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Mississippi Bluesmen Trivia Quiz

It could very well be easier to come up with a list of legendary Blues artists that aren't from Mississippi then to try to list all the greats that had roots in the Magnolia State.

A multiple-choice quiz by thestaxman. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
thestaxman

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
243,401

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
791

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What Blues King was born to the Nelson family in Indianola, MS? Hint

B.B. King

Albert King

Freddie King

King Edward

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who claimed to have sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads? Hint

Robert Johnson

Howlin' Wolf

Blind Lemon Jefferson

Tommy Johnson

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Question 3 of 10

3. What Inverness native was signed to three of the most important labels in music history, cutting records for Sun, Chess, and Stax? Hint

Howlin' Wolf

Albert King

Rufus Thomas

Little Milton

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who was born McKinley Morganfield? Hint

Howlin' Wolf

B.B. King

Sonny Boy Williamson II

Muddy Waters

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which one of these artists is not associated with the delta area of the state? Hint

Howlin' Wolf

Muddy Waters

Elmore James

Charley Patton

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Question 6 of 10

6. What Vicksburg born songwriter's classics, recorded by the likes of Muddy Waters and Mississippi Fred MacDowell, became some of the definitive and most imitated staples of Urban Blues? Hint

Artie "Blues Boy" White

Willie Dixon

Louisian Red

Jimmy Rodgers

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who was the Northern Mississippian famous for playing a fife? Hint

Jimmy Reed

Son House

Skip James

Otha Turner

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Question 8 of 10

8. A Baptist preacher in his early teens, what man's almost supernatural and super powerful playing mesmorized delta youths such as Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters? Hint

Charley Patton

Big Bill Broonzy

Skip James

Son House

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What primal force and delta icon recorded what might be his most well known tune with members of the Motown house band? Hint

Jimmy Reed

Albert King

Son House

John Lee Hooker

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Question 10 of 10

10. What 1920s delta superstar was famous for his stage antics and, despite his tiny frame, his huge voice? Hint

Charley Patton

Skip James

Son House

Mississippi John Hurt

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What Blues King was born to the Nelson family in Indianola, MS?

Answer: Albert King

More powerful and more dynamic than any of his peers, Albert King was born Albert Nelson two years before B.B. in the same small Mississippi town. Though not as well known as B.B., Albert is thought to have actually been the more influential of the two on other musicians, prime examples being Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

2. Who claimed to have sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads?

Answer: Tommy Johnson

Tommy Johnson, who was more popular with and influential on local buyers and players than Robert, used to brag that he had met the devil. Locals adapted this story as a sort of explanation for Robert Johnson, an average player, disappearing and returning months later polished, professional, and darned good. Later, when young, white enthusiasts made the trek down to the delta to learn all about Robert Johnson, this "crossroads" story became synonymous with him. Tommy Johnson was portrayed by Blues musician Chris Thomas King in the movie 'O, Brother Where Art Thou?'

3. What Inverness native was signed to three of the most important labels in music history, cutting records for Sun, Chess, and Stax?

Answer: Little Milton

The Wolf did of course cut at Sun and record for Chess, and Rufus Thomas (born in Cayce, MS) had the first hits for both Sun and Stax, but Little Milton (Campbell) laid down tracks at all three labels and finished his career with Malaco records, a legend in their own right.

4. Who was born McKinley Morganfield?

Answer: Muddy Waters

That would be Muddy Waters, in probably the smartest and best name change since Marion Morrison became John Wayne.

5. Which one of these artists is not associated with the delta area of the state?

Answer: Elmore James

James, the great slide guitarist, was from the Jackson area in the central part of the state.

6. What Vicksburg born songwriter's classics, recorded by the likes of Muddy Waters and Mississippi Fred MacDowell, became some of the definitive and most imitated staples of Urban Blues?

Answer: Willie Dixon

Standards now, "I'm a Hoochie Coochie Man" and "I'm Ready", are just two of Dixon's contribution to the Blues. White and Louisiana Red are also from Vicksburg, located on the Mississippi River. Rodgers was from Meridian and is known as The Father of Country Music. He was a big favorite of and also drew inspiration from many Mississippi Bluesmen.

7. Who was the Northern Mississippian famous for playing a fife?

Answer: Otha Turner

Before his death at the age of 94, Turner (born in Gravel Springs) enjoyed national interest, and Martin Scorscese discovered him and even used one of his songs in his movie 'Gangs of New York'.

8. A Baptist preacher in his early teens, what man's almost supernatural and super powerful playing mesmorized delta youths such as Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters?

Answer: Son House

The whiskey lovin' Son House was THE man in the delta, but sadly somehow ended up as a bellhop in a New York hotel when he was tracked down in the '60s!

9. What primal force and delta icon recorded what might be his most well known tune with members of the Motown house band?

Answer: John Lee Hooker

The great "Boom Boom" was cut for Vee-Jay, but Hooker was the king of the Detroit Blues scene, and it is also said that the Vandellas sang backup for Hooker on some other records. Albert King's career took off at Stax in Memphis with their house band, Booker T. & the MGs.

10. What 1920s delta superstar was famous for his stage antics and, despite his tiny frame, his huge voice?

Answer: Charley Patton

Patton was famous for dropping down in splits and playing his guitar behind his head. Showmanship aside though, Patton is generally considered to be the originator and the most influential performer of Mississippi Blues.

Source: Author thestaxman

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