The '50s: Not All Rock 'n' Roll Vol.3 Quiz

Answer: Frankie Laine

Frankie Laine had three number one hits on the UK Singles Chart in 1953. He was also the first singer to top the chart with consecutive releases. In total he spent 27 weeks at the top in 1953.

"I Believe" written by Erwin Drake/Irvin Graham/Jimmy Shirl/Al Stillman was number one for 18 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1953. It peaked at number two on the Billboard chart the same year.

"Hey Joe" written by Boudleaux Bryant was number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1953. It peaked at number six on the Billboard chart the same year.

"Answer Me" written by Gerhard Winkler/Fred Rauch/Carl Sigman was number one for eight weeks in 1953/54. It peaked at number 24 on the Billboard chart the same year.

Answer: Kitty Kallen

"Little Things Mean A Lot" written by Edith Lindeman/Carl Stutz was number one for one week on the UK Singles for Kitty Kallen in 1954. It was number one for nine weeks on the Billboard Pop cart in 1954.

Kitty Kallen was born Katie Kallen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvani, USA, in 1921. She sang with the big bands of Artie Shaw (1938) and Jack Teagarden (1939) while still a teenager. Aged 21 she joined the Jimmy Dorsey band and in 1944 had a number two hit on the Billboard chart with "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" and a number one hit with "Besame Mucho". She then joined the Harry James band.

In 1954 she was voted the most popular female singer in Billboard and Variety polls. After a number four hit with "In The Chapel In The Moonlight" in 1954 she only had a few minor hits during the rest of the '50s. She made it to the Top 20 once more when "My Colouring Book" peaked at number 18 in 1963.

Answer: Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town)

"Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town)" written by Dickie Thompson was the A-Side and "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" was the B-Side when the record was originally released in the USA, in 1954.

"(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" was number one for eight weeks for Bill Haley and His Comets on the Billboard Pop Chart in 1955. It peaked at number 39 in 1974 after being the original opening theme for the TV show "Happy Days".

It was number one for five weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1955. It peaked at number five in 1956. It peaked at number 25 in 1957. It peaked at number 22 in 1957. It peaked at number 20 in 1968. It peaked at number 12 in 1974. It was the lead track on "Haley's Golden Medley" which peaked at number 50 in 1981.

Bill Haley died of natural causes (possibly a heart attack) at his home in Harlingen, Texas, USA, in 1981 aged 55.

Answer: The Adventures of Champion

The theme tune on the soundtrack of the TV show "The Adventures of Champion" was sung by Mike Stewart. Frankie Laine did record "Champion The Wonder Horse" but neither versions charted in the USA or the UK.

TV Series "The Adventures of Champion" (1955 to 1956) starred Barry Curtis and Jim Bannon.
Movie "3:10 to Yuma" (1957) starred Glenn Ford and Van Heflin.
Movie "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957) starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas.
TV Series "Rawhide" (1959 to 1966) starred Eric Fleming and Clint Eastwood.

"Rawhide" peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart for Frankie Laine in 1959 and it was his last Top 40 hit in the UK. It did not chart in the US.

Answer: Rock Island Line

"Rock Island Line" written by (Traditional) peaked at number eight on the Billboard Top 100 for The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group in 1956. It also peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Lonnie Donegan was born Anthony James Donegan in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1931. He took the name Lonnie in tribute to American blues musician Lonnie Johnson. He opened for Johnson at the Royal Festival Hall, London, England, in 1952, as The Tony Donegan Jazzband.

He was the first UK male singer to have two Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, which were his only two Top 20 hits. Between 1956 and 1962 he had 28 successive Top 30 entries on the UK Singles Chart. 17 of those were Top 10 hits which included three number one hits.

Answer: Well Did You Evah?

"Well Did You Evah" was written by Cole Porter. It peaked at number 92 on the Billboard Top 100 for Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby in 1956. It did not chart in the UK.

Bing Crosby was born Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. in Tacoma, Washington, USA in 1903 and Frank Sinatra was born Francis Albert Sinatra in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA, in 1915. They were two giants of the music business for many decades of the 20th century. They had many hit records, sang with big bands and starred in many movies.

They starred in "High Society" (1956) along with Grace Kelly, Louis Armstrtong, Celeste Holm amd Louis Calhern. Among the songs in the movie were "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" by Frank Sinatra & Celeste Holm, "True Love" Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly, "Now You Has Jazz" Big Crosby & Louis Armstrong and "Well Did You Evah" Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra.

Answer: Eddie Fisher

"Cindy, Oh Cindy" was written by Robert Nemiroff/Burt D'Lugoff (Robert Barron/Burt Long). It peaked at number 10 for Eddie Fisher on the Billboard Top 100 in 1956. It peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Eddie Fisher was born Edwin Jack Fisher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, in 1928. He dropped out of high school in the middle of his senior year to pursue a singing career and by 1946 he was singing with the bands of Buddy Morrow and Charlie Ventura. After getting nationwide exposure on the Eddie Cantor radio show he signed a recording contract with RCA Victor.

In 1955 he married Debbie Reynolds (divorced in 1959), in 1959 he married Elizabeth Tayor (divorced in 1964) and in 1967 he married Connie Stevens (divorced in 1969). Altogether, he was married five times. After many years with health problems he fell and broke his hip on September 9 2010, he died 13 days later of complications from hip surgery at home in Berkeley, California, USA, aged 82.

Answer: Slim Whitman

"Rose Marie" written by Harbach/Hammerstein II/Friml was number one for 11 weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Slim Whitman in 1955. It failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 but peaked at number four on the Billboard Country Chart in 1954.

Singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Slim Whitman was born Ottis Dewey Whitman Jr. in Oak Park, Tampa, Florida, USA, in 1923. During WWII he served with the United States Navy in the South Pacific. His captain refused his request for a tranfer to another ship because entertained the crew with his singing and guitar playing. This was a stoke of fate as the other ship later sank and all hands were lost.

Between 1955 and 1974 he had eight Top 20 hits on the UK Singles Chart which included four Top 10 hits. "Rose Marie" held the record for consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart for 36 years with 11, until Bryan Adams spent 16 weeks at numnber one with "Everything I Do) I Do It For You" in 1991.

Slim Whitman died of heart failure in Orange Park Medical Center in Orange Park, Florida, USA, In 2013 aged 90.

Answer: Piano

Pianist Russ Conway was at number one for four weeks on the UK Singles Chart with "Side Saddle" and for two weeks with "Roulette" in 1959. Neither instrumental charted in the USA.

Russ Conway was born Trevor Herbert Stanford in Bristol, England, in 1925. He was awarded the DSM (Distinguished Service Medal) durring WWII. His only injury was the loss of the tip of the third finger of his right hand, while using a bread slicer. He was talent-spotted playing piano in a London club and was signed to EMI's Columbia record label. His name change was suggested by producer Norman Newell who he worked with at Columbia.

Between 1957 and 1961 Russ Conway had 11 Top 20 hits which included seven Top 10 hits. He died of stomach cancer in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, in 2000 aged 75.

Answer: Adam Faith

"What Do You Want" written by Les Vandyke was number one for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Adam Faith in 1959. It did not chart in the USA.

Adam Faith was born Terence Nelhams-Wright in Acton, Middlesex, England, in 1940. After a few recordings on the HMV, Fontana and Top Rank record labels that failed to chart he signed up with Parlophone records. "What Do You Want" was the first number one hit for the label and Faith was the only pop singer on the label. The record label soon signed more pop acts such as The Hollies, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, oh and a group called The Beatles.

Adam faith made the UK Top 10 with his first seven singles, which included the two number one hits "What Do You Want" (1959) and "Poor Me" (1960). He had four more UK Top 10 hits and his last hit "Cheryl's Goin' Home" peaked at number 46 in 1966. He went on to have a very succesful acting career. He starred in "Stardust" (1974), with David Essex and Larry Hagman. "Stardust" was the sequel to "That'll Be The Day" starring David Essex and Ringo Starr.