Folk Music Trivia

1. In 1963 "Walk Right In" was a number one hit in the United States for what group?

From Quiz "Walk Right In" and Other 60s Hits

Answer: The Rooftop Singers

"Walk Right In" was originally recorded in 1929 by Cannon's Jug Stompers. The song was written by Gus Cannon.

From Quiz Guess the Folk Rock Lyrics

Answer: America

"America" was a 1972 song by Simon & Garfunkel. They were originally rock musicians when they were in high school. They wrote and recorded a folk music album in the early 1960s and then went their separate ways. After the Byrds debuted with folk rock, Simon and Garfunkel's manager had studio musicians record some electric guitar tracks for "The Sounds of Silence." They were mixed into the song and - voila! - we had two new folk rockers who reunited and performed together into the early '70s. They have occasionally appeared together since then.

From Quiz Women with Guitars

Answer: Joan Baez

As a freshman student at Boston University, Joan Baez started her 50-plus year career at Club 47 in Cambridge. Since recording her first record album at age 18, her three-octave range and natural vibrato have become known worldwide. As her fame grew she switched from singing the standard folk ballads to songs of change and protest. Over the years she has been instrumental in introducing new singers and songwriters to the music scene, including a guy who uses the surname Dylan.

From Quiz Bluegrass Banter

Answer: Blue Grass Boys

William Smith Monroe, born in Kentucky in September, 1911, played the mandolin and was one of the people who made the genre of bluegrass popular. In fact, the type of music takes its name from the name of his original band, the Blue Grass Boys. He and his brother, Charlie, signed with RCA in 1936 and scored a hit with an old gospel song "What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul"? At that time he and Charlie were recording as "The Monroe Brothers" and by 1938 when they broke up they had recorded over sixty songs for RCA. After Charlie left, Bill headed bands in Little Rock, AR, Atlanta, GA, where the first version of The Blue Grass Boys came about, and even had a spot on the Grand Ole Opry. In 1945 a new version of The Blue Grass Boys, which came to be known as "The Original Blue Grass Boys" was formed with the addition of Earl Scruggs. The twenty-eight songs the group played became classics, including the most famous of Monroe's songs, "Blue Moon of Kentucky" which was covered many years later by Elvis Presley, which, also, became a hit. During the 1950s the genre became overshadowed by rock and roll but during the 1960s folk revival bluegrass again became popular, and stayed there even after folk music faded from the hit scene. It is doubtful there would be such a genre as bluegrass without Bill Monroe. He played, sang, composed...he did it all, as well as chose the great players, such as Chubbie Wise, to be a part of his band.

From Quiz Sixties and Seventies Folk Albums, Solo

Answer: Joan Baez

The jacket notes describing Baez and her performance on the songs in this album quote Heinrich Heine and Percy Bysshe Shelley. On the back, the title is expanded to add "accompanying herself on the guitar." Perhaps the quintessential American folk singer, born in New York City (Staten Island), her father was born in Mexico and her mother in Scotland.

From Quiz The Old Gray Mare

Answer: Thomas Francis McNulty

Although 'The Old Gray Mare' is registered as 'unknown' composer, it has generally been accepted and understood that Thomas Francis McNulty was responsible for writing this song and he has been credited as such.

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song - "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at"

Answer: Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire

Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire is between the towns of Ilkley and Keighley. It is a popular area for walkers. "Wheear 'ast tha bin sin' ah saw thee, ah saw thee?" Means, where have you been since I saw you last?

From Quiz Pirate Symphony

Answer: Grains

"The Last Saskatchewan Pirate" (1992) by the Arrogant Worms is one of the tracks on their album "Arrogant Worms". The Arrogant Worms were formed in 1991. They are a Canadian comedy group. "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate" is a poke at the life of a grain farmer. Part of this comical song goes like this: "And it's a heave-ho, hi-ho, comin' down the plains Stealin' wheat and barley and all the other grains It's a ho-hey, hi-hey farmers bar yer doors When ya see the Jolly Roger on Regina's mighty shores"

From Quiz Big Rock Candy Mountain

Answer: cigarettes

Peppermint trees have replaced the original cigarette trees in many of the more recent sanitized versions of the song.

From Quiz 1960s Folk Music Revival

Answer: The Kingston Trio

Criticized by some, the Kingston Trio opened the door for other folk artists with their "boys next door" appearance.

From Quiz New Christy Minstrels Alumni

Answer: Gene Clark

Missouri native Gene Clark was performing at the Castaways Lounge in Kansas City in 1963 when he was hired by the New Christy Minstrels. He performed with them for less than a year before relocating to Los Angeles, meeting fellow folk-rocker Roger McGuinn and becoming a founding member of the Byrds. In addition to playing the guitar and harmonica with the band he composed or co-wrote several of their hits including "Eight Miles High", "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" and "Set You Free This Time". Los Angeles native David Crosby worked in Greenwich Village with Les Baxter's Balladeers and recorded his first solo effort in 1963 before joining up with the Byrds. Spokane native Michael Clarke hitchhiked to Los Angeles to be part of the music scene and became the drummer for The Byrds in 1964. Ironically, Byrds' bass player Chris Hillman had performed with an offshoot band of the New Christy Minstrels called The Green Grass Revival before joining The Byrds. McGuinn was also recruited but decided to work with Bobby Darin before The Byrds was formed.

From Quiz Number One Folk Songs and Singers

Answer: Chad Mitchell Trio

New Mexico native John Denver's family relocated to Texas. After graduating from high school he went to Los Angeles where he began his musical career performing in coffee houses. He joined the Chad Mitchell Trio and sang with them for approximately four years until he left to embark on a solo career. The Chad Mitchell Trio formed in the state of Washington and came to national attention when they appeared on the "Arthur Godfrey Show". Harry Belafonte featured the trio as backing musicians in his 1960 Carnegie Hall concert. They also had their own numbers during the show. When William Chadbourne Mitchell left the band they hired John Denver after an audition of several prospective members. The Swagmen were sixties recording artists for the Parkway label. John Paine, Bob Flick, Mike Kirkland and Dick Foley were Phi Gamma Delta fraternity members who met at the University of Washington and named themselves the Brothers Four. Alumni of The New Christy Minstrels included Barry McGuire, Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes and Gene Clark of The Byrds.

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "The Fields of Athenry"

Answer: Prison

The song opens: "By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling" The song was originally sung by Irish sports supporters, but it is also heard on the terraces from fans of Glasgow Celtic and Liverpool. Although it sounds traditional, it was actually written in the 1970s by Pete St. John, about the Irish potato famine (1845-1850). Athenry is a small (population 3,205 in 2006) town in Galway in the west of Ireland. The name means 'Ford of the Kings' in Gaelic, as it was the meeting point of three kingdoms. It is home to a fine medieval castle.

From Quiz Hootenanny: Famous Folk Singers

Answer: The Clancy Brothers

The Clancy Brothers - Paddy, Tom and Liam - and Tommy Makem were largely responsible for making Irish music popular in the United States. They sang songs in both English and Gaelic, and Tommy was a prolific songwriter as well. Paddy Clancy, Tom Clancy and Tommy Makem have all passed on, and Liam Clancy was the last surviving member of the group. He died on December 4, 2009. His autobiography, "The Mountain of the Women," is very interesting reading.

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "One Tin Soldier"

Answer: Original Caste

"One Tin Soldier" was written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. Original Caste was the first act to record the song. Coven did release it later, and their version was better known in the US. Although searches for "One Tin Soldier" and either Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell will turn up many hits, this seems to be a misidentification as "One Tin Soldier" does not appear on either singer's discography. They may have performed the song in concert, however.

From Quiz Folk Songs of the Fifties and Sixties

Answer: Peter, Paul and Mary

Bob Dylan wrote the song in 1962 when he was part of the Greenwich Village folk scene. His manager, Albert Grossman, was grooming a folk super-group with a blond and two guys and thought it would be a good song for them to record. Their first album "Peter, Paul and Mary" included "500 Miles," "Lemon Tree," "If I Had a Hammer," and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" It was listed on the Billboard Top Ten list for ten months and in the Top One Hundred for over three years. Peter, Paul and Mary received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from The Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006. The Three D's were a Capital label folk trio, The Chad Mitchell Trio was a California based folk group, and the Serendipity Singers sang "Crooked Little Man."

From Quiz Names in Traditional Songs

Answer: Michael

"Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" is a very old song indeed. It was likely sung by slaves in Georgia before the Civil War. The Highwaymen reached Number One on the Billboard charts with it in 1961.

From Quiz A Man Named Charlie ...

Answer: Cambridge

Kendall Square Station is in Cambridge, MA -- barely a block from MIT.

From Quiz Folk Goes Electric

Answer: Pride Of Man

"It's Been Too Long" was written by Nick "The Greek" Gravenites but credited to his manager Ron Polte, as were his songs on The Electric Flag's "A Long Time Coming" album. "Shady Grove" is a traditional, which was the title tune of Quicksilver Messenger Service's third album.

From Quiz Fo'c'sle and Halyards and Capstan...oh, my!

Answer: What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor

The "Drunken Sailor" is one of the most famous chanteys, I'd guess. I learned it from my grandfather, and it was the first of many that round out my current repertoire. It's a halyard chantey, which means that it's intended to be sung while hauling on halyards. I'm not a sailor, so I couldn't tell you for sure which lines halyards are and what they do, but I think they're for hoisting the sails.

From Quiz Just Plain Folks

Answer: Baby, Let Me Follow You Down

Baby, let me follow you down, I'll do anything in this God Almighty world if you'll just let me follow you down."

From Quiz British Folk Rock Music

Answer: Liege and Lief

This album, above all others, really broke down the barriers between rock and folk. Heady stuff!

From Quiz American Folk Music

Answer: Woody Guthrie

Guthrie wrote "This Land is Your Land" and was a key influence to Bob Dylan and many other folk music stars.

From Quiz British folk music in the new millennium

Answer: Kate Rusby

The singer with the nickname and those albums is Kate Rusby. Other albums she has released include "Philosophers, Poets & Kings" and "The Girl Who Couldn't Fly". Kathryn Roberts, who also comes from Barnsley, formed the band Equation along with Kate Rusby and the three Lakeman brothers. Kate left Equation and was replaced by Cara Dillon. Sandy Denny was from London and died in 1978 having sung with both Fairport Convention and Fotheringay.

From Quiz Song by Song: "House of the Rising Sun"

Answer: New Orleans

Folk music researcher Alan Lomax has speculated that this song originated in England, though some have argued it has its roots in France. When the song reached the U.S. and began to be sung by white American Southerners, he speculates, the location changed to New Orleans: "There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun."

From Quiz "Walk Right In" and Other 60s Hits

Answer: The New Christy Minstrels

"Green, Green" was also recorded by Trini Lopez. The song was written by Barry McGuire and Randy Sparks.

From Quiz Guess the Folk Rock Lyrics

Answer: All I Really Want To Do

The Byrds became the architects of folk rock music because their manager was looking for a way to merge the folk sound of Bob Dylan with the rock of the Beatles. Cool to the idea at first, the Byrds warmed to it and recorded several of Dylan's songs, including the one quoted here, "All I Really Want To Do", before experimenting with psychedelic and pop styles.

From Quiz Women with Guitars

Answer: Miriam Makeba

Miriam Makeba was from South Africa where she campaigned against apartheid. After bringing her music and racial concerns to Britain and America her passport was cancelled and she was refused reentry to South Africa. The folk music community embraced her; Harry Belafonte took a special interest in her success. She and drummer (Babatunde) Olatunji were probably the first African musicians most Americans knew by name; she would be put in the "World Music" category nowadays. She is most identified with her song "Pata Pata" which became a U.S. hit record in 1967. As to the loss of her South African passport, three other African countries immediately offered her citizenship.

From Quiz Bluegrass Banter

Answer: Charlie Daniels

Charles Edward Daniels, born in North Carolina in October, 1936, has been a singer, song writer and musician in various types of country music as well as bluegrass since early in the 1950s. He plays the guitar, fiddle and bass, as well as sings, so could be his own band. Additionally, in his career he played electric bass for three of Bob Dylan's albums, fiddle for the Marshall Tucker Band and produced an album for the Youngbloods, among others. He won a Grammy for "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" in 1979 and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in January, 2008. Mr. Daniels has not been known to be reticent in his beliefs, particularly political, in both his music and his words, as in his song "The South's Gonna Do It Again" and his book "Ain't No Rag: Freedom, Family and the Flag". He is still, in 2013, appearing in live concert venues.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:48 AM

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