Don't Worry, Be Happy-Joyful Songs Quiz

Answer: The Turtles

The Turtles (briefly called "The Tyrtles") was made up of Chip Douglas, John Barbata, Al Nichol, Mark Volman, Jim Tucker, and Howard Kaylan. "Happy Together" topped the 1967 "Billboard" chart for three weeks, March 25-April 14. The Turtles other top ten "Billboard" hits were, "It Ain't Me Babe" (1965), "She'd Rather be With Me" (1967), "Elenore", and "You Showed Me" (both in 1969). Their signature song has been covered by a variety of singers, including Captain and Tennille, Petula Clark, and Miley Cyrus.

Let's get happy together:
"I can't see me loving nobody
But you for all my life
When you're with me, baby
The skies will be blue for all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they tossed the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you and you for me
So happy together"

Answer: Connie Francis

Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, Connie Francis scored numerous "Billboard Hot 100" hits. Among her top five charted recordings were: "Who's Sorry Now?" (1957), "Lipstick on Your Collar" (1959), "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" (a Number One hit in 1960), and "Where the Boys Are" (1961).
"My Happiness" climbed all the way to number two in 1958.
Ms. Francis, who could belt out rock, pop, country, and jazz, recorded songs in an amazing nine languages.

Let's climb on Connie's Cloud Nine:
"A million years it seems
Have gone by since we shared our dreams

But I'll hold you again,
There'll be no blue memories then

Whether skies are gray or blue
Any place on earth will do
Just as long as I'm with you -- my happiness"

An eclectic group of famous artists released their own renditions of
"My Happiness", including Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, and Elvis Presley.

Answer: Debby Boone

Believe it or not, "You Light Up My Life" was Debby Boone's first solo release. Born into a musical family in Hackensack, New Jersey, fame came fast for the 21 year old singer. (Debby is the daughter of singer Pat Boone). In later years she turned to musical theatre, even treading the floorboards twice in New York. She played the lead role of "Maria" in the Lincoln Center production of "The Sound of Music" (1990), and later starred as "Rizzo", in a 1996 revival of "Grease".

Let's enjoy along with her:
"Rollin' at sea, adrift on the water
Could it be finally I'm turning for home?
Finally, a chance to say hey
I love you, never again to be all alone

You light up my life, you give me hope to carry on
You light up my days and fill my nights with song

It can't be wrong when it feels so right
'Cause you, you light up my life"

Many singers released "You Light Up My Life". Among them were LeAnn Rimes, Perry Como, Carole King, Johnny Mathis, and Whitney Houston, but it was Debby Boone who set the gold standard for this uplifting song.

Answer: Jimmy Soul

"If You Wanna Be Happy (For The Rest Of Your Life)" was the only hit in a brief career for Jimmy Soul. He charted just one other song, "Twistin' Matilda", before calling it a career and joining the United States Army.

His career was fleeting but his advice lives on:
"But if you make an ugly women your wife
you'll be happy for the rest of your life
An ugly women cooks meals on time
and she'll always give you a piece of mind.

Don't let your friends tell you you have no taste
go ahead and marry anyway
Her face is ugly her eyes don't match
take it from me she's a better catch
Go for my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you"

Despite exhaustive research, I could find no facts to support Jimmy's theory.

Answer: Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Blood, Sweat, and Tears' album, cleverly titled, "Blood, Sweat, and Tears" sold over four million copies. All three of the above mentioned tunes reached number two on the "Billboard Hot 100" chart.
The height of their popularity ran from the late 1960s to the early 1970s.
Blood, Sweat, and Tears was a headline group at that little gathering in upstate New York, called Woodstock (1969). The group was never happier than when they were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

More of their walking on air lyrics:
"The others were untrue
But when it came to loving you
I'd spend my whole life with you
'Cause you came and you took control
You touched my very soul

You always showed me that
Loving you is where it's at
You made me so very happy
I'm so glad you came into my life"

Answer: Neil Sedaka

Neil Sedaka who began recording in 1957 has recorded over 20 albums, more than five dozen singles, and has written some pretty good songs for others to croon. Sedaka sang Number One "Billboard" hits "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (1962), and "Laughter In The Rain" (1974).
A brace of the songs he co-wrote were "Stupid Cupid" ,a top 15 hit for Connie Francis (1958), and the "Billboard" chart topper, "Love Will Keep Us Together", recorded by Captain & Tennille.
Neil Sedaka was a 1983 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

More of Sedaka's natal salutations:
"When you were only six, I was your big brother
Then when you were ten, we didn't like each other
When you were thirteen, you were my funny valentine
But since you've grown up, your future is sewn up
From now on you're gonna be mine, so

If I should smile with sweet surprise
It's just that you've grown up before my very eyes
You've turned into the prettiest girl, I've ever seen
Happy birthday, sweet sixteen"

Answer: Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams wowed the audience (and the judges) when she belted out "Happy Days Are Here Again" during the talent portion of the 1983 pageant, and went on to claim the crown on September 17th.
Miss Williams became the first ever African-American ever to hold the title.

All of the other choices gained the sobriquet of Miss America as well, with Ms. Charles finishing up the final seven weeks of Vanessa Williams' reign, after she resigned in a flap over a "Penthouse" magazine spread. Ms. Williams' happy days returned when she took up successful acting and singing careers, gaining both Emmy and Grammy award nominations.

Tap your toes to more of Ms. Williams' award winning rendition:
"Your cares and troubles are gone
There'll be no more from now on, from now on

Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So let's sing a song of cheer again
Happy times, happy nights
Happy days are here again!"

Answer: Annie

"Annie" was based on a popular comic strip titled "Little Orphan Annie".
When the Broadway show opened at the Alvin Theatre, 13 year old Andrea McArdle played Annie, an 11 year old orphan living in a depression era orphanage under the watchful scrutiny of a hard drinkin', loud yellin' matron named Miss Hannigan (Dorothy Loudon). "Annie" won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. A few other numbers from the great score were "It's a Hard-Knock Life", "Easy Street" and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile".
A 1982 film version starred Aileen Quinn as Annie, with Carol Burnett cast as the old meanie, Miss Hannigan.

If Optimists International had a theme song this would be it...listen:
"So ya gotta hang on
'Til tomorrow, come what may

Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I love ya Tomorrow!
You're always
A day,
Away"!

Answer: Johnny Mathis

Texas born (September 30, 1935), John Royce Mathis has had one of the greatest careers of any singer. As he began his sixth decade of entertaining, Johnny Mathis had recorded more than 200 singles, 70 albums, and sold over 350 million records around the world.
It was "Johnny's Greatest Hits" album which was on the "Billboard" chart for an astounding 491 weeks (1958-1967), three of those weeks at Number One. Johnny Mathis has been honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, had three of his songs inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame*, and in 2007 he was an inductee of The Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
*"Chances Are" (1957, "Misty" (2002), and "It's Not For Me To Say" (2008).

More marvelous Mathis music:
"The world is full of wond'rous things it's true
But they wouldn't have much meaning without you
Some quiet ev'ning I sit by your side
And we're lost in a world of our own

I feel the glow of your unspoken love
I'm aware of the treasure that I own
And I say to myself
"It's wonderful, wonderful"
"Oh, so wonderful, my love"

Answer: Judy Garland

Judy Garland (born Frances Gumm), played Dorothy Gale, a youngster seemingly swept from her home in Kansas by a tornado to the land of Oz, and her quest to return home (along with her dog, Toto). Judy Garland was an American icon as both a singer and actress. Her accolades were many, here are a few:
*At the time of winning the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award, Ms. Garland was just 39 years old, the youngest ever winner.
*Won a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in "A Star is Born" (1954).
*Academy Award nominations for "A Star is Born" (1954), and "Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961).
*The American film Institute placed her at number eight on their list of the Top Ten Greatest Female Stars of All Time (1999).
*Awarded two Grammy Awards in addition to receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1997).
Interesting fact: Judy Garland is the mother of Liza (with a "Z") Minnelli.

Let's close this out with some more of Judy Garland's optimistic, merry melody:
"Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me

"Somewhere, over the rainbow, bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh, why can't I"?

I'm happy to report that she did eventually make it back to her Auntie Em safely.