Which artist was known for bringing pop sensibility to R&B through blending blues and Tin Pan Alley forms, with a crossover hit 'Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean'?

• A. Ruth Brown
• B. Etta James
• C. Aretha Franklin
• D. Diana Ross

Answer: (A)

This item tests recognizing an artist who fused blues with pop-oriented Tin Pan Alley songcraft to push R&B toward mainstream charts. Ruth Brown fits best because she was an early R&B star who blended blues vocal phrasing with polished, radio-friendly songwriting, helping the genre cross over to pop audiences. Her crossover hit Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean is a classic example of that blend in action—bluesy feel married to a catchy, Tin Pan Alley-style arrangement that appealed beyond traditional R&B listeners. The other artists are known for different directions: Etta James leans into blues and soul with a later, more rugged edge; Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul with gospel roots; Diana Ross became a pop-soul icon through Motown. None match the specific combination described or this particular crossover hit.