The Music of Roy Orbison Trivia Quiz

Answer: Oh, Pretty Woman

"Oh, Pretty Woman" was number one for three weeks on the US Billboard pop chart and number one for two weeks on the UK chart in 1964.

"Blue Bayou" reached number 29 on the US pop chart as the B-side of "Mean Woman Blues" in 1963. As a double A-side, they reached number three on the UK chart. "In Dreams" reached number seven on the US Billboard pop chart in 1963. It reached number six on the UK chart. "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)" reached number four on the US pop chart in 1962. It went higher on the UK chart, but got stuck at number two.

Answer: Kelton

Roy Kelton Orbison was born on April 23, 1936.

Incorrect choices: Charles Weedon Westover was better known as Del Shannon (biggest US hit "Runaway", US Billboard pop chart number one and UK chart number one). Charles Hardin Holley was called Buddy Holly (biggest US hit "That'll Be The Day", US Billboard pop chart number one and UK chart number one). Charles Eugene Boone went by the name Pat Boone (biggest US hit "Love Letters in the Sand", US Billboard pop chart number one and UK chart number two).

Answer: Running Scared

Roy was "Running Scared", all the way to number one for one week on the US Billboard pop chart in 1961. He slowed down a little and came to a halt at number nine on the UK chart.

"Candy Man" was the B-side of "Crying" and reached number 25 on the US Billboard pop chart in 1961. It did not chart in the UK. "Blue Angel" reached number nine on the US Billboard pop chart in 1960. It just missed the top ten in the UK and stuck at number eleven. "Crying" reached number two on the US Billboard pop chart in 1961. No wonder Roy was upset--it only reached number 25 on the UK chart. In 1992, a new version of "Crying" reached number 13 on the UK chart as a duet by Roy Orbison and kd lang.

Answer: It's Over

"It's Over" reached number nine on the US Billboard pop chart in 1964. It was number one on the UK chart for two weeks. It was the first UK number one by an American artist in eleven months! The song was Roy's first of two UK number one hits of the year.

"The Crowd" reached number 26 on the US Billboard pop chart in 1962 and only number 40 on the UK chart. "Workin' for the Man" was the US B-side of "Leah", but reached number 33 on the US pop chart in 1962. It was the A-side in the UK and reached number 50 on the UK chart. "Falling" reached number 22 on the US pop chart in 1963, but went up to number nine on the UK chart.

Answer: I Can't Stop Loving You

"I Can't Stop Loving You" was written by country singer Don Gibson who had a number 81 hit on the US Billboard pop chart with the song in 1958. Roy Orbison recorded it for his "Lonely and Blue" album in 1960. Ray Charles had a number one hit for five weeks on the US Billboard pop chart and for two weeks on the UK chart with the song in 1962.

The three alternative tracks were also on the Roy Orbison "Lonely and Blue" album.

Answer: Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)

"Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)" reached number two on the US Billboard pop chart in 1960. It went one better in the UK and was number one for two weeks. Written by Roy, it was rumored that Elvis and The Everly Brothers turned the song down.

"I'm Hurtin'" reached number 27 on the US Billboard pop chart in 1961, but it did not chart in the UK. "Mean Woman Blues" reached number five on the US Billboard pop chart in 1963. It was a double A-side with "Blue Bayou" in the UK and reached number three on the UK chart. "Up Town" reached number 72 on the US Billboard pop chart in 1960, but it did not chart in the UK.

Answer: Pretty Paper

"Pretty Paper" was written by Willie Nelson. It reached number 15 on the US Billboard pop chart in 1963. It reached number six on the UK chart in 1964.

"(Say) You're My Girl" reached number 39 on the US pop chart in 1965. It reached number 23 on the UK chart. "Goodnight" reached number 21 on the US pop chart in 1965. It reached number 14 on the UK chart. "Ride Away" reached number 25 on the US pop chart in 1965. It reached number 34 on the UK chart.

Answer: The Everly Brothers

The song was "Claudette" and The Everly Brothers had the hit record with it. It was the B-side of "All I Have To Do Is Dream" and it reached number 30 on the US Billboard pop chart. Both tracks were a double A-side in the UK and reached number one for seven weeks on the UK chart.

Roy's first wife Claudette was killed in a motorcycle accident in June 1966. The couple was riding home from Bristol, Tennessee when she was struck by a truck and killed instantly.

Answer: You Got It

"You Got It" was written by Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. It reached number nine on the US Billboard pop chart and number three on the UK chart in 1989. Unfortunately, Roy Orbison did not live to see his new chart success, because he died in December 1988, aged 52.

Answer: Lefty Wilbury

Roy Orbison was known as Lefty Wilbury. The Traveling Wilburys came about in the 1988 after some of the group's members got together to record a track for the B-side of George Harrison's single "This Is Love"

Nelson Wilbury was George Harrison, Otis Wilbury was Jeff Lynne, and Lucky Wilbury was Bob Dylan. The fifth member of the Wilbury family was Charley T. Wilbury Jr., better known as Tom Petty.