Final answer:
Smokey Robinson was the lead singer for The Miracles and, along with Berry Gordy Jr., contributed to the creation of the Motown sound. Influential musicians like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley blended various musical styles to shape the early rock n' roll era. (option a)
Step-by-step explanation:
Smokey Robinson was the lead singer for The Miracles, a group that was fundamental in the development of the Motown sound. While Berry Gordy Jr. founded the Motown record label, Smokey Robinson contributed significantly to the label's success, both as a performer and as a songwriter. This collaboration helped forge a new era of music, particularly a blend of R&B and soul that came to define the Motown style.
Separately, figures like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley significantly contributed to the early era of rock n' roll. Berry, from St. Louis, created his blues-based rock n' roll by reversing the patterns of influence and incorporating western swing into R&B. His 1955 hit "Maybellene" exemplifies this fusion. Similarly, Presley, hailing from Memphis, expertly blended genres such as gospel, blues, and country, as evidenced in his first record produced by Sun Records with "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" creating a unique musical blend that became emblematic of his style and helped shape the course of music history.