Strike Up the Band Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cab

Cab Calloway's real first name was Cabell, but he was known as Cab. He made his name by playing at New York's Cotton Club, with his band being the replacement for Duke Ellington's band during the latter's tours. As well as being the band leader, Cab was also the main singer with his best known songs including 'Minnie the Moocher', which was a big hit in 1931. You may think you don't know it, but its chorus includes the words 'Hi de hi de hi' which reminded me that I heard it.

The photo is of a London taxi cab as a fairly broad hint.

Answer: Drums

Buddy was born as Bernard Rich in 1917 in New York and began his career as a child. He claimed to be self taught, and denied that he even practised his skills saying that the only time he played was during performances. The list of well known performers with whom he worked includes Frank Sinatra, Harry James and Ella Fitzgerald, although you could name any of the best known musicians of the era and probably find a connection. Rich never retired, performing until his death in 1987.

The photo clue might not be the most obvious, but ears do have drums.

Answer: Ted Heath

The big band leader George Edward Heath (Ted Heath) should not be confused with Edward Heath (Ted Heath), Britain's Prime Minister from 1970 until 1974. Prime Minister Heath was a musician in his own right, playing piano and organ and conducting, but in the classical area rather than in a big band. The band leader Ted Heath was in charge of one of Britain's best regarded big bands and played the trombone himself. The band toured in the USA and other countries and Heath became friends with many jazz musicians including Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett.

Your photo clue is a picture of Hampstead Heath, in London.

Answer: Germany

Hans Last, or Hansi as he was also known, was born in Bremen in 1929, and joined the Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra, playing the double bass. His own band's recordings sold millions of copies around the world - he was popular in both the USA and UK. Last also appeared on 'Star Parade', a German television show which ran from 1968 until 1980 and featured artists including ABBA and Neil Diamond. Last was also a composer, with 'Happy Heart', recorded by Andy Williams, perhaps his best known song. Last continued working until shortly before his death, in 2015, at the age of eighty-six.

The photo shows a slice of Black Forest gateau to point you towards Germany.

Answer: Glenn Miller

Not only was 'Moonlight Serenade' the theme tune for the Glenn Miller Orchestra, it was one of Miller's own compositions. Miller was born in 1904 and began playing the trombone at the age of twelve. He formed his own band in 1937, having played trombone in various other bands as a freelance. The first band was unsuccessful, but a second one, created in 1938, soon established itself as one of the best known of the big band era. Hits included 'Tuxedo Junction', 'String of Pearls' and 'Little Brown Jug'. Miller is presumed to have died in 1944, when his plane went missing while he was flying from England to France.

The photo clue of a windmill was probably unnecessary.

Answer: Tommy

Both of the Dorsey brothers were born in Pennsylvania, though not in the same town. Jimmy was the older, born in 1904, with Tommy born in 1905. Both were accomplished musicians, with Jimmy playing clarinet, trumpet and saxophone while Tommy was proficient on the trombone. The brothers formed various bands together and separately and both became well known as big band leaders. Jimmy Dorsey's recording of 'Amapola' became a hit in 1941 reaching number one on the Billboard chart. Tommy reached number one with 'I'll Never Smile Again' in 1940, with a singer named Frank Sinatra on vocals. I wonder what happened to him...

The photo clue shows a Thompson sub machine gun, often referred to as a 'Tommy gun'.

Answer: Count

Basie was born in New Jersey and originally wanted to be a drummer, before switching to piano and organ. He formed his own band in 1935. He was given his nickname of 'Count' by a radio announcer, influenced by Duke Ellington, and the name stuck. His band became known as the Count Basie Orchestra, and went on to have hits such as 'One O'Clock Jump', written by Basie himself, in 1937. Numerous albums featuring Basie were released from the 1930s up to the 1980s; Basie died in 1984, but the orchestra bearing his name continued releasing albums into the twenty-first century.

The photo clue should have encouraged you to 'count' numbers.

Answer: Billy Cotton

William Cotton was a Londoner and his distinctive accent added to the loud shout of 'wakey wakey' with which he was so associated. He played the drums himself, but is most remembered for his show named the 'Billy Cotton Band Show' on which he sang and conducted the band. This ran on radio from 1949 until 1968, usually on Sundays at lunchtime, and also on television from 1956 until 1965. Cotton was a football (soccer) player in his earlier days and also drove racing cars and piloted his own plane.

The clue might be more helpful to the Americans than the Brits. It shows what is called candy floss in the UK and cotton candy in the USA.

Answer: Clarinet

Shaw's original name was Arthur Arshawsky, and he was born in New York. His first instrument was the saxophone, before switching to the clarinet. Shaw began playing professionally at the age of sixteen, working primarily as a session musician with various bands. His own band came to prominence, and gained popular success, in the 1930s and 1940s. Shaw was also a composer and appeared on the big screen in a few films, mainly as himself. He retired from music in 1954 and began writing short stories and working on his autobiography.

The photo is of some licorice, as the clarinet is often referred to as a licorice stick.

Answer: Pops

Armstrong claimed to have been born on 4 July 1900, although research has shown that this is not correct and his real date of birth was 4 August 1901. He was raised in New Orleans where he learned to play the cornet, and then trumpet, as a boy. Armstrong's career progressed from the 1920s, working with various bands as a musician and singer. The well known nickname of 'Satchmo', short for Satchelmouth, is sometimes said to derive from his playing style, although other explanations are given. 'Pops' seems to be the name by which he was known to his friends and was the title of a biography of Armstrong, written by Terry Teachout.

The photo clue is a close up shot of some popcorn.