Who is known as the 'Father of Blues'?

• A. W.C. Handy
• B. B.B. King
• C. Robert Johnson
• D. Muddy Waters

Answer: (A)

This question tests recognizing who helped bring the blues to a wider audience by publishing and promoting the music. W. C. Handy earned the nickname because he didn’t just perform blues—he turned it into widely available, published songs that could be played by many musicians. His efforts, including popular tunes like The Memphis Blues and St. Louis Blues, standardized forms and helped blues cross from regional folk roots into mainstream American music, influencing jazz and later genres. The other names are celebrated blues musicians who shaped the sound itself in later styles, but Handy is the figure most credited with launching the publicly distributed blues that sparked the genre’s broad popularity.