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Quiz about Famous Musical Families
Quiz about Famous Musical Families

Famous Musical Families Trivia Quiz


It appears one of the best ways to keep a musical group as a long-lasting cohesive unit is to keep it all under one roof. Here is a quiz on some great musical families.

A multiple-choice quiz by Oddball. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
Oddball
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
314,617
Updated
Jan 30 23
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
12 / 15
Plays
7707
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 124 (12/15), grompit (14/15), Guest 136 (13/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. What started out as a four-member barbershop quartet from Utah auditioning for Lawrence Welk soon added three more siblings and branched out into the pop music genre via 'The Andy Williams Show' with flawless harmony and those shiny, shiny teeth. Who are they? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. Brothers O'Kelly, Jr., Rudy, Ronnie, Ernie and Marvin (and brother-in-law Chris) used their talents to create hit singles in every decade from the 1950s to the 2000s, ranging from do-wop to pop, soul and funk. What is their surname? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. This 'sister act' started in the Bay area of California in the late 1960s as a duo before adding two more sisters and a daughter/niece. By the 1980s, they had several hit songs on the pop and soul charts and elevated Bruce Springsteen to a top-flight songwriter. By what surname were they collectively known? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. At the age of seven, this lady won a nationally broadcast talent show, but to cement her place in music history, she enlisted the aid of a brother and two cousins to make the charts go 'whoo whoo'. By what name were they known? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. Little Patti was only seven years old when she joined big sisters Maxine and LaVerne in the mid 1920s to eventually form one of the most successful music acts of the World War II era. What was their surname? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Back in the early 1960s, brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl got together with cousin Mike and friend Al to create one of the most popular groups of all time, mostly known for bringing the Southern California culture to the rest of the world. What are they known as? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. This family of father Roebuck, son Pervis and daughters Cleotha and Mavis were able to take their roots in Southern gospel and hit the U.S. pop charts in the 60s and 70s. What is their surname? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. Technically, this singing family was made up of a single mother, three sons and two daughters. In reality, the only ones who recorded all the hit songs were the mother and eldest step-son...the rest were actors. Who were they? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Whereas most brothers and sisters are of the feuding kind, siblings Richard Lynn and Karen Anne put most of their differences aside to become one of the most successful duos of the 1970s. What is their surname? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Guided by father/manager Bud, the family of mother Barbara, sons Bill, Barry, Bob, John and Paul and daughter Susan took the title of 'Family Singing Group' to the logical extreme in the late 60s and early 70s, earning three Top Ten records. Who were they? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. In between puttering around family homes from England to Australia, big brother Barry and fraternal twins Robin and Maurice found the time to write and record an astonishing number of hit records from their ballads of the late 60s to the disco wave of the late 70s and 80s. By what name were they collectively known? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. Technically, their birth names are Sigmund Esco, Toriano Adaryll, Jermaine La Jaune, Marlon David and Michael Joseph, but the world knows them as one of the most successful brother acts of all time. Who are they? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. Brothers Howard Duane and Gregory Lenoir had played together musically since the early 1960s, but hit their stride as one of the architects of what became known as the 'Southern Rock' sound by the late 60s into the early 70s, predating such groups as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Marshall Tucker Band. What was the brothers' surname? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Brothers John Jr., Herbert, Harry and Donald were able to use their ability to copy assorted musical instruments using only their voices into a worldwide phenomenon for radio audiences of the Great Depression through the advent of rock and roll. Under what name did they perform? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. One family music tradition started in 1999 with Tennessee brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared and cousin Matthew coming to the foreground of garage rock with a southern twang, first rocking the British charts (if not all the audiences), then the U.S. Who are they? Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What started out as a four-member barbershop quartet from Utah auditioning for Lawrence Welk soon added three more siblings and branched out into the pop music genre via 'The Andy Williams Show' with flawless harmony and those shiny, shiny teeth. Who are they?

Answer: The Osmonds

The Osmonds officially began in the late 1950s with Alan, Merrill, Wayne and Jay (two older brothers were born hearing-impaired and, hence, did not perform). The four were discovered singing at Disneyland by Jay Williams, Andy's father, who suggested to his son they would make a great addition to his TV show, which ran through most of the 1960s.

The big break came with the addition of brothers Donny and Jimmy and sister Marie and branching out musically into pop, country and rock in the 70s. The family reached their peak when Donny and Marie got their own variety show in 1976.
2. Brothers O'Kelly, Jr., Rudy, Ronnie, Ernie and Marvin (and brother-in-law Chris) used their talents to create hit singles in every decade from the 1950s to the 2000s, ranging from do-wop to pop, soul and funk. What is their surname?

Answer: Isley

The phenomenon known as the Isley Brothers began with classic hits like 'Shout' and 'Twist and Shout' in the early 60s before refining the sound with songs like 'It's Your Thing', 'That Lady' and 'For The Love of You'. The death of eldest brother O'Kelley Jr. in 1986 did little to slow down the popularity of the Isleys, who have been both covered and sampled by the likes of the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix (who was a back-up guitarist for the brothers) to Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Snoop Dogg.
3. This 'sister act' started in the Bay area of California in the late 1960s as a duo before adding two more sisters and a daughter/niece. By the 1980s, they had several hit songs on the pop and soul charts and elevated Bruce Springsteen to a top-flight songwriter. By what surname were they collectively known?

Answer: Pointer

The Pointer Sisters began with June and Bonnie singing in the Oakland area. Subsequent rotations of the act have included sisters Anita and Ruth, and Ruth's daughter Issa (her father is former Temptation Dennis Edwards). The sisters toured early as backup singers for performers like Boz Scaggs, Grace Slick and Elvin Bishop before slamming the U.S. music charts in the 70s and 80s with songs like 'Yes We Can Can', 'He's So Shy', 'Neutron Dance' 'I'm So Excited', 'Jump (For My Love)' and Springsteen's 'Fire', which went to Number One. Tragically, June Pointer died April 11, 2006 after years of battling drug addiction.
4. At the age of seven, this lady won a nationally broadcast talent show, but to cement her place in music history, she enlisted the aid of a brother and two cousins to make the charts go 'whoo whoo'. By what name were they known?

Answer: Gladys Knight and the Pips

Gladys Knight got her start as a winner of the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour in 1952. The next year, the Pips (named for cousin James 'Pip' Woods) were formed with siblings Merald ('Bubba') and Brenda Knight, cousin William Guest and his wife Eleanor. It was with this line-up they first hit with 'Every Beat of My Heart' in 1961. Eventually, Brenda and Eleanor left, replaced by another cousin, Edward Patten. It would be Bubba, Edward and William that sang behind Gladys on memorable hits like 'Heard It Through the Grapevine', 'Midnight Train To Georgia', 'Neither One of Us' and 'Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me'.

'Big Brother' had no family members, but did have the legendary Janis Joplin. The Cornelius and Maddox Brothers had hits on the soul and country charts, respectively...and yes, both had a sister named Rose.
5. Little Patti was only seven years old when she joined big sisters Maxine and LaVerne in the mid 1920s to eventually form one of the most successful music acts of the World War II era. What was their surname?

Answer: Andrews

Whether performing by themselves or as backup to the likes of Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Burl Ives or Les Paul, the Andrews Sisters set the tone of America in the 1940s with such hits as 'Bei Mir Bist Du Schön', 'Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me)', 'Rum and Coca-Cola' and dozens of others. They were acknowledged as the first female act in the U.S. to certify a gold record in 1937 and had more charted hits (113) and Top Ten hits (46) than Elvis and the Beatles. Sadly, LaVerne died in 1967, followed by Maxine in 1995.

The Del Rubio Triplets were an off-beat singing group that found their way onto 'Pee Wee's Playhouse' in the 80s, the DeCastro Sisters were a Cuban-based trio who had hits in the 50s and Bonnie Bramlett recorded songs in the 60s with her ex-husband Delaney...as well as the Allmans, Eric Clapton, Rita Coolidge, George Harrison and a Who's Who of others.
6. Back in the early 1960s, brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl got together with cousin Mike and friend Al to create one of the most popular groups of all time, mostly known for bringing the Southern California culture to the rest of the world. What are they known as?

Answer: The Beach Boys

The Wilson boys, along with Al Jardine and Mike Love (and a plethora of others since), told stories of surfing, cruising, drag racing and bikinis that brought them to a level matched only by the likes of the Beatles and the Stones for one of the top groups of all time. Brian Wilson's production and songwriting began to push the envelope of musical style, breathing new life into the way songs and albums were presented. Of the founding members, Dennis drowned in 1983 and Carl died of cancer in 1998.

The Jordanaires and the Crickets were known for playing backup for Elvis and Buddy Holly, respectively. The Mamas and Papas were one of many California-based groups to ride the wave of the Beach Boys popularity in the 60s.
7. This family of father Roebuck, son Pervis and daughters Cleotha and Mavis were able to take their roots in Southern gospel and hit the U.S. pop charts in the 60s and 70s. What is their surname?

Answer: Staples

Guitarist Roebuck 'Pops' Staples (1914-2000) took his kids on the gospel circuit early on before hitting the mainstream with soul classics like 'I'll Take You There', 'Respect Yourself' and 'Let's Do It Again'.

The Winans had hits on the gospel and soul charts, while Cissy Houston (Whitney's mom and Dionne Warwick's aunt) sang backup for Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin and Elvis. The Edwin Hawkins Singers hit the top of the gospel and pop charts with the 1967 classic 'Oh Happy Day'.
8. Technically, this singing family was made up of a single mother, three sons and two daughters. In reality, the only ones who recorded all the hit songs were the mother and eldest step-son...the rest were actors. Who were they?

Answer: The Partridge Family

Through the TV show's three-year run, the 'group' released ten albums (including the obligatory Christmas special) and hit the music charts with 'I Think I Love You', 'I'll Meet You Halfway', 'Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted' and other singles. In reality, the singing came from the duo vocals of Shirley Jones and step-son David Cassidy. 'Siblings' Danny Bonaduce, Susan Dey, Suzanne Crough, Jeremy Gelbwaks and Brian Forster (the other Partridges) had nothing to do with the musical end of the show. While Cassidy was just starting out, Jones was already a music veteran who cut her teeth on movies like 'Oklahoma!', 'Carousel' and 'The Music Man'. The sitcom made Cassidy a teen idol through much of the decade.

'The Archies', based on the hit cartoon, was almost completely the work of one man (Ron Dante, who also voiced the equally-fictitious Cuff Links), 'Electric' was a long-time PBS show and the 'Silver Platters' was a pseudonym used by the Brady Bunch Kids in one episode.
9. Whereas most brothers and sisters are of the feuding kind, siblings Richard Lynn and Karen Anne put most of their differences aside to become one of the most successful duos of the 1970s. What is their surname?

Answer: Carpenter

The Carpenters, with Richard on piano and lead vocalist Karen at the unlikely post of drummer, began their career in 1967 as part of a group called Spectrum, before hitting out on their own with a ballad cover of the Beatles 'Ticket To Ride' in 1969. The two hit their stride a year later with '(They Long To Be) Close To You' and 'We've Only Just Begun' hitting Numbers One and Two, respectively.

By the end of the 70s, they had over a dozen Top Ten hits, three of which reached the top. The success came to a sudden and tragic halt when Karen died in 1983.
10. Guided by father/manager Bud, the family of mother Barbara, sons Bill, Barry, Bob, John and Paul and daughter Susan took the title of 'Family Singing Group' to the logical extreme in the late 60s and early 70s, earning three Top Ten records. Who were they?

Answer: The Cowsills

The Cowsill family honed their skills at dinner clubs in Ohio and Rhode Island before hitting paydirt with the single 'The Rain, The Park and Other Things' in 1967. They struck again the following year with 'Indian Lake' before getting their biggest hit with the title song from the musical 'Hair' in 1969. They also sang the theme song to the hit TV series 'Love, American Style' before being offered their own show. When it was revealed Barbara would be replaced by Shirley Jones, the rest of the family balked and child actors were brought in to create the rest of newly-named 'Partridge Family'.

Barbara Cowsill died in 1985, followed by Bud in 1992. Barry and Susan were living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. Susan and her family survived, but lost most of their belongings. Barry's body was not found until late December. Bill died of health complications in February of 2006, on the eve of Barry's memorial service.
11. In between puttering around family homes from England to Australia, big brother Barry and fraternal twins Robin and Maurice found the time to write and record an astonishing number of hit records from their ballads of the late 60s to the disco wave of the late 70s and 80s. By what name were they collectively known?

Answer: The Bee Gees

The brothers Gibb actually had two waves of massive popularity in their career, first for soft ballads like 'How Can You Mend A Broken Heart' and 'Massachusetts' to disco hits like 'Staying Alive' and 'Night Fever'. When not writing for themselves, the Gibbs also wrote hit songs for Barbara Streisand, Samantha Sang, Yvonne Elliman, Kenny Rogers...even baby brother Andy Gibb (who tragically died in 1988). At one point, from late 1977 to early '78, six songs written or performed by the Gibbs were at the Number One Spot on the U.S. Pop Music charts.
Barry and Robin Gibb officially disbanded after Maurice's death in 2003.

Incidentally, the Hudson Brothers were a minor sensation in the 70s (Bill Hudson is the father of actress Kate Hudson by ex-wife Goldie Hawn), the Poppy Family consisted of husband-and-wife team Terry and Susan Jacks, while brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson comprised the Gap Band in the 70s and 80s.
12. Technically, their birth names are Sigmund Esco, Toriano Adaryll, Jermaine La Jaune, Marlon David and Michael Joseph, but the world knows them as one of the most successful brother acts of all time. Who are they?

Answer: The Jacksons

With all due respect to the Lennon Sisters of Lawrence Welk fame, country music's Carter family and the Brothers Gibb, the Jackson 5 of Gary, Indiana (Sigmund 'Jackie', Toriano 'Tito', Jermaine, Marlon and Michael) were the breakout stars of Detroit's Motown label in the 70s with hits like 'ABC', 'The Love You Save', 'Never Can Say Goodbye' and 'I Want You Back'.

The family fame also proved to set the launching pad for Michael to achieve superstar status. Baby brother Randy (not the producer and judge of 'American Idol' fame) replaced Jermaine in 1976, officially changing the name to simply 'The Jacksons'.
13. Brothers Howard Duane and Gregory Lenoir had played together musically since the early 1960s, but hit their stride as one of the architects of what became known as the 'Southern Rock' sound by the late 60s into the early 70s, predating such groups as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Marshall Tucker Band. What was the brothers' surname?

Answer: Allman

Guitarist Duane Allman and singer/keyboardist Gregg Allman formed the Allman Brothers Band (previously dubbed 'the Allman Joys') to little fanfare, but slowly began forming a core of popular and critical acclaim with songs like 'Whipping Post', 'Midnight Rider' and 'Melissa'. Tragedy struck the band when Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia in 1971, followed by the similar death of bass guitarist Berry Oakley just over a year later, only three blocks from the site of Duane's death. Despite the blows, the band reached their greatest commercial success with the album 'Brothers and Sisters' in 1973, featuring the songs 'Jessica' and 'Ramblin Man', both written by band member Dickey Betts. The uncle/nephew team of Butch and Derek Trucks have since joined Gregg to continue the family legacy.

Brothers Ronnie and Johnny Van Zant are forever associated with the legendary Skynyrd, while Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan cemented their careers as blues and rock guitar virtuosos.
14. Brothers John Jr., Herbert, Harry and Donald were able to use their ability to copy assorted musical instruments using only their voices into a worldwide phenomenon for radio audiences of the Great Depression through the advent of rock and roll. Under what name did they perform?

Answer: The Mills Brothers

The Mills Brothers success story began at an 'amateur night' in Piqua, Ohio when Harry misplaced a kazoo he intended to use in the performance. He opted to imitate a muted trumpet instead, much to the delight of the audience. The Mills would make their mark in history as the first African-American act to host their own radio show (signed personally by CBS head William S. Paley) and the first to perform for the British Royal Family. Throughout most of their career, and hit songs like 'Lazy River', 'Paper Doll', 'Glow Worm' and 'Cab Driver', the Mills' only accompanying instrument was a guitar. When John Jr. died of pneumonia in early 1936, father John Mills Sr. stepped in to fill his son's spot. He died in 1967, followed by Harry in 1982, Herbert in 1989 and Donald in 1999.

The Ink Spots were a similar group who matched the Mills' popularity, while the Platters and the Del Vikings would entertain with ballads and early rock classics in the 1950s.
15. One family music tradition started in 1999 with Tennessee brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared and cousin Matthew coming to the foreground of garage rock with a southern twang, first rocking the British charts (if not all the audiences), then the U.S. Who are they?

Answer: Kings of Leon

'Leon', named for Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill's father and grandfather, broke out with their first album, 'Youth and Young Manhood' in 2003, hitting the U.K. charts with 'Molly's Chambers'. Their home country finally started taking serious notice with the release of 'Only By The Night' and hits like 'Use Somebody' and 'Sex On Fire'.

The Hanson brothers were a one-hit trio in the 90s with the hit 'MmBop', tweeners Nat and Alex Wolff formed the core of Nickelodeon's Naked Brothers Band, while brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick comprise the Jonas line-up.
Source: Author Oddball

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