Final answer:
The term 'rhythm and blues' first appeared as a Billboard chart in 1949. This genre was the foundation of rock and roll and played a role in bridging racial divides and challenging segregation in the 1950s. Major performers like Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Jackie Brantson influenced the sound that captivated teens and transcended racial barriers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "rhythm and blues" first appeared as a Billboard chart in the year 1949. This genre of music, which encompasses various evolutions of uptempo blues, jazz, and country, was a precursor to the emergence of rock and roll. Influential artists like Sister Rosetta Tharpe with her performance of "Strange Things Happening Everyday" and Jackie Brantson with "Rocket 88" played a crucial role in the rise of this genre. The rise in popularity of R&B and rock and roll was facilitated by technological advancements such as the '45' vinyl record, the jukebox, and the solid-body electric guitar.
Rhythm and blues was a unique form of expression that grew out of African American churches and incorporated West African call-and-response traditions, ultimately leading to the birth of rock and roll. It was African American pioneers who led the way with their new sound, soon followed by white musicians like Elvis Presley. With disc jockeys like Alan Freed playing rock and roll on the radio, along with the commercial production of rock albums, this genre saw a significant increase in its fan base, particularly among American teenagers in the 1950s.
The rise of rock and roll helped to blur racial lines and led to advancements in ending certain types of segregation across the nation. The genre embodied themes of young love, freedom, and rebellion against the constraints of middle-class society. Bill Haley and His Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" became a teen anthem symbolizing the youthful embrace of rock and roll, not only through radio but also through television in an era of cultural change and challenge to authority.