Deep Blues: Early acoustic blues originating from the Mississippi and surrounding areas.
Doo-Wop: A pop-oriented R&B genre that typically featured remakes of popular standards or pop-style originals sung by black vocal groups. Doo-wop died out in the early 1960s with the rise of the girl groups and Motown.
Jump band: In the late 1940s, a small band/rhythm section plus a few horns that played a rhythm and blues style influence by big-band swing and electric blues. Saxophonist/vocalist Louis Jordan was a key performer in this style.
Multitrack recording: The process of recording each part of a performance separately, then mixing them into a complete performance. The Beatles, along with their producer George Martic, were among the first to take full advantage of multitrack recording techniques.
Obbligato: A second melody playing under the main melody.
Overdubbing: The process of recording an additional part onto an existing recording.
Payola Scandal: The practice of record companies’ bribing disk jockeys to secure airplay for their records.
Rhythm and Blues (R&B): A term used since the mid 1940s to describe African American popular styles, especially those influenced by blues and/or dance music.
Rockabilly: According to Carl Perkins, a country take on rhythm and blues, performed mainly by white Southerners, that combined elements of country music with rock and roll. Rockabilly was most popular in the mid 1950s.
Surf Music: A regional rock from California notable for high-register close harmony vocals and innovative guitar effects.
Triplet: Rhythmic pattern that divides each beat into three equal parts.