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The Drifters Trivia

The Drifters Trivia Quizzes

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3 The Drifters quizzes and 30 The Drifters trivia questions.
1.
  Remembering The Drifters   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
One of my favorite groups of the 50s and 60s was The Drifters. Their music has lived on through lots of changes in personnel. Enjoy this quiz!
Average, 10 Qns, Bob9491, Aug 20 18
Average
Bob9491
Aug 20 18
408 plays
2.
  Lyrics Of The Drifters    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
From 1953 to 1963, The Drifters had ten+ lead vocalists. They also had 22 songs in the top 24 on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Chart, 20 of which were in the top ten. From the lyrics given, name these ten songs. (All songs listed are by The Drifters.)
Average, 10 Qns, lowtechmaster, Oct 23 17
Average
lowtechmaster
450 plays
3.
  The Music of The Drifters   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Drifters have had many members over the years but each configuration of the group have made hit records. What do you know about them and their music? US chart: Joel Whitburn's book of Top Pop Singles. UK chart: Guinness book of British Hit Singles.
Average, 10 Qns, shipyardbernie, Oct 22 17
Average
shipyardbernie gold member
201 plays

The Drifters Trivia Questions
1. Who was the original lead singer of The Drifters?

From Quiz Remembering The Drifters

Answer: Clyde McPhatter

Clyde McPhatter was singing lead with Billy Ward and The Dominoes when he decided to leave the group and form his own group which would become The Drifters. After leaving The Drifters he had a solo career that produced a few hits. He was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and again with the original Drifters in 1998.

2. "Money Honey" was a number one hit on the Billboard R&B chart for ______ ______ and The Drifters in the early '50s. What was the name of the singer that The Drifters were billed as the backing group for at this time?

From Quiz The Music of The Drifters

Answer: Clyde McPhatter

"Money Honey" was written by musician/songwriter/producer Jesse Stone who also played piano on the record. It was number one for 11 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart for Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters in 1953. It did not chart in the UK. On this recording with Clyde McPhatter singing lead vocal, The Drifters were Willie Ferbie (bass), Bill Pinkney (tenor), Andrew Thrasher (tenor) and Gerhart Thrasher (baritone). One of many line-ups of The Drifters, who were formed by Clyde McPhatter in 1953. Clyde McPhatter was born Clyde Lensley McPhatter in Durham, North Carolina, USA, in 1932. He was to become a major influence on Doo-Wop and R&B. Sadly, according the late Jay Warner (president/CEO of the National League of Music) in his book "On This Day in Music History", Clyde McPhatter was "Broke and despondent over a mismanaged career that made him a legend but hardly a success".

3. In what song did The Drifters use these words? "At night, the stars put on a show for free, And, darling, you can share it all with me I keep-a tellin' you."

From Quiz Lyrics Of The Drifters

Answer: Up On The Roof

In 1963, "Up On The Roof" was a number four hit on the Billboard R&B list and number five on the Billboard Hot 100 list. "Another Night With The Boys" was its B side. In 1956, "Ruby Baby" reached number 10 on the R&B chart, and in 1957, "Hypnotized" got to number 79 on the Top 100 list.

4. Which Drifters recording was featured in the soundtrack of the movie "Dirty Dancing"?

From Quiz Remembering The Drifters

Answer: Some Kind of Wonderful

With Ben E. King singing the lead vocal The Drifters' recording of "Some Kind of Wonderful" reached number 32 on the Billboard pop chart but did peak at number six on the R&B chart in 1961. Written by the legendary team of Gerry Coffin and Carole King the song was subsequently covered by such artists as Marvin Gaye and Michael Buble as well as Carole King herself. Grand Funk Railroad had a hit in 1975 with a different song of the same title.

5. "Ruby Baby" was a hit on the Billboard R&B chart for The Drifters in 1956. Which singer had a number two hit with the song on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963?

From Quiz The Music of The Drifters

Answer: Dion

"Ruby Baby" was written by Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller. It was a number ten hit on the Billboard R&B chart for The Drifters in 1956. It did not chart in the UK. Johnny More, who used to be in a group named The Hornets, from Cleveland, joined The Drifters in 1955 and was the lead singer on the record. "Ruby Baby" was a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Dion in 1963. It did not chart in the UK. Dion left the group Dion and The Belmonts and went solo in 1960. Between 1961 and 1968 he had nine Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 which included the number one hit "Runaround Sue".

6. "I was gonna tell her that I loved her And that I need her By my side To be my guide." These four lines are from which tune by The Drifters?

From Quiz Lyrics Of The Drifters

Answer: There Goes My Baby

The Drifters tune "There Goes My Baby" (1959) was a number one song on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues chart and number two on Billboard's Hot 100 list. "Oh My Love" was its B side. In 1961, "Some Kind Of Wonderful" was number six on the R&B list and 32 on the Hot 100, and "Room Full Of Tears" got to number 72 on the Hot 100.

7. The Drifters had a popular holiday hit with their rendition of the Irving Berlin classic "White Christmas". But the recording ends with a sped-up phrase from another holiday favorite. What was it?

From Quiz Remembering The Drifters

Answer: Jingle Bells

The Drifters' slightly up-tempo recording of "White Christmas" opens with bass singer Bill Pinkney singing the song first. Then Clyde McPhatter repeats the song in his distinctive tenor with the entire group joining to sing the last line, ending with the tag line of "Jingle Bells". Their unique arrangement has been covered by Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Michael Buble and many others.

8. The Drifters included these lyrics in which song? "Mmm...put your lips to mine While the music plays. We're no longer strangers, Now we're more than friends."

From Quiz Lyrics Of The Drifters

Answer: Dance With Me

"Dance With Me," in 1959, was a number two hit on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues chart and a number 15 on Billboard's Hot 100. "(If You Cry) True Love, True Love" was its side B. In 1956, "Fools Fall In Love" reached number two on the R&B list and number 69 on the Top 100. "When My Little Girl's Smiling" got to number 24 on the Hot 100 in 1962.

9. "Sweets For My Sweet" was a US Top 20 hit for The Drifters in 1961. Which Liverpool group had a UK number one hit with the song in 1963?

From Quiz The Music of The Drifters

Answer: The Searchers

"Sweets For My Sweet" was written by Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Drifters in 1961. It did not chart in the UK. Charlie Thomas was the lead vocal on the record. "Sweets For My Sweet" was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart for The Searchers in 1963. It did not chart in the US. John Lennon was said to have called it the best record he had heard from a Liverpool group up to then.

10. In what year were The Drifters inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

From Quiz Remembering The Drifters

Answer: 1988

The Drifters entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the "Performers" class along with The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Bob Dylan and The Supremes in 1988. Clyde McPhatter, their original lead singer, was inducted as a solo artist in the previous year.

11. Who wrote The Drifters' 1962 minor US hit "When My Little Girl Is Smiling"?

From Quiz The Music of The Drifters

Answer: Gerry Goffin/Carole King

"When My Little Girl Is Smiling" was written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King. It peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Drifters in 1962. It peaked at number 31 on the UK singles chart the same year. Charlie Thomas is lead singer on this record. In the UK "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" by The Drifters had some opposition on the singles chart from two British teen idols of the time. Craig Douglas entered the chart on the 22 March 1962 with his version and Jimmy Justice entered the chart on the 29 March 1962 with his version. Both versions peaked at number nine, both versions spent 13 weeks on the chart and both versions did not chart in the US.

12. "It was a kiss mmm, what a kiss it was. It really was such a kiss. How she could kiss, oh what a kiss it was. It really was such a kiss." Can you identify what song by The Drifters contains these lyrics?

From Quiz Lyrics Of The Drifters

Answer: Such A Night

"Such A Night" soared to number two on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues chart in 1954. "Lucille" was its B side. "I Gotta Get Myself A Woman" was number 11 on the R&B list in 1956. And, in 1957, "Moonlight Bay" made it to number 72 on Billboard's Top 100.

13. What 60s and 70s pop group had a hit with a cover of The Drifters' hit "This Magic Moment"?

From Quiz Remembering The Drifters

Answer: Jay and The Americans

Ben E. King was the lead singer of The Drifters when "This Magic Moment" was released in 1960. The song was written by the legendary team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. The Drifters' recording peaked at number 16 in 1960. The cover by Jay and The Americans, led by lead singer Jay Black, was more successful as it peaked at number six in March of 1969.

14. Which song with these lyrics was the last US Top Ten hit for The Drifters? "Oh when the sun beats down and burns the tar up on the roof And your shoes get so hot, you wish your tired feet were fireproof"

From Quiz The Music of The Drifters

Answer: Under The Boardwalk

"Under The Boardwalk" was written by Kenny Young/Arthur Resnick. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Drifters in 1964. It peaked at number 45 on the UK singles chart the same year. In May 1964 Drifters member Rudy Lewis died of a suspected heroin overdose on the night before the recording of "Under The Boardwalk". Rather than reschedule the recording session Johnny Moore stepped up to sing the lead vocal. In 1987 actor Bruce Willis had a number two hit with the song on the UK singles chart; it peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

15. In 1960, teens and others danced to which melody by The Drifters that had these lines? "Sweeter than wine Softer than a summer night Everything I want I have Whenever I hold you tight."

From Quiz Lyrics Of The Drifters

Answer: This Magic Moment

On the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart in 1960, "This Magic Moment" scored at number four; on Billboard's Hot 100, it ranked number 16. Its B side was "Baltimore". In 1961, "Please Stay" got to number 13 on the R&B list and number 14 on the Hot 100. Its B side was "No Sweet Lovin'".

16. In 1962 Dion DiMucci (of Dion and The Belmonts) had a solo hit with a cover of a Drifters song. What was it?

From Quiz Remembering The Drifters

Answer: Ruby Baby

Dion also covered another Drifters' hit: "Drip, Drop". "Ruby Baby" was written by the legendary team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Billy "Crash" Craddock had a country hit with his cover of the song as well.

17. What colour was the little book in The Drifters' record "You're More Than A Number In My Little ____ Book"?

From Quiz The Music of The Drifters

Answer: Red

"You're More Than A Number In My Little Red Book" was written by Roger Greenaway/Tony Macaulay. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number five on the UK singles chart for The Drifters in 1976. "You're More Than A Number In My Little Red Book" was yet another hit for The Drifters in the UK, written by British songwriters. Although The Drifters moved to the UK after their contract with Atlantic Records had ended in 1972, there was still a revolving door for group members coming and going. At times there was more than one group appearing under the name of The Drifters.

18. "I'm gonna get it, get it in the morning sun. I'm gonna get it, get it when the day is done. I'm gonna get it, get it 'cause it's so much fun." The Drifters included these words in what song?

From Quiz Lyrics Of The Drifters

Answer: Honey Love

In 1954, "Honey Love" was a top number one hit on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues chart and a number 21 on Billboard's Top 100. "Warm Your Heart" was its side B. In 1961, "Sweets For My Sweet" reached number ten on the R&B list, and number 16 on the Hot 100. "Loneliness Or Happiness" was its B side.

19. One more "Under The Boardwalk" question: According to the song what foods can you "almost taste"?

From Quiz Remembering The Drifters

Answer: hot dogs and french fries

Rudy Lewis was to be the lead singer on "Under The Boardwalk" but he died the night before the scheduled session. Johnny Moore, who had sung with the group previously, was brought back and the session took place as scheduled.

20. Which member of The Drifters sang lead vocals on more of their records than any other member of the group?

From Quiz The Music of The Drifters

Answer: Johnny Moore

It has been estimated that Johnny Moore sang on more than 80% of The Drifters' songs and was the group's longest serving member. Johnny Moore was born John Alfred Moore in Selma, Alabama, USA, in 1934. He was the lead singer of a group named The Hornets, based in Cleveland, before joining The Drifters in 1955 at the age of 21. After the hits dried up in the US and their recording contract had ended he relocated with The Drifters to the UK. The Drifters toured the UK throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s. He left The Drifters in 1982 and formed his own group Slightly Adrift. Johnny Moore died of respiratory failure en route to a hospital in London, England, in 1998 aged 64.

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