Rock With The Crooners Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tutti Frutti

Pat Boone took "Tutti Frutti" to number 12 on the Billboard charts in 1956. He was reluctant to make the record, as it was very different from the songs he was known for, and had to be persuaded by his producers. The resulting single was a considerably watered down version of the Little Richard song, but proved more acceptable to white middle class Americans.

Answer: Teenager in Love

Better known for songs such as "The Finger of Suspicion" and "A Blossom Fell", Dickie Valentine recorded "Teenager in Love" in 1959. The recording failed to chart, the record buying public preferring the Marty Wilde version which reached number two on the UK chart.

Answer: Jim Lowe

Jim Lowe scored a Billboard number one in 1956 with his version of "Green Door". In the UK his version charted at number eight, but was beaten by the Frankie Vaughan version which made number two on the UK charts. Formerly known as a variety song and dance act, Frankie Vaughan went on to have a long and successful recording career.

His hits include "Tower of Strength", "Garden of Eden", and the song that became his trademark, "Give Me The Moonlight, Give Me The Girl".

Answer: Georgia Gibbs

Georgia Gibbs was a firm favourite on American radio singing torch songs and ballads. She toured with Danny Kaye and Sid Caesar, and had a long recording career. She also hosted her own TV show, "Georgia Gibbs And Her Million Record Show". In 1957 she did a cover version of "Great Balls of Fire" which failed to chart.

Answer: Heartbreak Hotel

Frances Day was American born, but was one of Britain's biggest stars in the 1930s. Her stage personna was very exotic for the times, and her personal life matched. She had affairs with the Prince of Wales, his brother, a Dutch prince, a Swedish prince and Britain's Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden.

In 1956 she made a number of recordings under the name "Gale Warning" which included her version of "Heartbreak Hotel". The recordings were not successful.

Answer: Jimmy Young

Jimmy Young covered this Patsy Cline classic, scoring a number 30 on the UK chart. His most successful records were "Unchained Melody" and "Man From Laramie", both of which gave him number one hits on the UK chart in 1955. After his singing career came to an end he had a long and successful run as a DJ on BBC Radio 2.

Answer: Butterfly

Andy Williams had a number one hit on the UK charts, and a Billboard Hot Hundred number four in America with "Butterfly". Charlie Gracie had a Billboard Hot Hundred number five with it in the same year, 1956. Widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his time, Charlie Gracie was only the second American rock and roll artist to tour the UK, Bill Haley having been the first.

Answer: The Everly Brothers

In the mid and late 1950s Denny Dennis made several recordings on the Embassy label which were cover versions of popular hit songs. These were sold in Woolworth stores at prices below the cost of the original recording.
Prior to this he had sung with various dance bands including Stanley Black and Sid Phillips. His style was often compared to Bing Crosby.

Answer: Rock and Roll Waltz

In the 1940s Kay Starr sang with several dance bands, including a short stint with Glenn Miller. She signed with Capitol Records in 1947, and whilst with them recorded "Bonaparte's Retreat". She switched to RCA Victor in 1955, but found that her type of music was no longer popular thanks to rock and roll. "Rock and Roll Waltz" was her only major hit with them, making number one on both the Billboard and UK Charts.

Answer: Vaughan Monroe

Vaughn Munroe formed his first orchestra in 1940. Best known for records such as "There I've Said It Again", "Riders In The Sky" and "Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You)" he flirted briefly with rock and roll in 1956 with "Rock and Roll Express" in a not altogether successful attempt to bridge the generation gap.

He also had a brief acting career, appearing in "Bonanza" and making three films.