Tickling the Ivories--My Piano Heroes Quiz

Answer: Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee was born in Feriday Louisiana. He and Mickey Gilley are cousins and they are also cousins to televangelist Jimmy Swaggart. Jerry Lee and Charlie Rich were label mates on Sun Records before both moved on to major labels. After being ostracized by the rock and roll community for marrying his cousin, Jerry Lee continued to perform and eventually re-invented himself as a country artist in the 70s.

Answer: Billy Joel

Bronx-born Billy Joel grew up on Long Island in the town of Hicksville. His father Howard was a classical pianist, born in Germany, and his mother was born in England. Billy did not graduate high school because he didn't have enough credits, missing a lot of classes because he was playing piano bars to help his mother.

He chose not to go to summer school and made the decision to pursue a full-time music career. He eventually got his diploma 25 years later. His song "My Life" was the opening theme song of the TV series "Bosom Buddies" which starred a young Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari.

Answer: Floyd Cramer

Floyd Cramer was a fixture at the RCA studios in Nashville, playing on many hit sessions, including many of Elvis Presley's recordings. He was also a part of the "Masters" concerts, along with Chet Atkins and Boots Randolph.

Answer: Reginald Dwight

Since 1993 Elton's AIDS foundation has sponsored one of the biggest Academy Awards parties as a fundraiser, attended annually by some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. Elton's lyricist Bernie Taupin rewrote the words to "Candle In The Wind" at Elton's request so he could sing it as a moving tribute to his friend Princess Diana at her funeral.

The subsequent release of the song became the biggest selling record in United Kingdom history. As of this writing it has sold 33 million copies worldwide.

In 1998 the recording won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Performance.

Answer: I'll Be Seeing You

Liberace often featured his brother George as a guest on his TV show. George was an accomplished violinist. Their mother was a regular member of the audience, always on the front row. He was one of the first American performers whose show was aired in Great Britain, gaining him a large British following.

As a result, he was often called upon to perform at Royal Command Performances. He was a frequent guest on variety shows and sitcoms,

Answer: Charlie Rich

Charlie Rich began his recording career at SUN Records in Memphis, scoring a minor hit with "Lonely Weekends". He had a Top 40 hit in the early 60s with "Mohair Sam". But it was his renditions of "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl" in 1973 that vaulted him to stardom in both the country and pop fields. That year he won the Country Music Association's awards for Best Male Vocalist, Album of the Year (for "Behind Closed Doors") and Single of the Year.

Answer: Advertising

Barry was given an honorary Clio Award in 2009 for his earlier work in composing commercial jingles which include jingles for McDonalds ("You deserve a break today") and State Farm Insurance ("Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there"). When he achieved mainstream success, he would include a medley in his concerts, consisting of the commercial jingles he has composed.

He referred to it as his VSM (Very Strange Medley).

Answer: Denmark

Victor Borge was known as "The Clown Prince of Denmark", but he began as a serious classical concert pianist. Among his many awards, he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1999 along with Sean Connery, Jason Robards and Stevie Wonder. Borge died on December 23, 2000 at the age of 91 at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Answer: Marvin Hamlisch

Marvin's first professional job was as a rehearsal pianist for the Barbra Streisand movie "Funny Girl". As of this writing, only he and Richard Rodgers had won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, a Grammy and a Pulitzer Prize.

Answer: Vince Guaraldi

San Francisco born Vince Guaraldi began his professional recording career with legendary jazz vibraphonist Cal Tjader. He left Tjader in 1955 and formed his own jazz trio. Lee Mendelson, producer of the "Peanuts" specials, heard Vince's recording of "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" and immediately contacted him to do the music for "A Charlie Brown Christmas".

They remained friends until Vince's death in 1976 at the age of 47.