The First British Invasion B.B. (Before Beatles) Quiz

Answer: The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group

"Rock Island Line" written by Clarence Wilson (in 1929), peaked at number eight on the Billboard Top 100 for The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle group in 1956. It also peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Lonnie Donegan was a member of The Chris Barber Jazz Band when "Rock Island Line" was recorded for the 1954 album "New Orleans Joys". "Rock Island Line" was released as by The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group with Chris Barber on bass and Beryl Bryden on washboard. It started the Skiffle craze in the UK and Lonnie Donegan became known as The King Of Skiffle. Donegan received a flat fee for the recording and did not receive any royalties until a new deal was worked out with the record company 40 years later.

Lonnie Donegan died after a heart attack in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, England, in 2002 aged 71.

Answer: The Chas. McDevitt Skiffle Group

"Freight Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten (between 1906-1912), peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Top 100 for The Chas. McDevitt Skiffle Group in 1957. It peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Chas McDevitt was born in Glasgow, Scotland, but by 1955 he had moved to London. He began playing with the Crane River Jazz Band, he also formed a small skiffle group which busked and performed in coffee bars and jazz clubs in Soho, London. While recording "Freight Train" for Oriole Records, it was suggested that McDevitt add a female singer, so folk singer Nancy Whiskey was invited to join the Chas. McDevitt Skiffle Group and they re-recorded the song with her vocals. After a second smaller hit "Greenback Dollar", Whiskey left the group in 1957.

Nancy Whiskey died of a non-communicable disease in Leicester, England, in 2003 aged 67.

Answer: Laurie London

"He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)" credited to Robert Lindon/William Henry, was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Top 100 for Laurie London in 1958. It peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart in 1957.

Laurie London was 13 years old and a pupil at The Davenant Foundation Grammar School in London, England, when he recorded "He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)". Despite working at Abbey Road and making a number of records with producers such as Norman Newell and George Martin, it was his only hit on the Billboard Top 100 and the UK Singles Chart. It was the most successful record by a British male singer in the USA, in the '50s. It sold in excess of 1,000,000 copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in 1958.

Answer: Frankie Vaughan

"Judy" written by N. Paris/G. Shayne, peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Top 100 for Frankie Vaughan in 1958. It was the B-Side of "Wonderful Things" in the UK and never charted.

Frankie Vaughan, born in Liverpool, became one of the biggest UK showbiz stars of the '50s. He became known as "Mr. Moonlight" after his signature song "Give Me The Moonlight, Give Me The Girl". Between 1954 and 1968 he had 18 Top 20 hits on the UK Singles Chart. They included 11 Top Ten hits, of which two were number one hits "The Garden Of Eden" (four weeks in 1957) and "Tower Of Strength" (three weeks in 1961). As well as being an all round entertainer he also made a number of movies. He was in the 1960 musical "Let's Make Love" with Marilyn Monroe.

Frankie Vaughan died of heart failure in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, in 1999 aged 71.

Answer: Chris Barber's Jazz Band

"Petite Fleur (Little Flower)" written by Sidney Bechet, peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 for Chris Barber's Jazz Band in 1959. It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Trombone and double bass player Chris Barber, formed the non-professional New Orleans Jazz Band in 1950. He formed another professional band in 1952, which when trumpet player Ken Colyer joined in 1953 became Ken Colyer's Jazzmen. Lonnie Donegan was also a member of the group but Colyer left in 1954 and the name changed again to Chris Barber's Jazz Band. Barber was involved in arranging the first UK tours of blues artists Big Bill Broonzy, Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry and Muddy Waters, in the late '50s and early '60s.

Chris Barber died in his sleep after suffering from dementia, in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, in 2021 aged 90.

Answer: Cliff Richard and The Drifters

"Living Doll" written by Lionel Bart, peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Cliff Richard and The Drifters in 1959. It was number one for six weeks on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

"Living Doll" was Cliff Richards' first hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and first number one hit on the UK Singles Chart. It was the first of 14 UK number one hits in the 20th century. He is the only singer in the 20th century to have had number one hits in five decades ('50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s) on the UK Singles Chart. He had number one hits with his backing group The Shadows (formerly The Drifters) and solo. The Shadows themselves, had five UK number one instrumental hits. Cliff's first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 was in 1976 with "Devil Woman" at number six.

Answer: Marty Wilde

"Bad Boy" written by Marty Wilde peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Marty Wilde in 1960. It peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Marty Wilde was one of the UK's early Rock and Rollers along with Cliff Richard and Billy Fury. Five of Marty Wilde's UK Top Ten hits were covers of American records. The self penned "Bad Boy" was Marty Wilde's first of two Billboard hits. His second hit (also self penned) was "Abergavenny". It peaked at number 47 in 1969, nearly seven years after his UK chart career ended in 1962. Marty Wilde carried on a career as a song writer with such hits as, "Jesamine" by The Casuals, "I'm A Tiger" by Lulu, "Ice In The Sun" by Status Quo and "Kids In America" for his daughter Kim in 1982.

Answer: Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen

"Midnight In Moscow" written by Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi/Mikhail Matusovsky/Kenny Ball, peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen in 1962. It also peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Kenny Ball formed Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen in 1958 and they were at the forefront of the early '60s jazz revival in the UK. Although "Midnight In Moscow" was his only Top Ten hit in the US, he had three others on the UK Singles Chart, "March Of The Siamese Children" (number four in 1962), "The Green Leaves Of Summer" (number seven in 1962) and "Sukiyaki" (number ten in 1963). His last hit in the UK was The Beatles' "When I'm Sixty Four", a number 43 hit in 1967. The compilation album "The Best Of Ball Barber And Bilk", was number one on the UK Album Chart in 1962.

Kenny Ball died while being treated for pneumonia in Basildon Hospital, Essex, England in 2013 aged 82.

Answer: Mr. Acker Bilk

"Stranger On The Shore" written by Acker Bilk/Leon Young, was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Mr. Acker Bilk with The Leon Young String Chorale in 1962. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart in 1961.

Bernard Stanley Bilk wrote "Stranger On The Shore" for his daughter and it was originally named "Jenny" after her. He gave the song to Leon Young who then made the string arrangement. The recording was used as the theme tune of a 1961 BBC TV drama serial, "Stranger on the Shore". Acker (Somerset slang for "friend" or "mate") Bilk, had three more minor hits on the Billboard Hot 100 but in the UK he had three Top hits before "Stranger On The Shore". "Summer Set" (number five in 1960), "Buona Sera" (number seven in 1960) and "That's My Home" (number seven in 1961).

Acker Bilk died after suffering from throat and bladder cancer and a mild stroke in Bath, Somerset, England, in 2014 aged 85.

Answer: The Tornadoes

"Telstar" written by Joe Meek was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Tornadoes in 1962. It was number one for five weeks on the UK Singles Chart for The Tornados, (UK spelling) the same year.

The Tornados were formed in 1961 as a session band for independent record producer Joe Meek. They later became the backing group for Billy Fury after he parted from his previous backing group The Blue Flames, which included Georgie Fame. Attending the auditions to replace The Blue Flames were an obscure Liverpool group named The Silver Beatles. They failed to get the gig and later in 1962 also failed an audition with Decca Records. The Tornados had one more Top Ten hit in the UK when "Globetrotter" peaked at number five in 1963, then three minor hits the same year.