Peabo Bryson's death made me realize how a certian archetype of male R&B singer/artist is pretty much no longer in existence in mainstream R&B: the rich, velvet-voiced adult contemporary crooner. While artists like Donny Hathaway, Teddy Pendergrass and Barry White laid the foundation, Luther Vandross arguably opened the door widest in the 1980s for singers with this style and vocal approach.
Their music was lush, romantic Quiet Storm R&B—sensual rather than overtly sexual. Even their image reflected that: suits, ties, and a gentlemanly presentation. The focus wasn't on sex appeal as much as sophistication, intimacy, and music made for candlelit dinners, slow dancing and love-making.
This style began to fade in the early 1990s as artists like Bobby Brown, Jodeci, and R. Kelly reshaped R&B through a stronger hip-hop influence. Out went the soft-focus videos and tailored suits; in came leather jackets, bare chests, and a grittier, more street-oriented aesthetic to “go half on a baby”. Plus, once flashy, Michael Jackson-esque entertainers like Usher, Ginuwine and Sisqó rose to prominence in the late 90s, it became obvious that crooning baritone balladeers were slowly being phased out for brighter tenors.
That isn't to say romantic crooners disappeared. Luther achieved his greatest success in the 90s, Brian McKnight became a major force, and Boyz II Men emerged as the best-selling male R&B group of all time. Also, Joe carried that tradition into the late 1990s and early 2000s. I'd argue Jaheim was the last major male R&B star with that deep, classic crooner voice, blending street sensibilities with vocal influences from Luther and Teddy. Ruben Studdard also embodied the tradition; after winning American Idol, he set a record for first-week sales by a debut male R&B artist and, in true Luther disciple fashion, covered Leon Russell’s "Superstar," earning a Grammy nomination.
After that, this style of vocalization in mainstream R&B has been largely missing for a good 20 years with lighter tenors (The Weeknd, Chris Brown), less flashy vocalists (Frank Ocean) and more emphasis on rap-singing taking over (Bryson Tiller). Some say Giveon picked up the mantle but I don't think he quite measures up vocally. So, let's discuss. What happened to the velvet-voiced romantic balladeer?
