#1s from the 50s Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Weavers

The Weavers were from Greenwich Village in New York city. One of the original band members was Pete Seeger. Seeger and others were blacklisted and called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Seeger was identified as a member of the American Communist Party. The group broke up in 1964.

Gordon Jenkins was the musical director at Decca Records. He wrote the background music for "Goodnight, Irene".

Answer: Nat King Cole

"Too Young" has been recorded before and since, but Nat King Cole's version has been the most popular. Of all the recordings he made, Cole said "Too Young" was among his three favorites.
It was a loss for us all when Cole died too young of lung cancer at age 45, in 1965.

Answer: Leroy Anderson

"Blue Tango" was the first instrumental to become a gold record. It also appealed to the "tango craze" that was going around in the early 1950s.
Leroy Anderson was both a composer and conductor. "Blue Tango" is considered very influential in the music business because Anderson was able to close the gap between classical and pop.

Answer: Percy Faith

"The Song from 'Moulin Rouge'", also known as "Where is Your Heart?" and "It's April Again" was first heard in the film "Moulin Rouge". The British-made film is about the painter Toulouse Lautrec and the time he spent at the Moulin Rouge in the Montmartre section of Paris.

The single released in the U.S. that became the number one single for 1953 was sung by Felicia Sanders.

Answer: Kitty Kallen

Kitty Kallen began her singing career as the vocalist for the big bands of the 1930s, Harry James and James Dorsey. Her rendition of "Little Things Mean Alot" spoke of the significance of the little, often overlooked things in life and they impact our everyday lives. She sang with such emotion and feeling that the recording resonated with the public.

Answer: Perez Prado

"Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" is an instrumental and was originally the theme from "Underwater" starring Jane Russell.
Perez Prado originally recorded "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" in 1951 with a mambo rhythm. He was universally known as "King of the Mambo".

Answer: Elvis Presley

Elvis was 21 years old when this song was released. He already had a large following in the South, but "Heartbreak Hotel" made him a national sensation.

It was his first release on RCA Victor and over one million sales earned Elvis his first gold record.

Answer: Elvis Presley

"All Shook Up" was Elvis' first number one on the UK singles chart. It also topped the Billboard Country chart. The "B" side was "That's When Your Heartaches Begin".

This was one of many songs written for Elvis by Otis Blackwell ("Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog").

This song was the basis for a musical called "All Shook Up" that opened on Broadway in 2005. The musical featured Elvis's songs.

Answer: Domenico Modugno

Domenico Modugno was a prolific Italian songwriter and actor. He wrote over 200 songs and starred in over 30 feature films. "Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu" became known the world over as "Volare".

Answer: Johnny Horton

The song was written by an Arkansas high school principal and history teacher who enjoyed writing songs to help his students learn about history. Horton and Hank Williams will always be tied together because Horton married Williams' ex-wife and because they both last performed at the Skyline Club in Austin, Texas.