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Quiz about Rockabilly Music
Quiz about Rockabilly Music

Rockabilly Music Trivia Quiz


Welcome to the quiz that promises to frustrate but educate "old school" rockabilly music audiophiles and new students of this amazing genre. Have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by BenTNickel. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
BenTNickel
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
372,392
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
250
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (7/10), Guest 104 (9/10), Guest 66 (9/10).
Question 1 of 10
1. Who do all the rockin' cats claim is the "Father" of recording that mercurial rockabilly sound way back in the day? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Perhaps if Elvis Presley was born in the mid 1960s rather than mid 1930s, he may have joined this artist's group to help them perfect their "Stray Cat Strut". Who was that amazing singer leading one of the original rockabilly revival touring and recording acts? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. There were many female rockabilly artists who were tagged the "female Elvis Presley" but, can you guess the name of that cute gal who toured Australia with Little Richard and Eddie Cochran in 1957? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This next question goes out to all the serious rockabilly music gear fans of the Fun Trivia Family. Ok. Think "guitar universe." Ready, steady, go cat go! What was the COLOUR of the Gibson ES-295 released to the market in March of 1952? Scotty Moore owned one too. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Hey, cat, try not to get all "tape loopy" and step on my blue suede shoes. Now that we mentioned one of the first "battle axes," all those gear heads know I have to ask a question in part in tribute to the sound Sam Phillips created that mystified the music giants like RCA. Well, Scotty Moore, that legendary guitar swinging cat couldn't take Sam's studio on tour so he discovered this little amplifier that had a built -in "tape loop echo" which offered one of the first commercially available guitar "[sonic] effects". What was the name of that amplifier? Yep, I offered clues above. I am looking for two words. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. What did Carl Perkins use to scratch on his first draft of that famous song, "Blue Suede Shoes" ? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What tune and by what singer did Carl Perkins hear on the radio which inspired him to contact Sam Phillips at Sun Records about a possible recording contract? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Do you remember any of those rockabilly "revival" artists on the music scene in the late 1970s? Can you name one whose 1979 LP release was titled, "Rock Billy Boogie"? (His record company pressed a limited "white vinyl" edition of this release too). Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Buddy Holly was turned down by Sam Phillips at Sun Records because he had his hands "full" with not ONE but FOUR "hot" recording artists all recording for him at the same time. Who were those four artists? All male by the way. Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. There are so many artists that recorded at Sun Records...do you recall that recording artist who later became famous [1974 Country Artist of the Year] who recorded "Lonely Weekend" for Sun Records(in 1959, released in 1960). Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Dec 02 2024 : Guest 174: 7/10
Nov 21 2024 : Guest 104: 9/10
Oct 22 2024 : Guest 66: 9/10
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Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Who do all the rockin' cats claim is the "Father" of recording that mercurial rockabilly sound way back in the day?

Answer: Sam Phillips

Mr. Alan Freed was the man who introduced many early artists to audiences nationwide via film projects like "Rock! Rock! Rock!" Mr. Dewey Phillips (no relation to Sam Phillips) was one of the very important radio personalities who introduced some of the early pioneers of rockabilly and rock n' roll music on his locally famous Red Hot & Blue radio show in Memphis. And last-but-not-least on our list Mr. Steve Sholes who earned a footnote in musical history signing young Elvis Presley to his "big" music contract with RCA Victor on November 22nd, 1955 for $35,000 plus a $5,000 signing bonus for back royalties payable to Elvis. Hmmm. We all know what he decided to purchase with that money...
2. Perhaps if Elvis Presley was born in the mid 1960s rather than mid 1930s, he may have joined this artist's group to help them perfect their "Stray Cat Strut". Who was that amazing singer leading one of the original rockabilly revival touring and recording acts?

Answer: Brian Setzer and the Stray Cats

Brian Setzer was first offered a position in the band with The Cramps, who were planning a lucrative tour of Europe but, turned down their offer, he felt at the time they "cramped" his style. Eventually, Mr. Setzer would meet two very enthusiastic 50s rockabilly music fans with his [two] Stray Cats "Lee Rocker" (birth name: Leon Drucker) and "Slim Jim Phantom"(birth name: James McDonell). Brian Setzer is still touring to this day: many of his performances are available on YouTube. Billy Riley and His Little Green Men became the Sun Studios house band appearing on many recordings between 1956 to 1959. Sony Burgess and The Pacers had the reputation to be the "best rock n' roll show" anywhere (circa 1955). And finally, Charlie Feathers and His Musical Warriors were "one of the tightest rockabilly and country bands in Memphis."
3. There were many female rockabilly artists who were tagged the "female Elvis Presley" but, can you guess the name of that cute gal who toured Australia with Little Richard and Eddie Cochran in 1957?

Answer: Alis Lesley

Hard-core rockabilly collectors may be familiar with the name Alis Lesley. The true "female Elvis" was none other than Janis Martin (audiophiles are aware of the South African commercial release simply titled, "Janis & Elvis", worth quite a lot as a collectible on eBay last time I looked). Brenda Lee was very cute too, and "Little" in stature (who started recording at the tender age of 12) but, could pack a mighty marketing punch so was known as, "Little Miss Dynamite" to her fans worldwide. Who can forget the legendary, talented and beautiful Wanda Jackson? Touring to this very day! Born in Maud, Oklahoma on October 20, 1937.
4. This next question goes out to all the serious rockabilly music gear fans of the Fun Trivia Family. Ok. Think "guitar universe." Ready, steady, go cat go! What was the COLOUR of the Gibson ES-295 released to the market in March of 1952? Scotty Moore owned one too.

Answer: gold

That Golden Gibson beauty was considered "outrageous" because it was introduced at a time in music history when guitars were presented "au naturel" or in their factory motif "birthday suit." If that didn't please the owner than they painted a "funky sunburst" on it. I read somewhere in my research that Les Paul was approached by none other than the President of Gibson, Mr. M.H. Berlin, who asked Les what colour he preferred for the new model of Gibson ES-295? Les' first suggestion was apparently metallic gold, and the shop foreman almost fired-off a "rocket in his pocket"(as Jimmy Floyd sang in 1958) because he was NOT pleased with that idea! Les and Mr. Berlin, and the shop foreman, eventually reached a compromise.
5. Hey, cat, try not to get all "tape loopy" and step on my blue suede shoes. Now that we mentioned one of the first "battle axes," all those gear heads know I have to ask a question in part in tribute to the sound Sam Phillips created that mystified the music giants like RCA. Well, Scotty Moore, that legendary guitar swinging cat couldn't take Sam's studio on tour so he discovered this little amplifier that had a built -in "tape loop echo" which offered one of the first commercially available guitar "[sonic] effects". What was the name of that amplifier? Yep, I offered clues above. I am looking for two words.

Answer: EchoSonic Amplifier

The "EchoSonic" amplifier retailed for $500 in 1956. This was certainly not the cheapest amplifier on the market at that time. "Simply put, there was something magical that occurred when Scotty Moore combined his fingers a Gibson guitar and the EchoSonic amplifier," (Deke Dickerson interview for "Rockabilly History: the twang heard around the world"). Avro Arrow was a "sonic" piece of equipment that was beautiful and lifted spirits of a different variety.

The "P Spectormeter" is my imaginary tribute to another famous producer Mr. Phil Spector, and the "Jarvis Jiver" is another of my creative tributes to Mr. Felton Jarvis who became Elvis' sole producer from 1966. My information source is:"Rockabilly:The Twang Heard Around The World" An Illustrated History. ISBN 978-1-5526-7808-4
6. What did Carl Perkins use to scratch on his first draft of that famous song, "Blue Suede Shoes" ?

Answer: brown paper bag

The story has it that Carl heard a man tell his date not to get too close to his prized pair of footwear. Carl couldn't sleep one night while the lyrics and chords started to form in his mind so he quietly crept downstairs to the living room (being quiet so as not to disturb his sleeping wife) and empty a brown bag of "Irish Potatoes" which was the only thing he could find quick enough so he could transfer his song idea on to paper.

Again, my information source is:"Rockabilly:The Twang Heard Around The World" An Illustrated History. ISBN 978-1-5526-7808-4
7. What tune and by what singer did Carl Perkins hear on the radio which inspired him to contact Sam Phillips at Sun Records about a possible recording contract?

Answer: "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Elvis Presley

Carl Perkins was listening to the radio while at home and apparently said to his wife, "...this song sounds like the stuff we do on stage...I am going to find out who recorded this singer..." And as they say, "The rest is history." The other multiple choice answers I provided are all titles and artists recorded by Sam Phillips at Sun Studios (1951 through 1956).
8. Do you remember any of those rockabilly "revival" artists on the music scene in the late 1970s? Can you name one whose 1979 LP release was titled, "Rock Billy Boogie"? (His record company pressed a limited "white vinyl" edition of this release too).

Answer: Robert Gordon

The three multiple choices listed are all guitarists who have worked on stage with Mr. Gordon and/or in the recording studio. Mr. Gordon's debut LP release in 1977 was the self-titled "robert gordon" featuring Link Wray on guitar. "Fresh Fish Special" was released in 1978 featuring the studio work of Robert Gordon and Link Wray. Robert recorded a cover version with an assist from Link Wray again, of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire" (originally made famous by The Ohio Players of funk r&b fame mid 1970s).
9. Buddy Holly was turned down by Sam Phillips at Sun Records because he had his hands "full" with not ONE but FOUR "hot" recording artists all recording for him at the same time. Who were those four artists? All male by the way.

Answer: Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash

Can you imagine that? The soon-to-be-legendary Buddy Holly drops by Sun and is told Mr. Phillips is TOO BUSY. I bet Buddy was thinking, "Hey, that'll be the day..." Johnny Cash played with Marshall and Luther (billed as the Tennessee Two). When Johnny's future beautiful wife, June joined them they would be known as "Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three. Keeping it simple. Carl Perkin's musical backing was supported by two brothers Jay and Clayton - "Fluke" was a good friend. Mr. Elvis, Scotty and Bill, in the early days were simply billed as Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill. Later Scotty and Bill would accompany Memphis's soon-to-be-most-famous citizen under the billing, the Blue Moon Boys.
10. There are so many artists that recorded at Sun Records...do you recall that recording artist who later became famous [1974 Country Artist of the Year] who recorded "Lonely Weekend" for Sun Records(in 1959, released in 1960).

Answer: Charlie Rich

The multiple-choice answers all recorded for Sam Phillips. Mr. Edwin Bruce was all of 16 years old when he arrived at Sun with his 15 dollars in hand and the mind to cut a demo record: one of the engineers liked what he heard, notified Mr. Phillips, who signed the young man "on the spot." Edwin released, "Rock Boppin' Baby" (Sun 276) on August 15, 1957. Mr. Warren Smith had the "purest country voice" Sam Phillips said he had ever heard.

His song, "Rock n' Roll Ruby" was released in April 1956, outselling the early hits of Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins.

He also recorded "Miss Froggie" and the great rockabilly classic, "Ubangi Stomp." Mr. Glen Glenn's recordings are known as "classic rockabilly."
Source: Author BenTNickel

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