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Johnny O'Keefe Trivia

Johnny O'Keefe Trivia Quizzes

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2 Johnny O'Keefe quizzes and 20 Johnny O'Keefe trivia questions.
1.
  Shout!   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Isley Brothers song "Shout!" was one of Johnny O'Keefe's biggest hits, and is one of the songs most closely associated with this iconic Australian rocker. But there's much more to tell about the man known as J.O'K.
Average, 10 Qns, looney_tunes, Mar 11 16
Average
looney_tunes editor
270 plays
2.
  Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about Australia's first Rock Idol. While England had Tommy Steele and the USA had Elvis, we in Australia had Johnny O'Keefe (The Wild One). Here are ten questions about his career as an early rock icon.
Average, 10 Qns, Desimac, Mar 11 16
Average
Desimac gold member
118 plays
Related Topics
  Australian Music [Music] (91 quizzes)


Johnny O'Keefe Trivia Questions
1. Johnny O'Keefe's first recording, which was his second single release in 1957, was a cover of which "Pat Boone" song?

From Quiz Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe

Answer: Love Letters In The Sand

"Love Letters in The Sand" was recorded in May 1957 but not released till August. A number one hit for Pat Boone in the USA.

2. Which song, given to Johnny by Bill Haley and later recorded by him, was Johnny's first single release?

From Quiz Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe

Answer: You Hit the Wrong Note Billy Goat

"You Hit the Wrong Note Billy Goat" was Johnny's first record to make the charts in Sydney. It did not make much impact in the rest of Australia. Reportedly the single eventually sold in excess of 40,000 copies.

3. What was Johnny's band through to the early '60s named?

From Quiz Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe

Answer: The Dee-Jays

Johnny O'Keefe and the Dee Jays. The R-Jays were the band for Dig Richards, another pioneer Aussie Rocker, The Blue Jays were the backup band for '60s rocker, Tony Worsley and The O-Jays were an American Soul group. The famous lineup of the DEE JAYS was: Lou Casch-guitar, Keith Williams-bass, John "Catfish" Purser-drums, Johnny Greenan and Dave Owens-saxophone. Occasionally they were joined by Warren Carr on piano.

4. In July of 1957 Johnny O'Keefe released his first single, a caprine little number that failed to chart. What was the name of J.O'K's first release?

From Quiz Shout!

Answer: You Hit the Wrong Note, Billy Goat

J.O'K's first single (released as a 78rpm record!) was "You Hit the Wrong Note, Billy Goat", backed with "The Chicken Song". Neither it nor the next release, a cover of Pat Boone's hit "Love Letters in the Sand" made any significant impression with the record-buying public. J.O'K had met Bill Haley, who gave him permission to record the song, on an Australian tour. "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley, "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis, and "That'll Be the Day" by Buddy Holly were all hit songs of 1957.

5. Dave Owens and John Greenan wrote a song after a brawl at a dance. What was its title?

From Quiz Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe

Answer: The Wild One

"The Wild One". This song became Johnny's first real chart entry from an EP called "Shakin' at The Stadium". The song was a minor hit for Jerry Allison, the drummer/songwriter of Buddy Holly and The Crickets who recorded it under the name of "Ivan". The song became more widely known when recorded under its alternate title "Real Wild Child" by Iggy Pop in 1986.

6. Johnny O'Keefe and his band gained a spot as a support act on Lee Gordon's "Big Show" rock 'n' roll tour, replacing one of the headline acts for the first night's performance. Why couldn't Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps perform that night?

From Quiz Shout!

Answer: They were stranded in Honolulu

Lee Gordon's "Big Show" concerts provided an opportunity for Australians to see big-name overseas acts. The first touring show featured Little Richard, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochrane. When Gene Vincent and his band got stuck in Honolulu on their way down under, Gordon asked J.O'K and the Dee Jays to fill in. They were successful enough to earn a spot on the second "Big Show", which featured Buddy Holly (in his only Australian tour), Jerry Lee Lewis and Paul Anka.

7. In late 1959 Johnny covered a minor (at the time) rhythm and blues tune. This song became the one most associated with Johnny O'Keefe in Australia throughout his career. What was the title of this song?

From Quiz Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe

Answer: Shout

"Shout". A top fifty on the pop charts in the USA for the Isely Brothers, covered almost note for note by Johnny O'Keefe and The Dee Jays.

8. Johnny O'Keefe's first hit was written one night, after a particularly rowdy gig, by O'Keefe with fellow band members Johnny Greenan and Dave Owen. What was the name of this track, which was to become his signature song (and one of his nicknames)?

From Quiz Shout!

Answer: Wild One

These were the four tracks on J.O'K's first EP, "Shakin' At The Stadium", released in 1958. The release date of the single of "Wild One", 5 July 1958, is considered the birthday of Australian rock n' roll music. It became the first Australian song to make the Top 40 in Sydney (there was no national pop chart then), peaking at No. 20. The song, sometimes re-titled "Real Wild Child", has been covered by a number of artists, including Jerry Ivan Allison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jet Harris, Albert Lee, Iggy Pop, Billy Idol and Lou Reed. The song has appeared on the soundtrack of a number of films, such as "Pretty Woman"(1990), "Crocodile Dundee II"(1988), "Problem Child"(1990) and "Wild Child" (2008).

9. Johnny ventured to the USA in 1959 where he was billed as the Boomerang Kid. He recorded which hit song for Liberty Records in Los Angeles?

From Quiz Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe

Answer: She's My Baby

"She's My Baby". Released in January 1960, it became his first Australian Number one hit. The record sold around 100,000 copies in the USA but that was over a long period so the sales were not enough to crack the Billboard or Cashbox charts.

10. In 1959 Johnny O'Keefe became the host of a new early-evening television show featuring local musicians performing live in the studio. What was the name of this show?

From Quiz Shout!

Answer: Six O'Clock Rock

The government-funded ABC finally acknowledged the existence of rock 'n' roll as a part of contemporary culture with the introduction of "Six O'Clock Rock". The show was hosted by Ricki Merriman for six episodes, with J.O'K and the Dee Jays as featured performers, before J.O'K took over as host. He ran the show (selecting guests, choosing their material, supervising rehearsals as well as performing and hosting) until he left in 1961 to present the "Johnny O'Keefe Show" on a commercial network.

11. The late Fifties saw Johnny with his own radio show call "Rock Time", soon followed by a Saturday night TV show. What was it called?

From Quiz Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe

Answer: Six-O-Clock Rock

"Six O'clock Rock" ran for a few years on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) network.

12. In 1962 Johnny commenced his new TV show on the 7 Network (in those days mostly Sydney and Melbourne). It was called "The Johnny O'Keefe Show". In 1963 it was renamed to reflect his current hit. What was the hit called?

From Quiz Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe

Answer: Sing, Sing, Sing

"Sing, Sing, Sing", this was taken from the title of John's 1963 hit, "Sing". Originally released in Australia as the B side of a Jackie Wilson hit, "Heart". The song was originally titled, "Sing (And Tell The Blues So Long)".

13. Johnny O'Keefe's last major hit of the 60s was the No. 2 song "She Wears My Ring" in April 1964. This was two months before a British band toured Australia, changing the pop/rock scene forever. Which moptops arrived in Adelaide on 11 June, 1964?

From Quiz Shout!

Answer: Beatles

With the arrival of the Beatles on the scene, the rock era of which J.O'K had been a vital element quickly became a thing of the past. J.O'K resisted these changes, and was reluctant to have 'long-hair' acts appear on his television show, which had been renamed "Sing, Sing, Sing" in 1963. After the cancellation of the show in October 1965, J.O'K spent most of his time performing on the club circuit.

14. Johnny's biggest hit was a double sided affair. The "B" side was "Right Now" and the "A" side was?

From Quiz Aussie Rock-Johnny O'Keefe

Answer: I'm Counting On You

"I'm Counting on You" was a national number one for six weeks in 1961. The flip side remained in the top ten for eight weeks. "Shake Baby Shake", "Move Baby Move" and "You'll Never Cherish A Love So True" were all hits for Johnny in his prolific hit making period from 1958 though 1964.

15. In January 1973 Johnny O'Keefe gave a memorable performance dressed in a white dinner suit at an Australian music festival. What was its name?

From Quiz Shout!

Answer: Sunbury Pop Festival

The Sunbury Pop Festival was an Australian rock music festival held on a farm in Sunbury, Victoria over the Australia Day long weekend from 1972 to 1975. Sunbury '73 ran from Saturday 27 January to Monday 29 January, and was hosted by Paul Hogan. This was early in his career, a few months before the start of "The Paul Hogan Show" on television, and 13 years before the film "Crocodile Dundee". Hogan jokingly introduced J.O'K as a 'newcomer', and urged the audience th 'give him a go'. Although he was initially received somewhat coolly, his frenetic performance won them over, and a new generation became aware of the phenomenon that was Johnny O'Keefe.

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