FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Shannon Del Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Shannon Del Quizzes, Trivia

Del Shannon Trivia

Del Shannon Trivia Quizzes

  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Music Trivia
  6. »
  7. Music Q-S

Fun Trivia
2 Del Shannon quizzes and 20 Del Shannon trivia questions.
1.
  The Life and Music of Del Shannon   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The music and career of "Runaway" singer Del Shannon.
Tough, 10 Qns, shanteyman, Mar 13 16
Tough
shanteyman
486 plays
2.
  The Music Of Del Shannon   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Del Shannon was a singer/songwriter before his time. An influence on many singers such as Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty who worked with him on later recordings. It is understood he was about to join them in The Traveling Wilburys after Roy Orbison's death.
Tough, 10 Qns, shipyardbernie, Mar 13 16
Tough
shipyardbernie gold member
313 plays

Del Shannon Trivia Questions
1. Which US state was Del Shannon born in?

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: Michigan

Del Shannon was born Charles Weedon Westover in Michigan in 1934.

2. Del Shannon was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What was his birth name?

From Quiz The Life and Music of Del Shannon

Answer: Charles Westover

Shannon was born Charles Westover on December 30, 1934. He grew up in nearby Coopersville listening to country artists such as Hank Williams, Hank Snow and Lefty Frizzell. During a stint in the Army he played guitar in a band called The Cool Flames. Upon his discharge he worked during the day in a furniture store and worked nights at the Hi-Lo club as a rhythm guitarist for Doug DeMott. Doug left and Westover fronted the band under the name Charlie Johnson and The Big Little Show Band. When he reformed the band he hired a keyboard player named Max Crook. Crook had already done some recording and had connections in the music business. When he began shopping demos he assumed the name Del Shannon from combining a friend's last name with "Del", derived from his favorite make of car, the Cadillac Coupe de Ville.

3. Who co-wrote and played the Musitron on Del Shannon's world wide first hit, and number one on the US pop charts, "Runaway"?

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: Max Crook

Max Crook made the Musitron which was an early synthesizer. He co-wrote and played the Musitron on "Runaway" which was a world wide number one hit in 1961.

4. Which Del Shannon song do these lyrics come from? "I can see that he was mean He shattered all the dreams you had"

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: Hey Little Girl

The lyrics came from "Hey Little Girl". It reached number two on the UK chart in 1962 but only number 38 on the US pop chart.

5. Del Shannon recorded and released a Beatles composition before they became known in the US. Which Beatles tune did he chart in June, 1963?

From Quiz The Life and Music of Del Shannon

Answer: From Me to You

Del was very popular in England and during the early sixties he performed there regularly. In 1963 he met the Beatles backstage at The Royal Albert Hall and watched them rehearse "From Me to You". He promptly recorded "From Me to You" upon returning home before the Fab Four broke in the US; he became the first American recording artist to record a cover version of a Beatles song. In 1964 Del changed record labels and hooked up with a band called the Royaltones. In addition to touring with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars, Del began recording cover songs and writing more material. He also appeared on television shows such as "Shindig" and "Hollywood A Go Go".

6. Del Shannon was the first singer to take a Lennon/McCartney song into the US pop chart. Which song was it?

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: From Me To You

The song was "From Me To You". It never charted in the UK but reached number 77 on the US pop chart in 1963.

7. After doing cover tunes such as "Handy Man" and "Do You Wanna Dance" for Amy Records, Del Shannon hit the Top Ten in November, 1964, with his own composition. What number nine hit did he record?

From Quiz The Life and Music of Del Shannon

Answer: Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)

"Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)" was a Shannon composition that put him back in the mainstream. In 1965 he opened for Ike and Tina Turner at Dave Hull's Hullabaloo, in Los Angeles. "Sue's Gotta Be Mine" and "Break Up" barely dented the charts. Del relocated to California and signed with Liberty Records. Under the supervision of producer Snuff Garrett, Del recorded a remake of "The Big Hurt". Although the production was excellent, the record only made it to number 94. In 1966 Del released a cover of the Rolling Stones' hit, "Under My Thumb". "Under my Thumb" and subsequent Liberty releases failed to make an impression on the charts. He recorded the Boyce/Hart song, "She", but as soon as the Monkees released the song it eclipsed Del's version. With his recording ventures not faring well, Del turned his attention to producing.

8. What is the missing word in this Del Shannon song title "The _____ Maid"?

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: Swiss

"The Swiss Maid" was written by country singer Roger Miller. Del Shannon scored a UK number two with this song but it only reached number 64 on the US pop chart.

9. Which Del Shannon composition did the British Invasion duo Peter and Gordon have success with?

From Quiz The Life and Music of Del Shannon

Answer: I Go to Pieces

"I Go to Pieces" peaked at number seven for Peter and Gordon in 1965. Del and the duo toured together in Australia and Del offered the composition to them. During the summer of 1990 the country band Southern Pacific released a version of "I Go To Pieces". "World Without Love", "I Don't Want to See You Again" and "Nobody I Know" were all written by Paul McCartney and attributed to Lennon/McCartney.

10. "Kelly" is a very popular Del Shannon song. Which of his UK and US hits was it the B-side of?

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: Two Kinds Of Teardrops

"Kelly" was the B-side of "Two Kinds Of Teardrops", which reached number five on the UK chart and number 50 on the US pop chart.

11. Del Shannon became a producer in the late sixties. Which artist had a Top Five hit with "Gypsy Woman", produced by Shannon?

From Quiz The Life and Music of Del Shannon

Answer: Brian Hyland

The Summer of Love and the British Invasion influence on music impacted most American singers. Del was having difficulty charting songs and worked behind the scenes at Dunhill Records. He produced sessions for Brian Hyland, taking a remake of Curtis Mayfield's "Gypsy Woman" into the Top Ten in 1970. Brian Hyland had previously had success with "Itsy, Bitsy, Teenie, Weenie, Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini" and "Sealed with a Kiss". Del also released two unsuccessful records for Dunhill during this period. Tommy Roe burst onto the scene with "Sheila", Gene Pitney had a number of hit starting with "I Wanna Love My Life Away" and Bobby Vee had a string of hits including "Rubber Ball".

12. Which song, written by Del Shannon, did Peter and Gordon have a hit record with on the US pop chart?

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: I Go To Pieces

The song was "I Go To Pieces" which reached number nine on the US pop chart in 1965. It never charted in the UK. The other three alternative titles are all Lennon/McCartney songs.

13. While working as a producer at Dunhill records Del Shannon produced a Top Ten hit for a group called Smith. Which remake of a Shirelles song did Smith have chart success with in 1969?

From Quiz The Life and Music of Del Shannon

Answer: Baby It's You

Del produced "Baby It's You", for Dunhill Records. The Shirelles version topped out at number eight in the US. Smith took the song to number five. The Smith version is from their debut album, "A Group Called Smith". Their version was in Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof". The Beatles, The Carpenters, Bruce Chanel and Elvis Costello are among the many artists who have recorded versions of "Baby It's You". "Baby It's You" was written by Burt Bacharach, Barney Williams and Mack David. Barney Williams is a pen name for Luthor Dixon.

14. Which song, produced by Tom Petty, was Del Shannon's last US pop chart entry?

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: Sea Of Love

It was Del Shannon's cover of Phil Phillips's 1959 US number two "Sea Of Love". It was his last US pop chart entry in 1981 when it reached number 33. It never charted in the UK.

15. Which 1981 Del Shannon album was produced by Tom Petty and features Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers backing him?

From Quiz The Life and Music of Del Shannon

Answer: Drop Down and Get Me

"Drop Down and Get Me" was Del's first album in eight years and took two years to record. Seven of the songs are Shannon originals and the rest are covers of Everly Brothers, Rolling Stones and Frankie Ford songs. "Sea of Love", originally done by Phil Phillips, was released as a single and charted at number 31 in 1981. "1,662 Seconds with Del Shannon" was an album project Del did for Amy Records in 1965. "Del Shannon Sings Hank Williams" was originally issued in 1964 and reissued again in the eighties. "This is My Bag" was originally issued in 1966.

16. Who sang the original version of Del Shannon's 1964 US number 43 hit on the pop charts "Do You Want To Dance"?

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: Bobby Freeman

It was Boby Freeman in 1958, it reached number five on the US pop chart. It never charted in the UK. The Beach Boys 1965 version reached number 12 on the US pop chart. It never charted in the UK. The Mamas and The Papas 1968 version reached number 76 on the US pop chart. It never charted in the UK. Cliff Richard's 1962 version reached number two on the UK chart. It never charted in the US.

17. In 1986 "Runaway" was revived for a television series. Which show used Del Shannon's "Runaway" for the opening theme?

From Quiz The Life and Music of Del Shannon

Answer: Crime Story

Del Shannon revised and re-recorded the lyrics of "Runaway" for the theme song to "Crime Story". Because the show was about crime and mob hit men, Shannon replaced the line "wishin' you were here by me... to end this misery" with "watchin' all the things go by... some live, while others die". Michael Mann produced the show for NBC and believed "Runaway" would best reflect the early sixties period piece. During the run of the show Del returned to his home town to accept the honor of being the Grand Marshal for the Christmas Parade. He also did a free benefit concert while he was in town. "Booker" was a spin-off of "21 Jump Street". "Reflections" by Diana Ross & the Supremes and "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" by Eric Burdon and The Animals instead were used in "China Beach". The theme song for "The Equalizer" was done by Stewart Copeland of The Police.

18. In which Tom Petty song does Del Shannon and "Runaway" get an acknowledgment?

From Quiz The Music Of Del Shannon

Answer: Runnin' Down A Dream

It's on "Runnin' Down A Dream" that Tom Petty sings about listening to the radio and "Me and Del were singin' little Runaway"

19. Which 1965 Beach movie featured The Offbeats and Del Shannon as musical guests?

From Quiz The Life and Music of Del Shannon

Answer: Daytona Beach Weekend

Del performed "Runaway" and "Stranger in Town" in the film, "Daytona Beach Weekend". Also appearing in the film were the Offbeats and Rayna. Bob Welborn directed the flick, which starred Steve Harkins, Don Jackson and Linda Poland. The movie was an attempt to cash in on other Spring-break movies such as "Where the Boys Are" and "Palm Springs Weekend". The Kingsmen appeared in "How To Stuff A Wild Bikini". Del also appeared in the British film "It's Trad, Dad" starring Craig Douglas and Helen Shapiro. Also performing in the film were Chubby Checker, Gary US Bonds, Gene Vincent and Gene McDaniels. It is one of Richard Lester's films before he directed the Beatles movies. Del's final album, "Rock On!" was released after his 1990 death. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

This is category 22052
play trivia = Top 5% Rated Quiz, take trivia quiz Top 10% Rated Quiz, test trivia quiz Top 20% Rated Quiz, popular trivia A Well Rated Quiz
new quizzes = added recently, editor pick = Editor's Pick editor = FunTrivia Editor gold = Gold Member

Teachers / educators: FunTrivia welcomes the use of our website and quizzes in the classroom as a teaching aid or for preparing and testing students. See our education section. Our quizzes are printable and may be used as question sheets by k-12 teachers, parents, and home schoolers.

 ·  All questions, answers, and quiz content on this website is copyright FunTrivia, Inc and may not be reproduced without permission. Any images from TV shows and movies are copyright their studios, and are being used under "fair use" for commentary and education.