My Boomerang Won't Come Back & other Novelty Songs Quiz

Answer: Charlie Drake

Charlie Drake was an English actor and comedian of radio stage and screen. he recorded over twenty singles starting in 1958. Notable singles were cover versions of "Splish Splash" and "Please Mr Custer" both of which made the top twenty in the UK. In 1961 his recording of "My Boomerang Won't Come Back" reached number 21 on The Billboard top 100, number fourteen in the UK and number one in Australia. Charlie passed away in 2006 aged 81.

Answer: Sheb Wooley

A western character actor starting in 1950, his first real credit was as Ben Miller, one of the heavies in "High Noon". He had parts in many films including "The War Wagon", "Silverado" and "The Outlaw Josey Wales". He was featured on "Hee Haw" and wrote the theme for that show.

His 1958 hit "Purple People Eater" was written in ten minutes after a friend's son told a joke about a horned people eater. The recording went to number one on the billboard chart and sold more than three million copies. He recorded many novelty songs under his alter ego, Ben Colder.

Answer: David Seville

David Seville was born Rostom Bagdasarian in 1919. He appeared on Broadway in the 1940's in "The Time of Your Life" written by his cousin, William Saroyan. He returned to Los Angeles and started a career as an actor, He co-wrote with his cousin, "Come-On-A-My-House" recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1951. Experimenting with tape speeds he recorded "Witch Doctor" in 1958 to tremendous success.

This song with the varying tape speed inspired his creation of Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Answer: Bernard Cribbins

Bernard Cribbins was a comedy actor on radio, television and in movies through to 1998. He then started to appear on stage and was on stage at age 85 as recently as 2014. The song "Right said Fred" was a top ten hit for Bernard. What the song is about, is anybody's guess.

Answer: Mike Reid

Stand up comedian, long time actor on the british soap "East Enders" and a movie actor. Mike Reid recorded the "Ugly Duckling" with a cockney accent and using much rhyming slang. The record was a top ten hit in the UK in 1975. He was part of the ensemble cast of "Snatch" in 2000 alongside, Brad Pitt, Denis Farina, Rade Serbedzija, Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones and Benicio Del Toro.

Answer: Lonnie Donegan

King of the skiffle, was Lonnie Donegan's nickname in the late 1950's. Indeed the Guiness book of British hit singles credits him with over 30 top twenty hits including three number ones.

Answer: Leroy Pullins

Leroy Pullins a bona fide one-hit-wonder. Leroy recorded "I'm a Nut" as a Roger Miller sound alike, indeed many pundits thought it was Roger Miller. An Album titled "I'm A Nut" made the Billboard Country chart in 1966. He followed with a similar themed album in 1967 which did not chart. He returned to his home town in Kentucky and worked as a fireman.

Answer: The Big Bopper

J. P. Richardson aka "The Big Bopper" was a disc jockey in Texas when he composed and recorded "Chantilly Lace". The Big Bopper was killed in a plane crash with Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly in February 1959.

Answer: Ray Stevens

Ray Stevens recorded "Ahab The Arab" and achieved a top five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. Further novelty song success followed with, "Harry The Hairy Ape", "Gitarzan" and "The Streak" In 1976 "The Streak" reached number one on Billboard Pop Chart. Ray has the distinction of having the Billboard Hot 100 entry with the longest title, namely, "Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving, Fast-Acting Pleasant-Tasting Green and Purple Pills,"

Answer: Dodie Stevens

He wears "Tan Shoes with Pink Shoelaces, a Polka Dot Vest and Man O Man, Tan Shoes with Pink Shoelaces and a Big Panama with a Purple Hat Band" so sang Dodie Stevens. Born in 1946 as Geraldine Pasquale she was only 13 when "Pink Shoelaces surged up the billboard pop charts in 1959.