62 years ago today, the Billboard magazine R&B chart was born.

[NightTrain]

That's right, y'all. In its issue for the week of October 24, 1942, Billboard magazine introduced its R&B chart, which it called the "Harlem Hit Parade." The #1 record that week was "Take and Git It" by Andy Kirk & His Clouds of Joy. It would be supplanted the following week by Freddie Slack's "Mr. Five By Five."

Later names for the chart included "Race Records" (1945), "Rhythm & Blues" (1949), "Hot R&B" (1958), and "Soul Singles" (1969).

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Sadly, I blame Billboard in part for mainstream music sucking so bad now.

Benchmarks for success seem to stifle creativity.

[Ron Green]

2. R&B was at one time true American roots music....

look at the commercial pap that inhabits this category now.

[NightTrain]

5. Alas, you speak the truth.

:(

[NuttyFluffers]

3. and since it's Billboard...

just as irrelevant as everything else on it has been.

[NightTrain]

6. EVERYTHING in Billboard has been irrelevant?

Congratulations on the most ignorant statement I've seen here in months!

[NuttyFluffers]

8. sweet! do i get a medal!?

i'd gladly tell you again Billboard is irrelevant if you give me a nice big shiny trophy! :)

[NightTrain]

10. Sure! How about the Fraternal Order of Pat Boone?

:evilgrin:

[NightTrain]

4. My, we do have some elitists around here, don't we?

:eyes:

[jdots]

7. i own very little white music

Is that SO WRONG ?African Americans have contributed more to this country than any other people out there. argue amoungst yourselves on this one

[NightTrain]

9. Hey, I'm not arguing!

You're talking to a guy who hosts a soul music show on college radio. It's the DUers who suffer from honkypox (a/k/a "caucasia") with whom you should have a problem.

By the way, my radio show has a website: www.soulexpressradio.com You might just want to check it out!