R&B, short for Rhythm and Blues, is a genre of popular music that originated in the African American community in the 1940s. It combines elements of jazz, gospel, and blues, characterized by its soulful vocals and strong backbeat. Artists like Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin played pivotal roles in shaping the sound of R&B, making it a significant influence on many other music genres. Over the decades, R&B has evolved, giving rise to various subgenres such as contemporary R&B and neo-soul. Today, artists like Beyoncé and Usher continue to push the boundaries of R&B, blending it with pop, hip-hop, and electronic music, ensuring its relevance in the modern music landscape.