We remember 1996 as one of the defining years in pop culture due to moments like Michael Jordan leading the Chicago Bulls to a fourth championship in six years, Will Smith becoming a bonafide movie star immediately after The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's conclusion via Independence Day, and the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. But we should remember it being as exceptional a year in R&B as it was in hip-hop. This was when Lauryn Hill reminded people why Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit put her on the map. It's the year in which the success of the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack and Mariah Carey's Daydream carried over and topped charts. It's when artists like Maxwell and Dru Hill broke out, and when SWV, Toni Braxton, and Aaliyah returned even stronger. '96 is the year of New Edition's comeback and Tony! Toni! Toné!'s farewell—and when hip-hop and R&B collaborations continued to flourish. Join us at Songbyrd on November 8 from 12-2pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. It's always a good time when we focus on a specific year, so come get a feel for what made the genre great 30 years ago and why we're still talking about it now. \*\*\* The R&B Club is a cultural gathering founded in 2018 that discusses the influence of R&B music. In other words, think of it as a musical book club-style meetup. Follow us on social media at @therandbclubdc for more information. Presented by Songbyrd Music House All ages