1960 in Popular Music Trivia Quiz

Answer: Silver dagger

"Silver Dagger" was Baez's rendition of a an American folk song of disputed origin. Its melody and theme of a night visit from a secretive lover was similar to popular earlier folk songs such as "O! Molly Dear Go Ask Your Mother" and "Wake Up You Drowsy Sleeper".

It's believed that all these songs were handed down in the oral tradition from mothers to their children, possibly dating back to pre-colonial Britain.

Answer: Chuck Berry

Although "Rockin' at the Hops" failed to produce a top ten hit on any chart, Chuck Berry had already secured his place in the pantheon of rock 'n' roll heroes with twelve top ten hits on the US R&B chart between 1955 and 1959. Most importantly, Berry created the role of the guitar playing front man with an emphasis on electrifying solos and an athletic stage presence.

Answer: Chain Gang

Released as a single, "Chain Gang" was to be Cooke's second most commercially successful song, trailing only his brilliant debut single, "You Send Me", from 1957. It reached number nine on the UK Singles chart, where it was eclipsed the following year by his hit "Cupid", which reached number seven.

Answer: Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus (1922-1979) originally studied cello as a young man, but switched to double bass after finding limited opportunities for a Black classical musician in the 1940s. He quickly became known in jazz circles for his innovative technique and his inventive compositions which incorporated elements of classical music with the hard bop jazz style of the 50s and 60s.

In 1993, the United States Library of Congress acquired a large collection of Mingus' manuscripts and recordings in recognizing his significant cultural contributions to the history of American music.

Answer: Chess Records

Chess Records was founded by brothers Phil and Leonard Chess in Chicago in 1950. The label quickly became associated with the leading Blues and R&B artists of the time. Besides Howlin' Wolf, the Chess label released recordings by such legends as Chuck Berry, Moms Mabley, and Muddy Waters.

Answer: Johnny Kidd and the Pirates

Frederick Albert Heath, aka Johnny Kidd, was one of the very few European rock 'n' roll artists to have any real success in the era before The Beatles took the world by storm. He and his band, The Pirates, also pioneered a theatrical approach to rock music characterized by outlandish costumes and showmanship.

This style has since been borrowed by countless acts including Paul Revere and the Raiders, Alice Cooper, and Kiss.

Answer: Etta James

Etta James (1938-2012) overcame a childhood characterized by neglect and physical abuse to become one of the few artists inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, The Grammy Hall of Fame, and The Blues Hall of Fame. Released in 1960, "At Last!" was the first of her 30 studio albums, the last of which was released in 2011.

Answer: Places in the USA

"The Genius Hits the Road" presented a novel concept in that all of the compositions reference places in the United States. Songs include "Alabamy Bound", "Georgia on my Mind", "Moonlight in Vermont" and "Blue Hawaii". The album topped out at number nine on the Billboard 200 chart of USA albums.

Answer: Cathy's

Released as single in April of 1960, "Cathy's Clown" was the Everly Brothers' third number one hit in both the the USA and the UK. The song not only featured the Everly's famous harmonies, but was also notable for its unorthodox lyrical structure. "Cathy's Clown" lacks verses in the traditional sense and uses a chorus-bridge-chorus format that was virtually unheard of at the time.

Answer: Brook Benton

Brook Benton (1931-1988) was a South Carolina born singer/songwriter who dominated the US charts in 1959 and 1960. Starting with "It's Just a Matter of Time", released in early 1959, Benton reeled off six number one R&B hits in less than a two year span. Five of those hits also cracked the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 list.