2009 four CD set that not only tells the story of Rhythm & Blues better than anything before, but offers insights into song origins and provides fascinating musical connections across decades. This 97 song set offers a wealth of insights into the cross-pollination of Blues, Jazz, Country, Gospel, Pop and Rock. Rhythm & Blues was one of the most identifiable musical art forms of the 20th Century, with an enormous influence on the development of both the sound and attitude of modern music. The History of Rhythm and Blues series of CDs investigates the accidental synthesis of Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Ragtime, Country, Pop and Latin into a definable form of black music, which in turn would influence all popular music from the 1950s to the present. Rhythm & Blues.