The Blues History Quiz

Where was blues first developed?

• In the urban North by African Americans

• In the rural South by European Americans

• In the urban North by European Americans

• In the rural South by African Americans

Who is often referred to as the 'Father of the Blues'?

• Muddy Waters

• Howlin' Wolf

• W.C. Handy

• B.B. King

What year did W.C. Handy publish his first blues in sheet music?

• 1943

• 1920

• 1912

• 1890

What instrument did the ragged black man use in Tutwiler, Mississippi?

• Piano

• Harmonica

• Drums

• Guitar

Which artist is known for perfecting the new style of blues with electric guitars?

• Tommy Johnson

• Muddy Waters

• Charley Patton

• W.C. Handy

What was the first blues song transcribed and published by W.C. Handy?

• St. Louis Blues

• Memphis Blues

• Delta Blues

• Crazy Blues

Who was the first black female to record a blues vocal?

• Bessie Smith

• Ma Rainey

• Mamie Smith

• Etta James

What did the blues music evolve to reflect after African Americans moved to cities?

• Their new urban surroundings

• Their European influences

• Their classical music influences

• Their rural surroundings

Which band helped resuscitate the blues genre in the early 1960s?

• The Beatles

• The Rolling Stones

• Led Zeppelin

• The Who

What is one of the primary influences of blues on other musical genres?

• Reggae

• Electronic music

• Jazz, country music, and rock-and-roll

• Classical music