New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B

For Amani Roberts(Opens in a new window) MA ’21, the quiet storm was more than a radio format; it was the soundtrack to his life. Growing up in Silver Spring, Maryland, he heard the Isley Brothers, the Gap Band, Luther Vandross, and Rick James on a loop, whether from the basement stereo or on long drives to soccer tournaments along the East Coast. Those formative experiences inspired him to write The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups(Opens in a new window), his new book and a love letter to his father, Albert, who passed away in 2004.

The quiet storm format was created in the mid-1970s by radio pioneer Cathy Hughes and on-air personality Melvin Lindsey at Howard University’s WHUR-FM in Washington, DC. It featured love songs and ballads by Black artists from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, and Lindsey and Jack Shuler were tapped to host the program, borrowing its name from Smokey Robinson’s 1975 album, A Quiet Storm. The format quickly took hold at radio stations across the country, drawing a core Black, urban audience.

Listen to a selection of songs from the quiet storm format:

Roberts’s book delves into the sweeping history of R&B from the 1950s to the early 2000s, spotlighting more than 60 iconic groups, from the Drifters to Destiny’s Child, and examining their lasting influence. It also reveals the untold stories behind the hits and the hidden struggles these groups faced, from the rise of hip-hop to the shift to music streaming and its transformative impact on the genre.

We spoke with Roberts, an alumnus of both Howard University and Berklee Online, about the inspiration behind his book, the impact of the Quiet Storm format, and how earning his master’s degree propelled him into the next stage of his career.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

R&B has played a pivotal role in your life. What meaning does the music hold for you personally?

Amani Roberts: R&B, to me, is like: it’s an emotion, it's an experience, it’s a way of life. It is the soundtrack to my life—it’s gotten me through the toughest of times, and it’s been there in the best of times. It’s something that I draw upon daily, and I’m a forever fan of it. I acknowledge its history, and I see how it impacts current music. I love it.

In the previous question, you mentioned how you see the impact that R&B has had on current music. Can you elaborate on that? 

Roberts: The emergence and success of K-pop groups show the impact that R&B groups had on that genre. The formula that those groups are using is from the same playbook that R&B groups used in the past to dominate the charts. From the types of songs these groups sing to the look, feel, and production of the music videos, it is precisely what R&B groups of the past produced during the golden era of R&B groups. Also, artists of today consistently sample from R&B groups of the past, exposing new audiences to music of the past and paying tribute to legacy groups. 

What would you say is the broader impact of the quiet storm on American culture?

Roberts: The quiet storm format dominated airwaves for over two decades and was how several musical groups and individuals hit the mainstream outside of the R&B stations. Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, and other legendary R&B artists dominated this format, allowing other audiences to discover and eventually fall in love with these groups. The late-night format, which included dedications and low-tempo music, was more palatable for different people to experience the music and grow their passion for the artists. Several famous songs, such as "Easy" by the Commodores, "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men, and "Always" by Atlantic Starr, were on heavy rotation across the world during the quiet storm programs—these helped the songs with their popularity and longevity. 

In the introduction of The Quiet Storm, you write that you were tasked with choosing a research topic when you were getting your master’s degree through Berklee Online. How did that turn into writing the book? 

Roberts: I think what happened is that when I did my thesis work for my master’s degree it was sitting right there in front of me. It occurred to me that I should really take this and make it a book. It was very daunting at first, because to do it right I had to go through each decade, analyze the groups, and write about the groups, all while timing personal reflections. It’s a very scary project because it’s a lot of writing. It’s a lot of being transparent and vulnerable and putting myself up to how certain songs and groups impacted me and how I learned about the groups. I didn’t really believe I could do it until I did the thesis. 

You started writing the book in 2020 during the pandemic. What kept you motivated to see the project through? 

Roberts: That’s an excellent question because it was hard. Not just the pandemic but life happens whether you’re working or you get distracted—maybe there are people who are around you who aren’t the best people for your creative motivation. I believed in the project and I knew it could be impactful. There’s not really a book out like this, and I just really believed [in the idea]. What really helped me to finish it was once I was able to acquire the photos to put in the book, they gave it more context and more life. That was what really helped push me over the finish line. 

Twenty-plus years after you earned your bachelor’s degree in business administration, you decided to get your Master of Arts in music business. What made you decide to go back to school and go to Berklee Online, specifically, and how has having your master’s degree helped you in teaching?

Roberts: In 2018, I was asked to teach two classes at California State University, Fullerton. Throughout my life, I always wanted to do the exact opposite of what my dad had done. I wanted nothing to do with psychology, being a professor, or pledging a fraternity—none of it. But somehow, some way, this teaching opportunity came around. I was volunteering at a DJ camp for kids called Camp Spin Off, and I got this email about an open teaching position for an adjunct professor. The first semester was hard, but I did really well the second semester. I wanted to stay, and they wanted me to stay, but I had to get a master’s degree to be able to continue to teach. I did some research and Berklee came up and had an online option. I started in June 2020, and I got my master’s because I wanted to keep teaching and I wanted to further increase my knowledge in the music business. It gave me a nice framework in which to design the class. I was able to take the most valuable things I learned at Berklee, like music data and its impact on the music industry, and I made sure to add them to the class. 

You wrote how your love for R&B began with the song “Candy Girl” by New Edition and that the Boston band is your favorite R&B group. Who else would you pick for your top five? 

Roberts: I love SWV, the Isley Brothers. It’s hard to pick a top five. This is how I’m feeling today. I got to show love to En Vogue. I was shocked that they never had a no. 1 hit. Destiny’s Child and the Whispers. The reason why I picked the Whispers is they have shown an immense amount of resilience. For their first single to come out in 1964 and for them not to get a Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit until 1979, and then for them to get their Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit in 1987—that’s 23 years. Some groups don’t even last 23 days. I have the utmost respect for them.

Regarding the Whispers, is there anything you've learned about their longevity in the music industry that you’ve been able to apply to yourself and/or to your career?

Roberts: I love this question, and I love this group's story. They put in 23 years of hard work to reach the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, and that inspires me to never give up and to continue to work at my craft. Their resilience is a model to follow, and I speak about their story often and follow the example they set. This book, which took four and half years to complete, with numerous ups and downs, is a testament to how I followed their example. I never gave up. Despite setbacks, I continued to put the work in, and now I have a USA Today best-selling book. They also showed patience by continuing to work and believing in their work and skills. That type of overall mindset is rare in today's era. I can't imagine a group working for 23 years to accomplish anything nowadays. My mission is to share their resilience and inspire other artists and creatives to stick with it, even when times get tough. 

And finally, what do you hope readers take away from The Quiet Storm?

Roberts: Just to understand the history of R&B and how closely it's woven to the culture of our country, first, and then to the world, because a lot of the cultural foundation in movies and music is in R&B music. I hope it creates some dialogue and brings back some great memories, like the groups and the songs, and I hope it educates people. 

The book, released on February 18, debuted at No. 50 on USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Booklist(Opens in a new window), and is available online at Amazon(Opens in a new window) and Barnes & Noble(Opens in a new window).