 Bernard Fowler, American session and touring rock and R&B vocalist (Rolling Stones; Tackhead; Steven Seagal), and songwriter, born in New York City
• 1960-11-27 Ashley Ingram, British soul and R&B guitarist and bass player (Fizzz; Imagination - "Just An Illusion"), born in Northampton, England
• 1962-12-11 Curtis "Fitz" Williams, American funk and R&B keyboard player (Kool & The Gang)
• 1964-08-11 Hamish Seelochan, British R&B and pop vocalist (The Pasedenas - "Riding on the Train"), born in England [some source cite birthday as May 19]

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• 2004-06-20 American former NFL running back Eddie George (30) weds American R&B "SWV" singer Tamara Johnson (33) at the Rockleigh Country Club in Rockleigh, New Jersey

• 1966-09-28 (Lucius) "Lucky" Millinder, American swing and rhythm-and-blues bandleader (Rosetta Tharpe; Who Threw The Whiskey in the Well), dies of a liver ailment at 56
• 1967-12-10 Phalin Jones, American soul and R&B saxophonist (The Bar-kays - "Soul Finger"), dies in Otis Redding plane crash in Lake Monona, Wisconsin at 19
• 1967-12-10 Ron Caldwell, American soul and R&B keyboardist (The Bar-kays - "Soul Finger"), dies in Otis Redding plane crash in Lake Monona, Wisconsin at 18
• 1969-10-16 Leonard Chess [Lejzor Czyż], Polish-American blues and R&B record company executive (Chess Records), dies at 52
• 1971-08-13 King Curtis [Ousley], American Grammy Award-winning R&B, rock, jazz, and session saxophonist bandleader ("Memphis Soul Stew"; Aretha Franklin; John Lennon), murdered during an argument with a vagrant outside of his NYC home at 37
• 1972-06-13 Clyde McPhatter, American R&B and doo-wop tenor vocalist, arranger and songwriter (The Dominos, 1950-53 - "Sixty Minute Man"; TheDrifters, 1953-55 - "Honey Love"; solo - "Treasure My Love"), dies at 39
• 1974-05-08 Graham Bond, British R&B musician, dies jumping under a train at 36
• 1983-08-01 "Wild Bill" Moore, American R&B and jazz tenor saxophone player ("We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll": Marvin Gaye's "Mercy, Mercy Me"), dies at 65
• 1985-09-15 (Charles) "Cootie" Williams, American jazz, jump-blues, and R&B trumpeter (Duke Ellington Orchestra, 1929-40 & 1962-74), dies of kidney problems at 74
• 1987-03-20 Norman Harris, American soul, R&B, and disco session guitarist (Philadelphia International; O'Jays; Salsoul Orchestra), dies of cardiovascular disease at 39
• 1987-06-08 Yogi Horton, American R&B and funk drummer (Luther Vandross), commits suicide at 33
• 1987-06-24 (Lionel) "Linc" Chamberland, American R&B and jazz-fusion guitarist, dies of leukemia at 46
• 1987-07-26 Joe Liggins [Theodro Elliott], American jazz, R&B, and jump blues pianist, songwriter, and vocalist ("The Honeydripper"; "Pink Champagne"), dies after a stroke at 71
• 1988-07-02 Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, American blues, jazz, and R&B alto saxophonist, dies of a heart attack at 70
• 1988-10-25 Johnnie Richardson, American R&B musician (Johnnie & Joe), dies at 53
• 1989-03-04 Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes, American jazz and R&B guitarist (Art Tatum), dies of meningitis at 72

• 1989-12-03 Jimmy Shirley, American jazz and R&B electric guitarist, and early proponent of the Vibrola vibrato arm ("whammy bar"), dies at 76
• 1990-03-23 Al Sears, American jazz and R&B saxophonist (Duke Elllington Orchestra; Johnny Hodges - "Castle Rock"), dies at 80
• 1992-11-14 George Adams, American jazz and R&B tenor saxophonist and flautist (Charles Mingus; Gil Evans; McCoy Tyner; Adams/Pullen Quartet), dies at 52
• 1993-03-13 Rocky Dijon [Kwasi Dzidzornu] Ghanaian rock and R&B percussionist (The Rolling Stones, Taj Mahal, Stevie Wonder), dies at 61
• 1994-05-25 Eric Gale, American jazz, R&B, session and touring guitarist (Negril; Stuff; Paul Simon's One-Trick Pony; Bob James; Grover Washington, Jr.), dies of lung cancer at 55
• 1995-02-23 Melvin Franklin (né English), American R&B bass vocalist (The Temptations, 1960-94 - "Ball of Confusion"), dies of heart failure at 52
• 1995-04-19 "King" Herbert Whitaker, American R&B tenor saxophonist, dies at 66
• 1995-08-16 Robert "Bobby" Debarge, R&B Musician, dies of AIDS at 39
• 1996-05-17 Johnny "Guitar" Watson, American R&B and funk guitarist ("Space Guitar"; "A Real Mother for Ya"), dies on stage of heart attack in Yokohama, Japan at 61
• 1996-12-27 Johnny Heartsman [Eastman], American R&B, soul and electric blues session musician and songwriter, dies of a stroke at 60
• 1997-03-10 (Dolores) LaVern Baker [Evans], American pop and R&B vocalist ("Jim Dandy"; "I Cried A Tear"), dies of cardiovascular disease at 67
• 1998-05-31 Frank Motley, American R&B and jazz double-trumpeter and bandleader (The Motley Crew), dies at 74
• 1999-04-01 Jesse Stone, American R&B pianist, songwriter (Shake, Rattle and Roll), arranger, and record producer, dies at 97
• 1999-05-01 (Edwin) Eddie Chamblee, American jazz and R&B saxophonist, bandleader, and occasional vocalist, dies at 79
• 2000-07-20 Mabel Scott, American gospel and R&B vocalist (Boogie Woogie Santa Claus), dies at 85

• 2000-12-27 Jack McVea, American swing jazz, and R&B clarinetist, saxophonist, and bandleader, dies at 86
• 2005-04-29 (Gwendolyn) Dianne Brooks, American R&B, jazz, session and touring vocalist (Three Playmates - "Sugah Wooga"; solo - "Walking On My Mind"; Anne Murray), dies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 66
• 2006-10-15 Pete Graves [Alexander Walton], American pop and R&B vocalist (The Moonglows - "Blue Velvet"), dies at 70
• 2008-08-15 Jerry Wexler, American music producer who coined the term "rhythm and blues" (Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan), dies from congestive heart failure at 91
• 2008-09-07 Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, American R&B and soul pianist, bandleader, songwriter, and record producer, dies of congestive heart failure at 69
• 2009-03-06 David Williams, American R&B, pop and rock session and touring guitarist (Michael Jackson; Madonna; Rod Stewart; Bryan Ferry), dies of cardiac arrest following a stroke at 58
• 2010-07-14 Gene Ludwig, American jazz and R&B Hammond B-3 organist (Sonny Stitt, Arthur Prysock), dies at 72
• 2011-05-08 Cornell Dupree, American jazz and R&B session guitarist (Atlantic Records - Aretha Franklin), dies of emphysema at 68
• 2012-01-17 Johnny Otis [Ioannis Veliotes], American R&B musician, songwriter, producer and talent scout ("Willie and the Hand Jive"; "Cupid's Boogie"), known as "the godfather of rhythm and blues", dies at 90
• 2013-02-27 Richard Street, American R&B musician (The Temptations), dies at 70
• 2014-01-31 Paul Humphrey, American jazz, R&B, and rock session and touring drummer, dies at 78
• 2014-06-22 Teenie Hodges, American rhythm and blues guitarist, dies from complications from emphysema at 68
• 2014-12-13 Raoul Cita, American R&B pianist and songwriter (Harptones), dies at 86
• 2015-09-21 Ben Cauley, American R&B trumpeter (The Bar-Kays - "Soul Finger") and Otis Redding plane crash survivor, dies at 67
• 2016-06-21 Wayne Lamar Jackson, American soul and R&B trumpeter (Mar-Keys; The Memphis Horns), dies of congestive heart failure at 74

• 2016-09-25 Kashif Saleem [Michael Jones], American R&B, disco, and soul keyboardist (B.T. Express, 1976-79 - "Can't Stop Groovin' Now, Wanna Do It Some More"), songwriter, and record producer, dies at 59
• 2018-09-16 Big Jay [Cecil James] McNeely, American R&B saxophonist, dies of prostate cancer at 91
• 2018-12-01 Calvin Newborn, American R&B and jazz guitarist, dies at 85
• 2019-03-17 [Zephire] Andre Williams, American R&B musician ("Jailbait"; "Shake a Tail Feather"), dies at 82
• 2019-06-23 Dave Bartholomew, American R&B, rock, and jazz musician, composer, producer, and songwriter ("I Hear You Knocking"; "Ain't That A Shame"; "Walkin' To New Orleans"), dies at 100
• 2020-04-24 (Hamilton) Bohannon, American R&B and disco percussionist, bandleader, songwriter, and record producer ("Save Their Souls"), dies at 78
• 2020-05-17 (Judge) "Lucky" Peterson, American contemporary blues, soul, and R&B musician ("The Son of A Bluesman"), dies from ahead injury after a fall at 55
• 2021-01-29 Grady Gaines, American jazz, blues, and R&B tenor saxophonist (Little Richard; Sam Cooke, James Brown, Jackie Wilson), dies at 86
• 2021-11-02 Ronnie Wilson, American R&B keyboardist (Gap Band - "Burn Rubber On Me"), dies at 73
• 2022-01-09 James Mtume [Forman], American Grammy Award-winning jazz and R&B percussionist, songwriter, record producer (Miles Davis, 1971-75; "Juicy Fruit"), social activist, and radio personality, dies at 76
• 2022-04-04 Joe Messina, American soul, jazz, and R&B session guitarist (Soupy Sales; The Funk Brothers), dies at 93 [1]
• 2022-04-15 Art Rupe [Goldberg], American gospel, R&B, and early rock record producer and label executive (Specialty Records - Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Lloyd Price), dies at 104
• 2022-08-26 Mable John, American blues, R&B, and gospel vocalist (Tamla-Motown; Ray Charles; "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)"), and minister, dies at 91
• 2022-12-22 Walter "Wolfman" Washington, American funk, R&B, and blues guitarist (Johnny Adams; The Roadmasters), dies of tonsil cancer at 79 [1]
• 2023-01-29 Barrett Strong, American R&B vocalist ("Money (That's What I Want)"), piano player, and songwriter ("I Heard It Through the Grapevine"; "Just My Imagination";"Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"; "War"), dies at 81 [1]
• 2023-02-13 Huey "Piano" Smith, American R&B pianist ("Rockin' Pneumonia & Boogie Woogie Flu"; "Having a Good Time"), dies at 89 [1]
• 2023-11-16 George Brown, American R&B and funk drummer (Kool & the Gang - "Celebration"), dies of lung cancer at 74 [1]
• 2024-03-30 Casey Benjamin, American R&B and hip-hop saxophonist, vocoder wizard, and songwriter (The Robert Glasper Experiment), dies at 45 [1]

• Al Green
• Brandy Norwood
• Bryson Tiller
• Isaac Hayes
• Ray Charles
• Wilson Pickett