U.S.A. Billboard Number One, One Hit Wonders 1950s Quiz

Answer: Bill Haley and His Comets

"(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" was written by Max C. Freedman/James E. Myers (as Jimmy DeKnight). It was number one for eight weeks on the Billboard chart for Bill Haley and His Comets in 1955. It was number one for five weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1955/56.

"(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" was originally released in 1954 as the B-Side of "Thirteen Women (and Only One Man in Town)". In 1955 (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" was used under the opening credits of the film "Blackboard Jungle". It was chosen by the movie's producers from records brought to them by the movie's star Glenn Ford, who borrowed them from his son's collection.

Bill Haley died of natural causes, (most likely a heart attack) at his home in Harlingen, Texas, U.S.A., on February 9, 1981, aged 55.

Answer: Jim Lowe with The High Fives

"The Green Door" was written by Bob Davie/Marvin J. Moore. It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Top 100 for Jim Lowe with The High Fives in 1956. It peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

"The Green Door" was a popular song in 1956. Although only one version made it to the Billboard chart, there were three versions in the UK Singles Chart in 1956. As well as Jim Lowe's version there was Frankie Vaughan's version which peaked at number two and Glen Mason's version which peaked at number 25. The song finally made it to number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1981, when a version by Shakin' Stevens spent four weeks at the top.

Jim Lowe died after a long illness at his home in East Hampton, Long Island, New York, U.S.A., on December 12, 2016, aged 93.

Answer: Buddy Knox

"Party Doll" was written by Bowen/Knox. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Top 100 for Buddy Knox with The Rhythm Orchids in 1957. It peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Buddy Wayne Knox was born in Happy, Texas, U.S.A., on July 20, 1933. In his teens he formed The Rhythm Orchids with some high-school friends. In 1956 they performed on the same radio shows as the Teen Kings. The leader of that group, Roy Orbison, suggested to Knox that he should go to Clovis, Texas, where producer Norman Petty had a recording studio. "Party Doll" was released on the Roulette record label, it sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. It was the first major hit for the Roulette record label.

Buddy Knox died of lung cancer in Bremerton, Washington, U.S.A., on February 14, 1999, aged 65.

Answer: Sam Cooke

"You Send Me" was written by Sam Cooke. It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Sam Cooke in 1957. It peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart in 1958.

Samuel Cooke was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, U.S.A., on January 22, 1931. He began singing at a young age and joined the Soul Stirrers as lead singer while still a teenager in the 1950s. Their first recording with Cooke as lead singer was "Jesus Gave Me Water" in 1950. He went solo in 1957 and between 1957 and 1966 he had 17 Top 20 hits of which five were Top Ten hits. His only number one hit was "You Send Me".

Sam Cooke died of gunshot wounds received at the Hacienda Motel at 91st and South Figueroa streets, in South Central Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., on December 11, 1964, aged 33.

Answer: Danny And The Juniors

"At The Hop" was written by Artie Singer/John Medora/David White. It was number one for seven weeks on the Billboard Top 100 for Danny and The Juniors in 1958. It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Danny and The Juniors were Danny Rapp (lead singer), Frank Maffei (2nd tenor), Joe Terranova (baritone) and David White (first tenor). They met at High School and started singing together as The Juvenaires in the '50s. In 1957 they recorded a song called "Do the Bop". Producer Dick Clark suggested they change their name and the title of the song, which became "Let's Go To The Hop". They had one more Top 20 hit when "Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay" peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1958.

Danny Rapp committed suicide in Quartzsite, Arizona, U.S.A., on April 3, 1983, aged 41.

Answer: Laurie London

"He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)" was written by Robert Lindon/William Henry. It was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Top 100 for Laurie London in 1958. It peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart in 1957.

"He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)" is a traditional African-American spiritual and was first published in 1927. On this record it was credited to British songwriters Robert Lindon and William Henry, which are pseudonyms for Jack Waller and Ralph Reader. They had used the song in their stage musical, "Wild Grows the Heather" in 1956.

Laurie London was 13 years old when he recorded the song. He recorded with producers such as Norman Newell and George Martin at the Abbey Road studios but had no more hits in the UK and originally retired from music at the age of 19.

Answer: Sheb Wooley

"The Purple People Eater" was written by Sheb Wooley. It was number one for six weeks on the Billboard Top 100 for Sheb Wooley in 1958. It peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Sheb Wooley was born Shelby Fredrick Wooley in Eric, Oklahoma, U.S.A., on April 10, 1921. He became a singer/songwriter/actor and was probably best known for his co-starring role as scout Pete Nolan in the TV series "Rawhide" (1959-1965). He also wrote and directed some of the episodes. He also appeared in the movies "High Noon" (1952) with Gary Cooper, "Giant" (1956) with James Dean and "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976) with Clint Eastwood.

Sheb Wooley died of leukemia in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A., on September 16, 2003, aged 82.

Answer: Wilbert Harrison

"Kansas City" was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Wilbert Harrison in 1959. It did not chart in the UK.

Wilbert Huntington Harrison was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A., on January 5, 1929. He was a rhythm and blues singer/pianist/guitarist/harmonica player. "Kansas City" was written in 1952 when Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were both 19 years old. It was first recorded in 1952 by Little Willie Littlefield as "K. C. Lovin'". Wilbert Harrison's version beat everyone on the Billboard Hot 100 including Hank Ballard and Little Richard.

Wilbert Harrison had to wait just over ten years for his next chart entry when "Let's Work Together" (a re-working of his self-penned 1962 song "Let's Stick Together"), peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Wilbert Harrison died of a stroke in a nursing home in Spencer, North Carolina, U.S.A., on October 26, 1994, aged 65.

Answer: Johnny Horton

"The Battle Of New Orleans" was written by Jimmy Driftwood. It was number one for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Johnny Horton in 1959. It peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

John LaGale Horton was born in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., on April 30, 1925. He was raised in Rusk, Cherokee County, East Texas and graduated from high school in Gallatin, Texas, in 1944. He had many varied jobs before his success in music. He worked in a film studio mail room, gold prospecting in Alaska and even after some singing success with the Mercury label, a tackle shop. During this time Horton had married Billie Jean Jones, the widow of Hank Williams. Two of his other successful hits were "Sink The Bismark" and "North To Alaska".

Johnny Horton died en route to hospital, of injuries sustained in a car crash near near Milano in Milam County, Texas, on November 5, 1960, aged 35.

Answer: Bobby Darin

"Mack The Knife" was written by Kurt Weill/Bertolt Brecht. It was number one for nine weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Bobby Darin in 1959. It was number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Bobby Darin was born Walden Robert Cassotto in New York City, New York, U.S.A., on May 14, 1936. His maternal grandfather, Saverio Antonio Cassotto, was a made man with the Genovese Crime Family. His maternal grandmother, Vivian Fern Walden, was a vaudeville singer. At the age of 32 his elder sister told him that she was in fact his mother but she took the name of his father to the grave.

"Mack The Knife" was his only number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 but on the UK Singles Chart "Dream Lover" was his first of two number one hits on the UK Singles Chart.

Bobby Darin died without regaining consciousness after open-heart surgery in the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., on December 20, 1973, aged 37.