Question

The "Father of the Blues" was this cornet-playing bandleader who first heard the blues in a Mississippi train station:

a. W. C. Handy.
b. John Philip Sousa.
c. James Reese Europe.
d. Scott Joplin.

Answer 1

W. C. Handy is known as the "Father of the Blues" and played a crucial role in bringing blues music to a wider audience. The correct option is a.

Step-by-step explanation:

The "Father of the Blues," who first heard the blues in a Mississippi train station, is W. C. Handy. This cornet-playing bandleader played a pivotal role in capturing the rhythms of African American culture and transferring them to sheet music, making the blues more accessible and popular.

Handy's observation and transcription of blues music helped spread the genre beyond the African American communities where it originated, making it a significant part of American musical heritage.

Hence, Option a is correct.