Shout! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Johnnie Ray

In early 1953, 18-year old J.O'K began singing (for the experience, not for money) with Gus Merzi's jazz quintet. During these charity appearances, he would perform "Cry" while wearing a pair of trick glasses that squirted water over the audience. His first paid performance was also as a Johnnie Ray impersonator, on radio station 2BS in the country town of Bathurst, for which he was paid 17 pounds.

Answer: The Dee Jays

The original lineup of the Dee Jays included J.O'Keefe (vocals), Dave Owen (tenor sax), John Balkins (baritone sax), Kevin Norton (guitar) Keith Williams (bass) and Johnny Purser (drums). Sonn after the band formed, Kevin Norton left, to be replaced by Lou Casch.

At this time, J.O'K's stage trademark was his flamboyant clothing, which included gold lame jackets and brightly-coloured suits trimmed with fake fur. Remember, this was the 50s! The high-energy performance level for which he was renowned was also evident at this early stage of his career.

Answer: You Hit the Wrong Note, Billy Goat

J.O'K's first single (released as a 78rpm record!) was "You Hit the Wrong Note, Billy Goat", backed with "The Chicken Song". Neither it nor the next release, a cover of Pat Boone's hit "Love Letters in the Sand" made any significant impression with the record-buying public. J.O'K had met Bill Haley, who gave him permission to record the song, on an Australian tour. "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley, "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis, and "That'll Be the Day" by Buddy Holly were all hit songs of 1957.

Answer: They were stranded in Honolulu

Lee Gordon's "Big Show" concerts provided an opportunity for Australians to see big-name overseas acts. The first touring show featured Little Richard, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochrane. When Gene Vincent and his band got stuck in Honolulu on their way down under, Gordon asked J.O'K and the Dee Jays to fill in.

They were successful enough to earn a spot on the second "Big Show", which featured Buddy Holly (in his only Australian tour), Jerry Lee Lewis and Paul Anka.

Answer: Wild One

These were the four tracks on J.O'K's first EP, "Shakin' At The Stadium", released in 1958. The release date of the single of "Wild One", 5 July 1958, is considered the birthday of Australian rock n' roll music. It became the first Australian song to make the Top 40 in Sydney (there was no national pop chart then), peaking at No. 20.

The song, sometimes re-titled "Real Wild Child", has been covered by a number of artists, including Jerry Ivan Allison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jet Harris, Albert Lee, Iggy Pop, Billy Idol and Lou Reed.

The song has appeared on the soundtrack of a number of films, such as "Pretty Woman"(1990), "Crocodile Dundee II"(1988), "Problem Child"(1990) and "Wild Child" (2008).

Answer: Six O'Clock Rock

The government-funded ABC finally acknowledged the existence of rock 'n' roll as a part of contemporary culture with the introduction of "Six O'Clock Rock". The show was hosted by Ricki Merriman for six episodes, with J.O'K and the Dee Jays as featured performers, before J.O'K took over as host.

He ran the show (selecting guests, choosing their material, supervising rehearsals as well as performing and hosting) until he left in 1961 to present the "Johnny O'Keefe Show" on a commercial network.

Answer: Lulu

This Isley Brothers song has been covered by a number of artists, including Lulu and the Luvvers and J.O'K (several times, with different backing bands). Always a favorite with audiences, it gives the fans a chance to work themselves up into a frenzy of shouting, then try to settle back down as they are told to respond "a little more softly now". Live versions have been known to go on for extended periods of time!

Answer: Boomerang Boy

J.O'K became the first Australian rock 'n' roll performer to get an American recording contract when he signed with Liberty Records. He was not, however, impressed when told that his act would now include boomerang throwing. According to reports, audience members were offered a small cash prize if they could throw the boomerang farther than J.O'K. (Since one usually wants a boomerang to come back, this seems a strange challenge.)

Answer: Beatles

With the arrival of the Beatles on the scene, the rock era of which J.O'K had been a vital element quickly became a thing of the past. J.O'K resisted these changes, and was reluctant to have 'long-hair' acts appear on his television show, which had been renamed "Sing, Sing, Sing" in 1963. After the cancellation of the show in October 1965, J.O'K spent most of his time performing on the club circuit.

Answer: Sunbury Pop Festival

The Sunbury Pop Festival was an Australian rock music festival held on a farm in Sunbury, Victoria over the Australia Day long weekend from 1972 to 1975. Sunbury '73 ran from Saturday 27 January to Monday 29 January, and was hosted by Paul Hogan. This was early in his career, a few months before the start of "The Paul Hogan Show" on television, and 13 years before the film "Crocodile Dundee". Hogan jokingly introduced J.O'K as a 'newcomer', and urged the audience th 'give him a go'.

Although he was initially received somewhat coolly, his frenetic performance won them over, and a new generation became aware of the phenomenon that was Johnny O'Keefe.