US 1961 Top Forty Singles with One Word Titles Quiz

Answer: Bonanza

Al Caiola was an in-demand session guitarist who could be heard on numerous hits of the fifties and sixties recorded by artists from Elvis Presley to Frank Sinatra. He was also a performer who began a recording career in 1960 after signing with United Artists Records. His hits included the themes from "Bonanza" (1959) and "The Magnificent Seven" (1960).
One of the most popular of his more than fifty albums was the 1961 release "Hit Instrumentals From Western TV Themes". Caiola was a versatile musician who recorded albums in many different styles. During the latter years of his career he toured with Steve Lawrence.
The Modernaires sang the closing theme for "Hazel" (1961). "Margie" was aired opposite "Hazel" in 1961 and Rex Koury.wrote the theme for "Gunsmoke" (1955).

Answer: Wheels

"Wheels" was the biggest hit single for The String-A-Longs. The Plainview, Texas, group was produced by Norman Petty. "Wheels" was followed by the Top Forty single "Brass Buttons". "Should I", and "Replica" were less successful recordings.
In addition to being an orchestra leader, musician and singer Billy Vaughn was also the A and R man for Dot records. He began his career as a member of The Hilltoppers before signing with Dot Records in 1954. In addition to his 1961 rendition of "Wheels" Vaughn charted more than forty singles and thirty-five albums on the US Billboard charts during his career.
"Tonight" from "West Side Story" was a 1961 Top Ten Instrumental released by Ferrante and Teicher. "Calcutta" was a 1960 Number One Instrumental by Lawrence Welk. "Josephine" by Bill Black's Combo went to Number 18 in 1960.

Answer: Norman

Sue Thompson broke the US Top Ten in 1961 when she released the US Number Five "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)". When "Norman" reached Number Three later the same year it was the closest Sue Thompson would come to topping the US charts.
Eva Sue McKee was performing by the age of seven. When her family moved from Missouri to California she appeared often on a local television show titled "Hometown Hayride". She later began working clubs as a teenager. After working with a number of promoters she landed a deal in 1960 with Hickory Records and released "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" as Sue Thompson followed by a number of other singles including "Norman" and "Paper Tiger". When subsequent Pop singles failed to chart Sue enjoyed success with Country Music.
"Frankie" was recorded by Connie Francis in 1959."Johnny Get Angry" was released by Joanie Sommers in 1962. "Michael" was a hit recorded by The Highwaymen.

Answer: Del Shannon

Charles Westover was influenced by Country artists such as Hank Snow, Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell while growing up in Grand Rapids. He played in bands while serving in the military in Germany and returned home to back local club singers. In 1959 he became a headliner using the name Charlie Johnson.

When he was offered a deal with Big Top Records they suggested he change his name so he took Shannon from a local celebrity named Shannon Kavanagh and Del from his favorite automobile, the Coupe de Ville. Dee Clark had a smash Number Two hit in 1961 with "Raindrops". Max Crook co-wrote "Runaway" and his Musitron solo can be heard on the single. Vincent Eugene Craddock took the stage name Gene Vincent before recording such fifties hits as "Be-Bop-A-Lula".

Answer: Mexico

"Mexico" was a hit for Bob Moore and his Orchestra. Bob Moore was an in-demand session bass player for several studios around Nashville in the fifties. By the sixties he was recording for most of the top artists in Nashville as well as Pop artists such as Elvis Presley.
In the late fifties he was part of the team that formed Monument Records and assembled the Bob Moore Orchestra in 1960. "Mexico" was released the following year and remained in the US Top Forty for seven weeks.
"Calcutta" was a Lawrence Welk release. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" was a fifties release from the Four Lads.

Answer: True

The Halos were a group of New York session singers and musicians who released their first tune, "L-O-V-E", under the name of The Craftys in 1960. When they released "Nag" in 1961 as The Halos it became their only US Top Forty single when it peaked at Number 25.
While the group never realized chart success after "Nag" their vocal backing could be heard on many sixties hits including Gene Pitney's "Every Breath I Take", "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" released by Curtis Lee and "Who Put the Bomp" recorded by songwriter Barry Mann.
Group member J. R. Bailey went on to become a member of The Cadillacs. His songwriting talents can also be heard on many singles such as "Everybody Plays the Fool" recorded by The Main Ingredient.

Answer: Pepe

"Pepe" was Duane Eddy's fifth Top Twenty single since "Rebel Rouser" reached Number Seven in 1958. The previous year he had his highest charting US hit when "Because They're Young" went to Number Four.
Duane began playing while still in elementary school and later formed a duo called Jimmy and Duane with Jimmy Delbridge. While performing live on a local radio show Duane met a Disc Jockey named Lee Hazlewood. Lee produced a single titled "Soda Fountain Girl" which charted locally in the Phoenix region. In 1957 Lee and Duane wrote "Movin' n' Groovin'" and Duane recorded the song using a large barrel to produce an echo, resulting in a signature sound which was dubbed "the twangy sound".
"Apache" by Jorgen Ingmann and his Guitar went to Number Two in 1960. "Tenderly" by Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra was a Number 31 Instrumental. "Exodus" was a the US Top Forty Instrumental hit for both Ferrante and Teicher and Eddie Harris.

Answer: Rick Nelson

Rick Nelson was still going by Ricky Nelson when he had his first Number One hit, "Poor Little Fool", in 1958. He continued to chart many Top Forty singles and topped the charts again in 1961 with "Travelin' Man" and followed with the double sided hit "A Wonder Like You/"Everlovin'" and "Hello Mary Lou".
In 1959 "Gidget" by James Darren went to Number 41. Roy Orbison's single word title for 1961 was his Number Two "Crying". Sam Cooke released "Cupid" the same year.

Answer: Utopia and Princess

New York native Frank Gari was born Frank Daniel Garofalo. He teamed up with future Byrds front man Roger McGuinn and were signed with Capitol Records in 1963 as City Surfers and wrote the song "Beach Ball" together. Frank went on to appear on several early sixties television shows promoting his solo efforts "Lullaby of Love", "Utopia" and "Princess" with his rich emotional vocals.
After his career as a Pop singer Gari had success as a jingle writer and a television composer.
"Tragedy" was a 1961 Top Ten by the Fleetwoods and Connie Francis took "Together" top Number Six. "Funny" by Maxine brown went to Number 25 and "Heartaches" by The Marcels went to Number Seven in 1961. The Castells had a Number 20 hit with "Sacred" and "Triangle" was a Number 29 release by Janie Grant.

Answer: The Brothers Four

In 1960 The Brothers Four enjoyed Number Two success with their debut single, "Greenfields". The following year "Frogg" reached Number 32, becoming their second Top Forty single. The four members of the group composed "Frogg".
In 1966 their final Top forty was "I'll Be Home for Christmas".
The members of the group were fraternity brothers at The University of Washington. After playing college gigs they went to San Francisco and secured an agent who got them a contract with Columbia Records in 1959.
The Kingston Trio found success beginning in the fifties with songs such as "Tom Dooley". The Limelighters featured the unique vocals of Glenn Yarbrough. The Rooftop Singers had a hit with "Walk Right In" in 1963.