Dead Singers Society UK Vol. II Quiz

Answer: Billy Fury

Billy Fury died on January 28 1983 in St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, England, aged 42. Returning home from a recording session he had a heart attack. His manager found him the next morning and he was rushed to hospital but died the same afternoon.

He had more hits on the UK Singles Chart in the '60s than fellow scousers The Beatles, 11 of which were Top Ten hits. The highest position Billy Fury reached on the UK Singles Chart was when "Jealousy" peaked at number two in 1961. He made number three on three occasions with "Halfway To Paradise" (1961), "Like I've Never Been Gone" (1963), and "When Will You Say I Love You" (1963). He never had any hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Michael Holliday died on October 29 1963 in Croydon, London, UK, aged 38. He died of an apparent drug overdose two years after having a mental breakdown. He had number one hits with "The Story Of My Life" (two weeks in 1958) and "Starry Eyed" (one week in 1960).

Frankie Vaughan died on September 17 1999 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, aged 71. He died of heart failure at home. He had number one hits with "The Garden Of Eden" (four weeks in 1957) and "Tower Of Strength" (three weeks in 1961).

Ken Dodd died on March 11 2018 in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, England, aged 90. He died at home after being hospitalized for six weeks with a chest infection. He had a number one hit with "Tears" (five weeks in 1965).

Answer: Gene Pitney

Gene Pitney died on April 6 2006 of a heart attack aged 66. He was found by his manager in his hotel room after a concert in Cardiff, Wales, UK.

Gene Pitney had nine Top Ten hits on the UK Singles Chart between 1963 and 1967. The highest position he reached was number two which he did twice with "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (1964) and "Nobody Needs Your Love" (1966). He did eventually make it to number one in 1989 as a guest singer on Marc Almond's "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart". Gene Pitney had a number five hit with the same song in 1967.

Eddie Cochran died on April 17 1960 in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England, aged 21. He died as a result of injuries received when the taxi he was a passenger in crashed into a concrete lamp post.

Jimi Hendrix died on September 18 1970 in Notting Hill, London, UK, aged 27. He died of asphyxia while intoxicated with barbiturates, an open verdict was declared.

Mama Cass Elliot died on July 29 1974 in Mayfair, London, aged 32. She died of heart failure and no drugs were found in her system.

Answer: John Lennon

John Lennon died on December 8 1980 aged 40, as the result of being shot four times outside the Dakota Apartment Building in New York. He was rushed to the emergency room of the Roosevelt Hospital, New York, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Billy Fury died of a heart attack on January 28 1983 aged 42.

Screaming Lord Sutch committed suicide by hanging on June 16 1990 aged 58.

Adam Faith died of a heart attack on March 8 2003 aged 62.

Answer: How Do You Do It

Gerry Marsden died on January 3 2021 in Woodchurch, Merseyside, England, aged 78. He died at Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside, UK, after being diagnosed with a blood infection in his heart.

"How Do You Do It" was the first of three number one hits on the UK Singles Chart for Gerry and The Pacemakers. Although The Beatles were the first Liverpool group of the Mersey Sound era to hit the UK Singles Chart, Gerry and The Pacemakers were the first to hit the number one spot. They were followed by The Beatles, The Searchers and Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas. The sequence was "How Do You Do It" - Gerry and The Pacemakers, "From Me To You" - The Beatles, "I Like It" - Gerry and The Pacemakers, "Sweets For My Sweet" - The Searchers, "Bad To Me" - Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas, "She Loves You" - The Beatles, "You'll Never Walk Alone" - Gerry and The Pacemakers and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" - The Beatles, all in 1963.

Answer: Jim Reeves

Jim Reeves died on July 31 1964 near Brentwood, Tennessee, USA, aged 40. He died when the plane he was flying crashed, en route to Nashville. His business partner Dean Manuel, who was his manager, and the pianist of Reeves's backing group, (The Blue Boys), also died in the crash. He had a posthumous number one hit on the UK Singles Chart when "Distant Drums" was number one for five weeks in 1966.

Del Shannon died on February 8 1990 in Santa Clarita, California, USA, aged 55. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while suffering from depression. His biggest hit on the UK Singles Chart was "Runaway", it was number one for three weeks in 1961.

Johnny Cash died on September 12 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, aged 71. He died of complications from diabetes after being hospitalized at Baptist Hospital in Nashville less than four months after the death of his wife, June Carter. His biggest hits on the UK Singles Chart were "A Boy Named Sue", which peaked at number four in 1969 and "A Thing Called Love" which peaked at number four in 1972.

Bobby Vee died on October 24 2016 in Rogers, Minnesota, USA, aged 73. He died from complications of Alzheimer's disease which he had suffered from since it was diagnosed in 2011. His biggest hits on the UK Singles Chart were "Take Good Care Of My Baby" which peaked at number three in 1961 and "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" which peaked at number three in 1963.

Answer: Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield died on March 2 1999 in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, aged 59. She died of breast cancer. Between 1963 and 1987 she had 11 Top Ten hits one of which "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" was number one for one week.

Kathy Kirby died on May 19 2011 in Twickenham, London, England, aged 72. She had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had been living on state benefits when suffering a heart attack. Between 1963 and 1964 she had two Top Ten hits.

Cilla Black died on August 1 2015 in Estepona, Spain, aged 72. She died of a stroke following a fall in her home. Between 1964 and 1971 she had 11 Top Ten hits which included two number one hits.

Vera Lynn died on June 18 2020 in Ditchling, East Sussex, England, aged 103. The cause of her death was undisclosed. Between 1952 and 1954 she had four Top Ten hits, one of which "My Son, My Son" was number one for two weeks.

Answer: (Just Like) Starting Over

John Lennon died on December 8 1980 aged 40 as the result of being shot four times outside the Dakota Apartment Building in New York. He was rushed to the emergency room of the Roosevelt Hospital, New York, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

"(Just Like) Starting Over" written by John Lennon, was his first UK number one hit. It entered the UK Singles Chart on November 8 1980 and peaked at number one on December 20, 12 days after he died.

"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" made its second UK chart re-entry on December 20 1980 and peaked at number two.

"Imagine" made its first UK chart re-entry on December 27 1980 and reached number one on January 10 1981 and remained there for four weeks.

"Woman" entered the UK chart on January 24 1981 and reached number one on February 7 1981 and remained there for two weeks.

Answer: Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison died on December 6 1988 in Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA, aged 52. He died of a heart attack, having taken a short break before intending to fly to London to make videos with The Traveling Wilburys. His biggest posthumous hit on the UK Singles Chart was "You Got It" which peaked at number three in 1989.

Buddy Holly died on February 3 1959 near Mason City Iowa, USA, aged 22. He died when the airplane he was traveling in, crashed. The other two passengers, J. P. Richardson (the Big Bopper) and singer Ritchie Valens also died along with the pilot, Roger Peterson. He had a posthumous number one hit on the UK Singles Chart with "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" which was number one for three weeks in 1959.

Elvis Presley died on August 16 1977 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, aged 42. He died of cardiac arrest at his home. This verdict has been questioned many times over the years but nothing has been proved. His first posthumous number one hit on the UK Singles Chart was "Way Down" which was number one for five weeks in 1977.

Jackie Wilson died on January 21 1984 in Mount Holly, New Jersey, USA, aged 49. He died from complications of pneumonia. He had been in ill health since a heart attack in 1975. He had a posthumous number one hit on the UK Singles Chart with "Reet Petite" which was number one for four weeks in 1986.

Answer: Marc Bolan

Marc Bolan died on September 16 1977 in Barnes, London, England, aged 29. He died as the result of a car crash. He was being driven home by his girlfriend Gloria Jones, from Mortons club and restaurant in Berkeley Square, London, UK. He was killed instantly in the crash.

Jim Morrison died on July 3, 1971 in Paris, France, aged 27. He was found dead in the bathtub of his apartment, he may have died from an accidental heroin overdose.

Gerry Rafferty died on January 4 2011 in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, aged 63. He died of liver failure at the home of his daughter.

George Michael died on December 25 2016 in Goring-on-Thames, London, England, aged 53. He died at home of dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and a fatty liver.

Answer: No Woman No Cry

Bob Marley died of acral lentiginous melanoma in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA, on May 11 1981 aged 36. After landing in Miami from Germany Bob Marley was taken to hospital for treatment but it was too late as the melanoma had spread to his lungs and brain.

"No Woman No Cry" first entered the UK Singles Chart on September 27 1975. It re-entered the UK chart on June 13 1981 and peaked at number eight.

"Buffalo Soldier" entered the UK chart on May 7 1983 and peaked at number four.

"One Love - People Get Ready" entered the UK chart on April 21 1984 and peaked at number five.

"Iron Lion Zion" entered the UK chart on September 19 1992 and peaked at number five.