1950s Music Trivia

1. Which singer was trying to "Mambo Italiano" in 1955?

From Quiz Oldies for Oldies

Answer: Rosemary Clooney

"Mambo Italiano", written by Bob Merrill, peaked at number nine on the Billboard Pop Chart for Rosemary Clooney in 1954. It was number one for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1955. Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, Kentucky, USA, in 1928. Between 1951 and 1957 she had eight Top Ten hits on the Billboard Chart which included four number one hits, "Come On-a My House" (1951), "Half As Much" (1952), "Hey There" (1954) and "This Ole House" (1954). Between 1952 and 1955 Rosemary Clooney had six Top Ten hits on the UK Singles Chart which included two number one hits, "This Ole House" (1954) and "Mambo Italiano" (1955). Rosemary Clooney was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001. After surgery she died in Beverly Hills, California, USA, in 2002 aged 74.

From Quiz Do you Know your Rock and Roll Era: Part 2

Answer: Mr. Sandman

The Chordettes were a female singing quartet who recorded this song in 1954. The Sandman is a mythical folklore character who puts people to sleep, brings good dreams and sprinkles magic sand into the eyes.

From Quiz Do you Know your Rock and Roll Era: Part One

Answer: The movie's over, it's 4 o'clock

The song was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and released by the Everly Brothers in September 1957. It topped the charts in the US.

From Quiz The '50s: Not All Rock 'n' Roll Vol.2

Answer: You Belong To Me

"You Belong To Me" was written by Pee Wee King/Chilton Price/Redd Stewart. It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for Jo Stafford in 1953. It peaked at number one on the Billboard chart in 1952. Jo Elizabeth Stafford was born in Coalinga, California, USA, in 1917. Her first US chart hit was the "The Trolley Song" as part of the group The Pied Pipers. It peaked at number two in 1944. Their version of the song charted higher than the original version by Judy Garland from the movie "Meet Me In St. Louis", which peaked at number four. During the '40s Jo Stafford had 18 Top Ten hits in the US, two of which, "Candy" with Johnny Mercer (1945) and "Temptation" with Red Ingle & the Natural Seven (1947), hit the number one spot. In the '50s she had 11 US Top Ten hits which included the number one hits "You Belong To Me" (1952) and "Make Love to Me" (1954). She died of congestive heart failure in Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA, in 2008 aged 90.

From Quiz The '50s: Not All Rock 'n' Roll Vol.1

Answer: Rosemary Clooney

"Hey There" written by Richard Adler/Jerry Ross was number one for six weeks on the Billboard Best Sellers chart for Rosemary Clooney in 1954. It peaked at number four on the UK singles chart in 1955. Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, Kentucky, USA, in 1928. She made her first recordings for Columbia records in 1946, where she sang with Tony Pastor's big band until 1949. She had her first hit on the Billboard chart in 1948 with "You Started Something" which peaked at number 16. Between 1951 and 1957 she had eight Top Ten hits on the Billboard Top 100, which included the four number one hits, "Come On-a My House" (1951), "Half As Much" (1952), "Hey There" (1954) and "This Ole House" (1954). In the UK between 1952 and 1957 she had seven Top 20 hits which included six Top Ten hits of which two were number one hits, "This Ole House" (number one for one week in 1954) and "Mambo Italiano" (number one for three weeks in 1955). She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001 and died in Beverly Hills, California, USA, in 2002 aged 74.

From Quiz Number One Hits, 1955-1959, Part II

Answer: Fontane Sisters

The Fontane Sisters had 11 songs in the top 40 of the Billboard Top 100 from 1955-1958; "Hearts Of Stone" was their only Number One record. "Hearts Of Stone" was a Number 15 hit for The Charms in 1955. In 1961, it reached Number 20 for Bill Black's Combo, and in 1973, it got to Number 37 for Blue Ridge Rangers. The only other Top Ten hit for the Fontane Sisters was "Seventeen" in 1955.

From Quiz Number One Hits, 1955-1959

Answer: Rock Around The Clock

"Rock Around The Clock," the theme for the film "Blackboard Jungle," spent eight weeks at Number One. Haley and His Comets had 16 Top 40 hits 1954-1958. "See You Later Alligator" reached Number Six in 1956. "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" charted at Number Seven in 1954. And "Burn That Candle" reached Number Nine in 1955.

From Quiz 1950s: Giants of Popular Music

Answer: white suede shoes

Mr. Pat Boone during his career placed in the U.S. Billboard charts with 38 songs (through June 1962). He often re-recorded songs originally recorded by black recording artists: case in point was the song, "Ain't That A Shame" which placed on the U.S. Billboard charts the same week recording artist Fats Domino, placed his original version. Mr. Boone's trademark were his white suede shoes.

From Quiz Vintage 1950s Rock and Roll Groups

Answer: His Comets

Bill Haley and His Comets ushered in the Rock and Roll Era with "Rock Around the Clock," which was a Number One hit for eight weeks on the Billboard Top 40 Hits list in 1955. The song was also featured that year in the film "The Blackboard Jungle." From 1954-1958, the group had 13 Top 40 hits, including "See You Later, Alligator" (Number Six in 1956) and "Burn That Candle" (Number Nine in 1955). [Halley's Comet is named after its 1705 discoverer, Edmond Halley. Wonder if that helped Bill Haley to name his group?]

From Quiz Oldies but Goodies: The 1950s

Answer: Bill Haley and His Comets

Going back to the beginning (arguably), Bill Haley and his Comets band began in 1952 and, in 1954, recorded the most successful rendition of "Rock Around the Clock", the song most consider to have "brought rock and roll into mainstream culture around the world". The original full title was "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock Tonight", and the song was ranked 158 on Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". BTW, the "A" side was called "Thirteen Women (and Only One Man in Town)", and it was not until "Rock Around the Clock" was played during the opening credits of the 1955 film "Blackboard Jungle" that the song really became famous.

From Quiz Sing Me '50s Rock and Roll Volume 2

Answer: Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry wrote "Johnny B Goode" in 1955 and when he recorded it in 1958 it rose to number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the R&B charts. "Johnny B Goode", for its huge influence as a rock and roll song, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. and "Rolling Stone" ranked the song as number one on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" in 2008. Cover versions have been made by Buck Owens, AC/DC, Aerosmith, BB King, Jimi Hendrix, and the Beatles, just to name a few. Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born in 1926 and is known as one of the pioneers of rock and roll. When he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1985 the comment was made that he "...laid the groundwork for not only a rock and roll sound but a rock and roll stance." He has had such hits as "Maybelline", "Roll Over Beethoven", and "Rock and Roll Music". In 2011 an eight feet (2.4m) tall statue of Chuck Berry, erected along the St. Louis Walk of Fame, was dedicated in a ceremony attended by Chuck Berry, who is still performing today

From Quiz The Sheet Music Chart

Answer: Anton Karas

The theme from the spy film "The Third Man" starring Orson Welles and directed by Carol Reed, was written and performed by Anton Karas. He was an accomplished zither player, and the massive success of the film and his music led to him touring the world playing to Royalty and Heads of State.

From Quiz Sing Me '50s Rock and Roll

Answer: Ricky Nelson

Ricky Nelson, born Eric Hilliard Nelson in 1940, was a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. Between 1957 and 1973 he had nineteen top-ten hits. When Billboard Magazine's "Hot 100 Chart" was created, "Poor Little Fool" was its first number one song. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He, and seven others, were killed when his plane crashed in Texas in December 1985.

From Quiz Torch Songs

Answer: Jacques Brel

Jacqes Brel wrote and sang this torch song on his 1959 album "La Valse à Mille Temps". The French title is 'Ne me Quitte Pas' whilst the English title is 'If You Go Away'. Rod McKuen penned the English version and Shirley Bassey has recorded a memorable version.

From Quiz Hits of the late 1950s

Answer: Pat Boone

Charles Eugene Patrick Boone was born June 1, 1934. "Love Letters in the Sand" was one of his biggest selling records and featured him whistling in the instrumental break.

From Quiz Oldies Music for Beginners

Answer: Dale Hawkins

Creedence Clearwater Revival covered this song in 1968 and it ended up on their greatest hits, "The Chronicles Volume I"

From Quiz 1950 to1955 - Music, Music, Music

Answer: the nickelodeon

"Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon All I want is lovin' you and music! Music! Music!" The song, written by Stephan Weiss and Bernie Baum, was also recorded by The Ames Brothers, Carmen Cavallaro and Freddy Martin among others with Teresa's version the biggest hit recording. Teresa started in the entertainment business as a two year old and won several talent contests as a child. Subsequent to this, her first, she churned out a steady stream of charting hits until 1961 when she temporarily retired to raise her family. She began recording and entertaining again in 1972 but changed her focus from pop to jazz - her new husband was Bob Thiele, a record producer well connected to the jazz scene. She remained fairly active until her last recording in 1991. As of 2005 and fully retired, she resides in NYC.

From Quiz Oldies 1150, Big 500 Countdown Part 6

Answer: I Only Have Eyes For You

The Flamingos were one of the first doo wop bands ever, and this was their biggest hit single. "I Only Have Eyes For You" charted at #11 and #3 on the Pop and R&B charts respectively. "In the Still of the Night", by the Five Satins was #142 on the countdown, "The Great Pretender", by the Platters, was #256, and "Little Darlin'", by the Diamonds, was #59.

From Quiz Lyrics From The 50s - Final Instalment!

Answer: Heartbreak Hotel

Presley's first hit and first #1. Many, many more would follow.

From Quiz Lyrics From The 50s - V

Answer: The Summertime Blues

This was Eddie Cochran's biggest hit charting #8 in 1958. Unfortunately, he didn't have the opportunity for real stardom losing his life two years later in a car wreck in England at the age of 21. Incidentally, although "The Rockin' Pneumonia..." song is most closely identified with Johnny Rivers who recorded it in 1973, the original version was in fact recorded in 1957 by Huey Smith but it was a minor hit only charting at #52.

From Quiz Lyrics From the 50s - IV

Answer: Catch A Falling Star

This million seller was Perry Como's third and last #1 hit of the rock era.

From Quiz Lyrics From The 50s - III

Answer: "Round And Round"

Como's amazing career spanned from the late 1930's as the featured vocalist for Ted Weems Orchestra right into the 1990's. He had eleven #1 songs prior to the advent of the rock era in 1955. He added three more #1's with "Round And Round", "Hot Diggety" and "Catch A Falling Star". His last chart entry was in 1974.

From Quiz Lyrics From The 50's - II

Answer: Jailhouse Rock

A #1 song for Elvis for seven weeks in the fall of 1957. What a cast of characters... Bugsy, Shifty, Spider Murphy, Little Joe, et al!

From Quiz Song Lyrics From The 1950s

Answer: Tennessee Ernie Ford

"Bless your little pea pickin' heart" was the catch phrase of Tennessee Ernie Ford who scored with "Sixteen Tons", a #1 hit from November 1955.

From Quiz Memories

Answer: Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin was born in the Bronx in 1936 with the name Walden Robert Casotto. "Splish Splash" was recorded in 1958, and went to number 3 on the charts.

From Quiz Oldies for Oldies

Answer: Alma Cogan

"Dreamboat", written by Jack Hoffman, was number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Alma Cogan in 1955. It did not chart in the USA. Alma Cogan was born Alma Angela Cohen in Whitechapel, London, England, in 1932. She was known as the girl with the giggle in her voice. She had many UK chart hits in the '50s which included four Top Ten hits. By the time The Beatles arrived she was perceived as old fashioned and the hits dried up. She was still popular abroad and had number one hits in Sweden in 1964 and 1965. John Lennon used to mimic her when he was at the Liverpool College of Art but after meeting her in the '60s it was rumoured that they had an affair, long before he met Yoko. Alma Cogan died of ovarian cancer at the Middlesex Hospital, London, England, in 1966 aged 34.

From Quiz Do you Know your Rock and Roll Era: Part 2

Answer: cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues

Eddie Cochran (1938-1960) was an American singer and musician who recorded the song "Summertime Blues" in 1958 which reached number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100. Sadly, at 21 years he was killed in a car accident while on tour in the UK. His other hits were "C'mon Everybody" and "Somethin' Else".

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Last Updated Apr 13 2024 5:45 AM

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