All Things Must Come To Pass 1 Quiz

Answer: Don Everly

It is very interesting to note that the lives of Don and Phil Everly were so entwined that it is difficult to find individual biographies about them. This is in spite of the fact that the brothers admittedly didn't get along the best as youngsters and went their own separate ways as adults from time to time, due to "their vastly different views on politics and life". It appears that the duo did have more success during their times together - with songs like "Bye Bye Love" (1957) and "Cathy's Clown" (1960) - than apart. A solo performance by Don in 1976 was criticized as being "uneven".

Most of the time Don provided the baritone part of their harmonies, and Phil the tenor. Their singing influenced many artists, including John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who, at one time, called themselves the British Everly Brothers. Paul Simon called the brothers "the most beautiful sounding duo I ever heard", but Keith Richards also said that Don was one of the "finest rhythm players". The Everly Brothers were part of the first class inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1976. Phil passed away in 2014, and Don on August 21, 2021.

Answer: Gerry Marsden

Born in Liverpool in 1942, Gerry Marsden was the front man for Gerry and the Pacemakers from 1959-1966 or 67, depending on the source. Like the Beatles, the band worked with both Brian Epstein and George Martin for a time. They have the distinction of being the first band to have three songs go to #1 on the UK Charts, which they did in 1963 with "How Do You Do It", "I Like It", and "You'll Never Walk Alone". Like the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers also made a movie based on a song; theirs was "Ferry Cross the Mersey" in 1964 and the Beatles' was "A Hard Day's Night" in the same year.

After the band broke up, Marsden continued with a career in television and musical theater. He was very active in charitable events, forming a group called The Crowd after the Bradford City football club fire in 1985 to help raise money for the victims. He also worked with Paul McCartney and others in 1989 to raise funds for the tragedy in Hillsborough, where fans were crushed. In 2003 Marsden became a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He passed away on January 3, 2021.

Answer: Marvin Aday

Marvin Aday was apparently a rather large, red baby. His father had the name "Meat" put on his crib at the hospital where he was born; he was known as M.L., his initials, until seventh grade, when, at 5'2" and 240 pounds, his nickname became Meatloaf. It doesn't seem like he minded the name. His first band was called Meat Loaf Soul. Over time, he worked in music theater. He toured with Shaun Murphy as Stoney & Meatloaf, and opened for acts like Alice Cooper and Bob Seger. He was a member of the cast of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975). But his big break came in 1977 when he released "Bat Out Of Hell".

From that time on, he stayed busy with a variety of projects and earned a Grammy for "I'd Do Anything for Love" (1993). He was planning to begin work on an album of new songs and live recordings when he passed away on January 20, 2022.

Answer: Michael Nesmith

Interestingly, Michael Nesmith did not play the guitar until leaving high school and completing a two year stint with the Air Force in 1962. Largely self-taught, he played a variety of music, including folk, country, and rock, both solo and with bands; he also wrote original songs and poetry. Nesmith began releasing singles in 1963, but landed his first break in 1965, when he auditioned for a group called The Monkees. The hat that he wore on the show? He wore it to the audition, and it made him stand out from the rest!

By 1967 Nesmith became discontented with the direction of the band, as he and Peter Tork were not always allowed to play their own instruments. He successfully ousted Don Kirshner, a well-known manager and producer, as the group's supervisor, after which the group released 5 more albums. It is estimated that the members of the group provided about half of the songs, while studio musicians and other composers were still used. Still unhappy, however, Nesmith asked to be released from his contract in 1970. He did return to The Monkess occasionally for reunions and the like, and even began a tour with Micky Dolenz in 2018, which was cut short by the onset of the Covid pandemic. Michael Nesmith passed away on December 10, 2021.

Answer: Charlie Watts

Charlie Watts grew up in Wembley, a town that had been ravaged by German bombers during World War II. He first became interested in playing drums when he was 13 years old, using a banjo head that he placed on a stand. The following year his parents gave him his first drum kit, and he would play drums while listening to his favorite records. Watts agreed to join the Rolling Stones in 1963, even though the band could not afford to pay him. A trained graphic artist, he also designed record sleeves and some stage sets for the group.

Watts did not enjoy the fame of being in a band such as The Rolling Stones, and
did not lead the stereotypical life of a rock star. He preferred a quieter life, and even chose not to attend the ceremony in 1989 when the Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Charlie Watts passed away on
August 24, 2021. He had been with the Rolling Stones for 58 years.

Answer: Dusty Hill

Dusty Hill grew up listening to blues music; largely self-taught, he began playing the bass when he was 13. He belonged to many bands, but the members of the American Blues (1966-1968) wore long blue hair, a fact that Hill said gained the band criticism - not for the blue hair, but because it was long! When the members of the group disagreed on the course their music should take, Hill and band mate Frank Beard left the group to form ZZ Top with Billy Gibbons in 1969. The band toured and released albums before taking a short break, during which time Hill worked at the Dallas Airport.

By the time the break was over in 1979, Hill and Gibbons had developed the look that would be their trademark - sunglasses and long beards. Frank Beard declined to participate. Before he passed away on June 28, 2021, Dusty Hill asked that the band's long-time guitar tech, Elwood Francis, take his place.

Answer: Ronnie Spector

Growing up in New York City, Ronnie Spector formed a singing group, the Darling Sisters, with her sister and cousin. They sang at school events, and eventually landed a gig at the Peppermint Lounge. The group later became known as the Ronettes, and Ronnie was the lead singer. By 1965, they were voted the third most popular group in England, behind the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. In 1966, when the Beatles toured the United States, the Ronettes were their opening act - without Ronnie. Her cousin filled in for her because their record producer, Phil Spector, would not allow Ronnie to tour.

After escaping an abusive relationship and marriage to Spector, Ronnie tried to reform the group; it was difficult because many people saw the group as an oldies act. (Who could ever forget the group's 1963 hit, "Be My Baby"?) From 1980-2016, Ronnie released four albums, as well as a memoir. She passed away on January 12, 2022.

Answer: Charley Pride

Charley Pride was a self-taught guitar player who could sing. What he really wanted to do, however, was play professional baseball. He played in the Negro American League before being drafted into the Army in 1956. He served as a quartermaster and played on Fort Carson's baseball team. Afterwards he continued playing baseball, earning tryouts with the California Angles and New York Mets in the early 60s. He ended up moving to Helena, Montana, where he worked for a lead smelting company and played semipro baseball. He earned as much money singing 15 minutes before each game as he did playing. He also began singing in night clubs and by 1965 was signed to RCA Victor.

By the mid-1970s Pride was the best selling RCA Records artist since Elvis! He was the first African American to sing at the Grand Old Opry, and became a member there in 1993. Charley Pride passed away on December 12, 2020.

Answer: Bill Withers

Unlike many musicians, Bill Withers did not become interested in music until he was in the Navy, which he had joined when he was 17 years old. After his military retirement he moved to Los Angeles in 1965, working at different jobs while also singing in clubs and learning to play the guitar. Even after the hits began rolling in, he was hesitant to leave his day job. From 1971-1987 Withers won three Grammy awards, and then decided to retire from music. In a 2009 interview he stated that he had earned a good living and he didn't see the need "to just keep grinding away".

"Rolling Stone" has said that Withers' song, "Lean On Me" (1987) is a song for every crisis. You may remember that it was popular when the Covid pandemic began in 2020, used to inspire people to stay strong and help each other. Bill Withers passed away on March 30, 2020.

Answer: Eddie Van Halen

Much has been written about the hardships faced when the Van Halen family moved from The Netherlands to Pasadena, California. Perhaps music helped them cope. Eddie began piano lessons at the age of six, listening to classical music and improvising on the piano, rather than learning to read music. In spite of this, Eddie won first place at a local piano competition from 1964-67. While their parents leaned toward classical music, Eddie and his brother, Alex, leaned toward rock and roll. Their first band was formed while in elementary school, where they would perform during lunch. While Eddie has said that during this experience he decided he wanted to be a musician, the brothers' group that eventually became known as Van Halen, was not formed until 1972 or 1973.

The band's "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" won a Grammy award in 1992 for the Best Hard Rock Performance, and has also won MTV Video Music Awards and an American Music Award. Considered to be one of the greatest guitar players of all time, Van Halen also holds three patents having to do with guitars, including the Frankenstrat, a hybrid Fender/Gibson guitar. Eddie Van Halen passed away on December 6, 2020.