backing singer (also "backup singer" [Nth Am. English] and "backing vocalist") (noun): a singer who gives vocal support to a lead singer - Tessa was one of Joe Cocker's backing singers.
bar (noun): one of many small sections in a piece of music that contains a fixed number of beats - Each bar in the song has four beats.
call and response (noun): two musical phrases, one of which answers the other - The call and response is before the last chorus.
civil rights movement (noun): a demand for social justice by oppressed people - Martin Luther King led the civil rights movement in the 60s.
classic (adjective): very good and highly-regarded for a long time - Neil loves those classic American cars of the 50s.
contemporary R&B (noun): recent R&B that mixes soul, pop and hip hop sounds - Contemporary R&B is really popular these days.
crossover hit (noun): an R&B, soul or country song that's on the pop-music charts - We'll all be rich if we have a crossover hit.
dynamic (adjective): lively and having a lot of energy - Apple Corp is one of the world's most dynamic IT companies.
groove (noun): repetitive, rhythmic pattern played by a rhythm section - Hip-hop artists still use James Brown's grooves in their beats.
horn section (noun): a group of musicians playing brass instruments and saxophones - How many songs does the horn section play on?
house band (noun): a group of session musicians who work for a music company - House bands don't become famous, but singers do.
house producer (noun): one of a record company's full-time music producers - How many house producers does Sony Music have?
neo soul (noun): a style that mixes contemporary R&B and 60s or 70s soul - Angelina played some great neo soul tracks at our party.
pop soul (noun): a style of soul music with a pop-music sound - Mum's listening to pop soul again.
racism (noun): the dislike or hatred of a whole race of people - Racism has always existed in our country.
secular (adjective): not religious, or with no connection to religion - We sent our kids to a secular school, not a religious one.
session musician (noun): a musician who can be hired to play on a recording - Session musicians don't get much work these days.
soundtrack album (noun): an album containing music made for a film - Has the soundtrack album been released yet?
tambourine (noun): an instrument with metal discs that rattles when hit or shaken - Mick Jagger often plays tambourine when he sings.
the South (noun): the southeastern part of the USA - Racism has always been a bit worse in the South.
yearn (verb): to want something very much - His yearning for a better world is expressed in his songs.