Take this All By Myself Quiz! Easy Trivia | Bands and Musical Acts

Answer: Menudo

Enrique Martin Morales was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on the 24th of December, 1971. Known professionally as Ricky Martin, he was barely a teenager when he began his music career, when in 1984 he joined the Latin American boy band, Menudo. Menudo was the brainchild of Edgardo Diaz, a Puerto Rican music producer, who had previously managed another boy band, La Pandilla.

However unlike his previous band, Diaz insisted that Menudo would (unusually) have an ever-changing line-up, meaning that once a member became too adult in appearance, they would be replaced by a younger teenager. Ricky Martin spent five years with the band, finally leaving them in 1989 in order to enjoy a well-earned break and contemplate his next career move.

He subsequently dabbled in acting (which he had some experience in) before releasing his debut solo album (in Spanish) in 1991, which was entitled "Ricky Martin".

In the years that followed, Martin divided his time between acting and singing, earning his first Grammy Award in 1999, in the Best Latin Pop Album category, for his fourth album "Vuelve".

In the same year, Martin also released his first English album, "Ricky Martin", which debuted at number one on the United States' "Billboard 200" chart. The first single to be released from the album was "Livin' la Vida Loca", which reached the coveted number one spot on various charts around the world, including the United States' "Billboard Hot 100".

Answer: The Supremes

Diana Ernestine Earle Ross was born in Detroit, Michigan, in the United States, on the 26th of March, 1944. As a founding member of the all-female group, The Supremes, Ross enjoyed considerable success, achieving a jaw-dropping twelve number one singles (on the United States' "Billboard Hot 100") during her time with them. Originally named The Primettes, the group (which formed in 1959) changed their name in 1960, after signing with Motown.

After a decade of success with her group, which in 1967 had been renamed Diana Ross and the Supremes, Ross left in order to pursue what would eventually become an extremely lucrative and successful solo career. Following her departure, the group's name reverted back to The Supremes, but seven years later, in 1977, they disbanded.

Answer: The Fugees

Lauryn Hill was born on the 26th of May, 1975, in South Orange, New Jersey, in the United States. She began her quest for stardom with the hip-hop group, The Fugees (previously named Tranzlator Crew), which consisted of Hill herself, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel. The group rose to fame during the mid-1990s, and was particularly well-known for their 1996 cover of Roberta Flack's single, "Killing Me Softly", which was taken from their Grammy Award-winning album, "The Score".

However the following year, all three members of the group began working on solo projects, and in 1998, Lauryn Hill released her debut solo album, entitled "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". The album was an instant hit, with music critics and fans alike, selling 422,624 copies in its very first week, which secured Hill the much coveted number one spot on the United States' "Billboard 200" chart. Further success followed, with the album's lead single, "Doo Wop (That Thing)", also reaching the top spot, this time on the United States' "Billboard Hot 100" chart. At the 1999 Grammy Awards, the song also earned Hill the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Grammy Award and the Best R&B Song Grammy Award.

Answer: Destiny's Child

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born in Houston, Texas, in the United States, on the 4th of September, 1981. Known professionally by her first name only, Knowles first achieved success as a member of all-girl group, Destiny's Child. The girls, whose final line-up consisted of Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, were originally known as Girl's Tyme, and originally had more than three members. Throughout the years, the band had several different names, but in 1996 when they signed with Columbia Records, they did so as Destiny's Child. As a group, the girls of Destiny's Child achieved critical and commercial success, but despite this, internal and legal troubles plagued them, resulting in several line-up changes, which eventually left them as a trio. In 2000, following a string of hits that included "Bootylicious" and "Survivor", the group announced a temporary hiatus, in order for each of its members to pursue their own solo careers. It was during this time that Beyoncé worked on her debut solo album, "Dangerously in Love", which was released in 2003 and immediately went straight to number one on the United States' "Billboard 200" chart. Destiny's Child briefly reunited in 2004, but in 2005 the trio finally called time on the group, and they formally disbanded.

As a solo artist, Beyoncé went from strength to strength, and in addition to a successful music career, she also carved out a prosperous film career for herself.

Answer: 'N Sync

Justin Randall Timberlake was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States, on the 31st of January, 1981. As the youngest member and a lead singer of American boy band 'N Sync, he was propelled to fame during the late 1990s, following the release of the group's debut album, "*NSYNC" (1996). The group had five members: Justin Timberlake; Lance Bass; JC Chasez; Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick, and when their debut album charted at number two on the United States' "Billboard 200", they were immediately thrust into the limelight. Following this, the group enjoyed a great deal of success, and got the chance to perform at several high-profile events, including the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City, the 2000 World Series and the 2001 Super Bowl.

Though they did announce a temporary hiatus in 2002, it was not until 2004 that Timberlake broke the news that he would not be returning at all. At the time, he was already well on the way to establishing himself as a viable solo artist, with his debut single "Like I Love You" entering at number eleven on the United States' "Billboard Hot 100" chart. His debut album "Justified" did even better, peaking at number two on the American "Billboard 200" chart, and following his announcement, Timberlake's solo music and film career went from strength to strength.

Answer: Eternal

Louise Elizabeth Nurding was born in the Lewisham area of London, England, on the 4th of November, 1974. In 1992, along with Kéllé Bryan and Easther and Vernie Bennett, Nurding formed the R&B girl group Eternal. In 1993 their debut single, "Stay", peaked at number four in the "UK Singles Chart", and later that same year their debut album "Always & Forever" clinched the number two spot in the UK Albums Chart, firmly cementing their new-found success. However just as the band seemed to be really taking off, Louise Nurding left in order to pursue a solo career.

As her ex-band members continued without her, Nurding began her career as a solo artist, and in 1996 released her debut single, "Light of My Life", which entered the UK Singles Chart in the (respectable) number eight spot. Her debut album, entitled "Naked", peaked at number seven in the UK Albums Chart, but received mixed reviews from critics. Nevertheless, for the next nine years, Nurding kept herself in the music industry, managing several top ten hit singles and albums in the process.

Answer: Westlife

Brian Nicholas McFadden was born in Dublin, Ireland, on the 12th of April, 1980. He was recruited to the group, along with band mate Nicky Byrne, after three of its original members were dismissed. During McFadden and Byrne's auditions, the band was known as IOYOU, but upon signing a record deal with Simon Cowell, the name was changed to Westlife. McFadden and Byrne then joined their new band members, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, and the group released their debut single "Swear It Again" in 1999, which made it to number one in several countries around the world. From then on, Westlife were extremely successful, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland, going on to become the first act to ever have their first seven singles make it to number one on the UK Singles Chart.

However at the height of their popularity, Brian McFadden decided to leave the band in order to spend more time with his family, and pursue other musical interests. His first solo album ("Irish Son") was released in 2004, and was moderately successful in Ireland and Denmark. However McFadden did have better luck with his singles, with "Real to Me" and "Like Only a Woman Can" both hitting the top spot in the Irish Singles Chart.

Answer: Take That

Robbie Williams usually played second fiddle to Take That's lead vocalist, Gary Barlow and so Williams was always looking to move on to bigger and better things. Despite the success of Take That, a band that in their early days gave us tunes such as "A Million Love Songs", Robbie Williams left the group in 1995; Robbie's "bad boy" behaviour, including a long-lasting drink and drug problem, more than likely accelerated the split between Williams and the remaining members of the band. Robbie Williams went on to make a success of his solo career with hits such as "Angels", "Let Me Entertain You", "Rock DJ" and "Feel". His regular appearances in the UK charts led to him being recognised as one of the best British artists of the 1990s.

Take That reformed in May 2006 and their music was just as well received in the 21st century as it was in the 20th. Robbie Williams rejoined the band in 2010 but for a time he also continued to maintain a solo presence despite his output not being to quite the standard of his earlier work.

Answer: The Smiths

Stephen Patrick Morrissey, or Morrissey as he is mononymously known, was born in Lancashire in 1959. In 1982 he formed The Smiths with guitarist Johnny Marr: with drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke as later additions to the group. The band eventually split up in 1987 soon after Johnny Marr left the band due to personal differences with Morrissey.

Morrissey did not rest for long, as his first solo album, "Viva Hate" was released only six months after he left the band. His unconventional songs helped him to enjoy a healthy solo career for many years. Morrissey's controversial opinions as well as his singing abilities kept him in the limelight. For example, he was famously against Margaret Thatcher as a prime minister, and likened the royal family to being benefit scroungers. He was also a devout animal rights activist.

Answer: Genesis

Flautist and lead vocalist Peter Gabriel wrote an open letter to the media and his fans when he left Genesis in 1975 and asked that it be printed in its entirety or not at all. In it he said (among other things), "My future within music, if it exists, will be in as many situations as possible....

This is the difference between the profitable, compartmentalized, battery chicken and the free-range. Why did the chicken cross the road anyway?" The image of the free-range chicken crossing the road captured the spirit of Gabriel's farewell.

The chicken can't have know what is on the other side of the road, nor did it know all the reasons for crossing, but at least the free-range chicken was free to range. A number of factors played a part in Peter Gabriel's leaving Genesis, not least the conflict between the need to travel for the profit of the band and the need to stay home to take care of his young family during a health crisis.

When Peter Gabriel left the band, drummer Phil Collins took his place as lead vocalist; Collins left the band in 1996. Early Genesis band member Anthony Phillips left in 1970 and guitarist Steve Hackett left in 1977.