The Depression hits the Blues and R & B is born
In the late 1940's, the big bands that were popular in American during the Depression years were losing money. This was caused by the WW2 manpower shortage, using amplifiers, less dancers and high post war prices. New lighting technologies and vinyl records, which were unbreakable and television allowed a change in blues music to come about.
Ghetto and Hillbilly music started to be featured. These influences allowed the 1949 Billboard magazine to create new categories called country and western for the white southern style, and rhythm and blues for the African American segment of the market. The Rhythm and Blues chart was to identify with the black consumer preferences. So this category included records by African American big bands and pop ballad performers. Over the next few years the term would be changed to R&B.
Following Louis Jordan's model, many of the most distinctive instrumentalists in early R&B were saxophonists. In particular, the late 1940's brought a wave of tenors and honkers who eschewed melodic improvisation in favor of minimalist rhythmic punch.
The honking style was established by Illinois Jaquet's one note solo on Lionel Hampton's 1942 record of "Flying Home," but reached its climax on records such as Big Jay McNeeley's twelve bar instrumental, "The Deacon's Hop," a number one hit of 1949 McNeely played one or two notes over and over, in a sexy growl that gradually rose to a series of wild honks and screams, and his approach was used by Joe Houstin, Willis "Gator Tail" Jackson, and many others. Amplifying a singers voice by using a microphone allowed small bands to work large ballrooms. When World War II caused a shortage of singers start up bands and previously never heard of crooners were given an opportunity to be heard over the orchestra.
