Match Song to Artist - US Top 15 of 1950 Quiz

Answer: Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers

"Goodnight Irene" was written and first recorded by Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter in 1933. This version first charted on June 30, 1950, and remained there for 25 weeks. It peaked at number one and held that spot for 13 weeks.

Answer: Nat King Cole

"Mona Lisa" was written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston. It was written for the movie "Captain Carey, USA" and won the Oscar for "Best Original Song".

Answer: Anton Karas

"Third Man Theme" was written by Anton Karas. It was written for the movie "The Third Man". It is also known as "The Harry Lime Theme". It was the third most popular song for the year 1950.

There were four other versions also released in 1950.

Answer: Gary and Bing Crosby

"Sam's Song (The Happy Tune)" was composed by Lew Quadling with lyrics by Jack Elliott. The song was first released by Joe "Fingers" Carr and the Carr-Hops.

Answer: Gary and Bing Crosby

"Play a Simple Melody" was composed and written by Irving Berlin for the 1914 musical "Watch Your Step". It was Berlin's first musical.

Answer: Teresa Brewer

"Music, Music, Music" was written by Stephen Weiss and Bernie Baum in 1949. An instrumental version was recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets in 1959.

Answer: Red Foley

This song was written by Harry Stone and Jack Stapp. It also became the trademark song for Red Foley.

Answer: Sammy Kaye

The music for "Harbor Lights", was written by Hugh Williams (the pseudonym of Austrian composer Will Grosz) with lyrics by songwriter Jimmy Kennedy. This version by Sammy Kaye charted on September 1, 1950, and lasted 25 weeks, peaking at number one.

Answer: Sammy Kaye and Don Cornell

This hit was written by Richard Himber, Frank Warshauer, and Sylvester Sprigato and first published in 1933. This version charted on February 3, 1950, and lasted 22 weeks on the chart, peaking at number three.

Answer: Eileen Barton

This tune first charted on March 3, 1950, lasting 15 weeks on the chart and becoming a number one hit. It was written by Al Hoffman, Bob Merrill, and Clem Watts.

Answer: Kay Starr

According to Wikipedia, "Bonaparte's Retreat" is the name of two related songs. The original was a wordless melody that existed as various fiddle tunes dating back to at least the late 1800s and probably well before that. In 1950, American country music artist Pee Wee King recorded a modified version of the song, with lyrics added, which he also called "Bonaparte's Retreat".

It is King's version that was performed by Kay Starr and peaked at number four in 1950.

Answer: Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers

This Jenkins/Weavers version, released by Decca Records, was one side of a two-sided hit, reaching number one on the "Billboard" magazine charts in 1950 while the flip side, "Goodnight Irene," reached number two.

Answer: Tony Martin

This song was written by Al Hoffman, Leo Corday and Leon Carr and is one of two popular songs based on the Italian song "O Sole Mio" (Elvis' "It's Now or Never" being the other). This Tony Martin release was the biggest hit version of the song and it reached the Billboard Magazine charts on November 4, 1949, and lasted 27 weeks on the chart, peaking at number two.

Answer: Phil Harris

This novelty tune peaked at number one and was on the charts for 14 weeks. The lyrics begin by describing the discovery on a beach of a large wooden box that is floating in the bay.

Answer: Ames Brothers

"Sentimental Me" by the Ames Brothers was written by James T. Morehead and James Cassin and published in 1949. The record first reached the Billboard magazine charts on January 20, 1950 and lasted 27 weeks on the chart, peaking at #3. Bandleader Ray Anthony's version (vocal by Ronnie Deauville) was also very popular in 1950, peaking at #7 on the Billboard charts.