The Incomparable Skeeter Davis Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Beginning in the late 1950's, (female) Country and Western music was closely identified with Patsy Cline. Around the same time, another singer was slowly emerging into the spotlight. In which U.S. state was Skeeter Davis born?

Answer: Kentucky

On December 30, 1931 in Dry Ridge, Kentucky, Mary Frances 'Skeeter' Penick was born the eldest of seven children to William and Punzie Penick. Because of her energetic nature, she was nicknamed 'Skeeter' by her grandfather and the name stayed with her into adulthood.

She would later adopt (the stage surname) Davis after teaming up with Betty Jack Davis (a high school friend) to tour as 'The Davis Sisters'.

2. In 1947, Skeeter and her family moved to another part of the state. There, she met Betty Jack Davis in high school and together they sang and billed themselves as 'The Davis Sisters'. What eventually broke up the singing duo?

Answer: A car accident

Skeeter met Betty Jack in high school in Covington, Kentucky. Their popular hits included "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know", which peaked at no.1 on the 'Billboard Country Music' chart and no.18 on the 'Billboard Pop' chart. Tragically, on August 2, 1953, the duo were involved in a major car accident. Betty Jack was killed instantly and Skeeter was left badly injured. Because the 'Davis Sisters' were at the top of the charts at the time, Betty Jack's mother convinced Skeeter to continue singing with (Betty Jack's younger sister) Georgia Davis.

Eventually in 1957, Skeeter Davis embarked on a solo career.

3. In 1958, after years of indecision and sadness, Skeeter signed up with RCA Records and began working with (record producer and guitarist) Chet Atkins. In 1959, she became the very first female Country singer ever to be nominated for a Grammy award. Which of her hits was the nomination for?

Answer: Set Him Free

"Set Him Free" was a hit for Davis in 1959, peaking at no.5 on the 'Country' chart. Although she did not win the Grammy award, 1959 saw Skeeter Davis join the Grand Ole Opry and establish herself as a bona fide Country Music star.

"Lost to a Geisha Girl" (1958) became the first of Skeeter's many solo hit songs to break into the 'Country Top 20' (no.15).

"Am I That Easy to Forget" (1960) peaked at no.11 on the 'Country' chart.

"Homebreaker" (1959) peaked at no.15.

4. From 1960-1962, Skeeter Davis scored with hit after hit on the Country Music charts. One hit came about when Skeeter put words to a popular instrumental (piano) tune by Floyd Cramer. Which song was it?

Answer: My Last Date with You

Floyd Cramer (1933-1997) was a highly talented pianist who helped to popularize the inclusion of piano instrumentals in Country music. In 1960, he recorded his biggest hit "Last Date", which eventually reached no.2 on the 'Billboard Hot 100 Pop Music' chart. Although relatively unknown to the listening public, during his career he played for notable recording stars such as Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, and (some guy named) Elvis Presley. Floyd Cramer died on December 31, one day after Skeeter Davis's 66th birthday. Davis's 1961 recording went to no.5 on the 'Country' chart and no.26 on the 'Pop' chart.

"I Can't Help You, I'm Falling too" (1960) had the distinction of being Skeeter's VERY FIRST solo crossover hit. It reached no.2 on the 'Country' chart and no.39 on the 'Pop' chart.

"Optimistic" (1961) peaked at no.10 on the 'Country' chart.

"Where I Ought to Be" (1962) peaked at no.9 on the 'Country' chart.

5. 1963 saw Skeeter Davis record what was to become her greatest and most popular hit. Considered her signature song, it reached no.2 on both the 'Country' and 'Pop' charts, no.1 on the 'Adult Contemporary', and no.4 on the 'Rhythm & Blues' chart, making it historically the ONLY SONG EVER to hit the top ten on all four Billboard Singles charts simultaneously. Which song was it?

Answer: The End of the World

In the early 60's, the only other female Country music star able to appeal to mainstream audiences was Patsy Cline. Unfortunately, Cline died in 1963, leaving Skeeter Davis to become the trailblazer for such modern stars as Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, and Faith Hill. No other female vocalist, past or present, has ever been able to duplicate Davis's feat on the Billboard Top Ten Singles charts with "End...". Barbra Streisand came close, hitting four charts but not including 'Country' or 'R&B'. The Pointer Sisters also hit four charts but that did not include 'Country'. Linda Ronstadt hit four, including 'Country', but excluding 'R&B'.

One of the greatest crossover classics ever, "The End of the World" was composed by Sylvia Dee (born 1914).

"I Can't Stay Mad at You" (1963) had the distinction of being the only other Davis song (apart from "End") to reach all three charts. It peaked at no.14 (Country), no.7 (Pop), and no.2 (Adult Contemporary). It was composed by Carole King, still a very popular singer and songwriter.

"Something Precious" (1962) reached no.23 on the 'Country' chart.

"I'm Saving My Love" (1963) peaked at no.9 (Country) and no.41 (Pop).

6. From her peak (in 1963) to the end of the 1970's, Skeeter Davis had a mixture of hits and misses. In 1964-5, She had hits with "Gonna Get Along Without You Now", "He Says the Same Things to Me", and a duet, "A Dear John Letter". With whom did she collaborate with on "A Dear John Letter"?

Answer: Bobby Bare

Bobby Bare (born 1935) would later record in the mid-1970's, "Dropkick Me Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life)".

"Gonna Get Along Without You Now" placed no.8 (Country) and no.48 (Pop).

"He Says The Same Things to Me" reached no.17 (Country) and no.47 (Pop).

7. From 1965-70, Skeeter would record only four more hits that made the 'Country Top 20', none of which crossed over to the 'Pop' charts. Which song reached no.9 on the 'Country' chart in 1970?

Answer: I'm a Lover, Not a Fighter

With changing tastes in music and younger performers taking over, the days of successful crossover hits for Davis were now gone.

"What Does it Take" reached no.5 in 1967.

"Fuel to the Flame" reached no.11 in 1967.

"There's a Fool Born Every Minute" reached no.16 in 1968.

8. In 1971, Skeeter Davis recorded the autobiographical tune "Bus Fare to Kentucky", which reached no.21 on the 'Country' chart. Of the last four singles that she recorded (between 1973-6), this aptly titled tune reached no.12, making it officially Skeeter's last 'Top 20' hit. Which song was it?

Answer: I Can't Believe That It's All Over

The song, recorded in 1973, managed to reach no.101 on the 'Pop' chart.

"Don't Forget To Remember" and "One More Time" were recorded in 1974.

"I Love Us", Skeeter Davis's last single ever, was recorded in 1976. She was then only forty five years old.

9. For most of the 1960's, Skeeter Davis charted 38 'Country' hits, 13 of which crossed over onto the 'Pop' chart. She singlehandedly made 'Country' music acceptable to mainstream tastes. In 1973, however, she was suspended by the Grand Ole Opry. Why?

Answer: She criticized Nashville police for arresting street evangelists

Not happy with the treatment by Nashville police of some street evangelists, she dedicated a gospel song to them. The very conservative Opry establishment did not take kindly to what they saw was a political statement and banned her. Eventually, due to the efforts of her friend Jean Shepard, Skeeter Davis was re-admitted to the Opry after an absence of fifteen months. The Opry never did apologize to her.

Although she was nominated five times for a Grammy Award, she never did win one. Nevertheless, her collection of popular music has ensured her of a place in Country Music immortality.

A deeply religious person and devout Christian, Davis also recorded a gospel album in 1967.

10. Skeeter Davis never did have children. However, in 1998 she co-authored a children's book (with Cathie Pelletier) based on her childhood. What was the book's title?

Answer: The Christmas Note

'The Christmas Note' received excellent reviews after it was published.

Most of Skeeter Davis's popular hits usually centred around relationships, breakups, and sentimentality. Unfortunately during her lifetime, her private life sometimes mirrored her songs. In addition to losing her best friend Betty Jack Davis in 1953, Skeeter was also married and divorced three times. Devastated after the deaths of her parents, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988 and her third marriage ended in 1996.

Skeeter Davis died of breast cancer on September 19, 2004 in a Nashville (Tennessee) hospice at the age of 72.

No gimmicks. No props. No entourage as backup. She sang "Country" as it should be sung. With her gentle, soft, Kentucky accent, she poured out hit after hit. Her music lives on forever.

This quiz is dedicated to Skeeter Davis (December 30, 1931 - September 19, 2004).

A special dedication to my children, Rebecca and Benjamin.

Benny's favourite tunes:
- "I'm Saving My Love" (composed by Alex Zanetis).
- "Broomstick Cowboy" (Jean Wells).
- "Baby, Sweet Baby" (Skeeter Davis!)
- "I Will" (Richard Glasser).
- "He Says The Same Things to Me" (Gary Geld, Peter Udell).

Thank you for playing my thirteenth quiz creation.

Source: Author benniebenbenny

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

My thirteenth quiz! Long before Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, or Faith Hill, one female singer dominated Country music like no other...(the incomparable) Skeeter Davis.

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