The Five Keys were an American rhythm and blues vocal group who were instrumental in shaping this genre in the 1950s.
The Five Keys in 1952
Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within African American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies
The Five Keys
…The Five Keys were an American rhythm and blues vocal group who were instrumental in shaping this genre in the 1950s. They were formed with the original name of Sentimental Four in Newport News…
Louis Jordan in New York City, c. July 1946
Big Joe Turner was a key figure in early R&B, blending blues and rock.
Dizzy Gillespie was instrumental in blending Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz.
Bo Diddley's "Bo Diddley beat" is a clave-based motif.