Everybody Sings the Blues Trivia Quiz

The interest in American Blues in England in the 1960s, formed part of the British Invasion that help broaden the audience for the Blues in the US.

A multiple-choice quiz by Englizzie. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Englizzie

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
309,989

Updated
Mar 31 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
596

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Guest 68 (2/10), Guest 12 (6/10), Pikoyboy (7/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Who was considered the 'Grandfather of Rock and Roll'? Hint

Lee J Hooker

Muddy Waters

Robert Leroy Johnson

Blind Willie Johnson

NEXT>

2. Which old time Blues man was also a street preacher, combining blues and gospel in his music? He was also famous for his expertise on the bottleneck slide guitar. Hint

BB King

Leadbelly

Blind Willie Johnson

Eddie James 'Son' House

NEXT>

3. Despite a violent and murderous life in and out of prison, who emerged as a true American Blues giant? Hint

Robert Johnson

Charley Patton

Muddy Waters

Huddie Ledbetter

NEXT>

4. For which US institution did musicologist John Lomax capture many original recordings of early Blues musicians? Hint

Carnegie Institute

Smithsonian Institution

The Library of Congress

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

NEXT>

5. We must not forget the ladies. Who was known as the 'Empress of the Blues'? Hint

Ethel Waters

Bessie Jackson

Sarah Martin

Bessie Smith

NEXT>

6. In the early 1960s, a new Blues movement was growing in the London clubs. Who was known as the 'Founding Father of the British Blues'? Hint

John Mayall

Alexis Korner

Peter Green

Georgie Fame

7. John Mayall and the Blues Breakers were popular performers, but their greatest influence is with the artists that they were able to attract to join the band. Who performed with Mayall's band? Hint

Eric Clapton

All of these

Jack Bruce

Peter Green

NEXT>

8. Which American Blues giant had a life-long influence on Eric Clapton, even giving his name to a 2004 album? Eric called him 'the most important Blues singer that ever lived'. Hint

Muddy Waters

Robert Johnson

Leadbelly

BB King

NEXT>

9. Many British musicians had sharpened their teeth on true American Blues. Which band was highly influential in taking this blues/rock sound back to the US? Hint

Jerry and the Pacemakers

The Rolling Stones

The Beatles

Herman's Hermits

NEXT>

10. What was one of the first major hits that the Rolling Stones had with a traditional Blues song? Hint

Paint it Black

Little Red Rooster

Satisfaction

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was considered the 'Grandfather of Rock and Roll'?

Answer: Robert Leroy Johnson

Despite his short and shadowy life (1911-1938), Robert Johnson wrote some of the finest Blues compositions, influencing many of the leading musicians in the 1960s and beyond.

2. Which old time Blues man was also a street preacher, combining blues and gospel in his music? He was also famous for his expertise on the bottleneck slide guitar.

Answer: Blind Willie Johnson

Born in 1902 in Marlin, Texas, Blind Willie used a penknife to create his special slide guitar sound, which added to the uniqueness of his gospel/blues music.

3. Despite a violent and murderous life in and out of prison, who emerged as a true American Blues giant?

Answer: Huddie Ledbetter

Creator of such timeless compositions as 'Good Night Irene', 'Rock Island Line' and 'Alberta', Leadbelly was a prolific song writer, whose influence on later American music is immeasurable.

4. For which US institution did musicologist John Lomax capture many original recordings of early Blues musicians?

Answer: The Library of Congress

John Lomax claimed that he first found Lead Belly in Angola Prison, where he was originally recorded. Working on behalf of the Library of Congress in the 1930s, Lomax managed to preserve so much of this early Americana for future generations. His work also sparked renewed interest in the genre.

5. We must not forget the ladies. Who was known as the 'Empress of the Blues'?

Answer: Bessie Smith

Bessie (1892?-1937) was the most popular of the early women Blues singers. After much rejection, she signed a recording contract with Columbia, but never made any money from the deal.

However, she was a ruling influence on such greats as Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, etc., etc.

6. In the early 1960s, a new Blues movement was growing in the London clubs. Who was known as the 'Founding Father of the British Blues'?

Answer: Alexis Korner

Alexis Korner, strongly influenced by early American Blues, began playing in London after World War II. In 1949 he joined Chris Barber's Jazz Band, and then with blues harmonica player Cyril Davies he formed the London Blues and Barrelhouse Club in 1955. By the 1960s he was well-known to many of the US Blues greats, whom he introduced to the London scene.

7. John Mayall and the Blues Breakers were popular performers, but their greatest influence is with the artists that they were able to attract to join the band. Who performed with Mayall's band?

Answer: All of these

Many artists went on to join other bands as part of the British invasion in the form of the Yardbirds, The Who, the Rolling Stones etc.

8. Which American Blues giant had a life-long influence on Eric Clapton, even giving his name to a 2004 album? Eric called him 'the most important Blues singer that ever lived'.

Answer: Robert Johnson

In 2004, Eric Clapton released the album 'Me and Mr. Johnson'. This covered much of Robert Johnson's music played as the original arrangements. As he influenced Eric, so Eric went on to influence generations of guitarists in England and the US.

9. Many British musicians had sharpened their teeth on true American Blues. Which band was highly influential in taking this blues/rock sound back to the US?

Answer: The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones, with their 'bad boy' image, included many old Blues songs in their act, creating a White audience for what had previously been regarded as only Black music.

10. What was one of the first major hits that the Rolling Stones had with a traditional Blues song?

Answer: Little Red Rooster

Keith Richards had developed an interest in American Blues singers from an early age. The Stones visited Chess Records to get a sense of the real Blues greats. The Stones' version of 'Little Red Rooster' went to Number One on the UK Singles Chart. In an interview with the BBC, Keith said, "...and let's see if we can actually spin it back around and make American white kids listen to 'Little Red Rooster.'"

Source: Author Englizzie

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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