Boogie woogie captivated audiences in which cities?

• A. Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans
• B. New York, Boston, and Philadelphia
• C. Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco
• D. Miami, Orlando, and Tampa

Answer: (A)

Boogie-woogie grew out of blues piano and flourished in mid-20th-century dance venues, so it found its strongest audiences in cities with vibrant club and dance-hall scenes. Chicago became a major hub after the Great Migration, where pianists developed the driving left-hand bass lines and rapid right-hand riffs that audiences could dance to and that helped spread the style through records and performances. Memphis and New Orleans, with deep blues and jazz traditions and lively nightlife, also hosted many performers and dancers who propelled boogie-woogie into the spotlight. Together, these cities best capture where boogie-woogie drew large crowds. The other city groups don’t align as well with this historical pattern of boogie-woogie’s popular venues and audience appeal.