One Hit Wonders - 1950s Trivia

1. Which song was a Top Ten release by Cowboy Church Sunday School in 1955?

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In)

Stuart Hamblen was one of the pioneer singing cowboys and later became a radio personality. He was the first recording artist to be signed to MCA records in the thirties. In 1949 he underwent a faith conversion and began broadcasting with a Christian radio show called "The Cowboy Church of the Air" between 1949 and 1952. He wrote several Christian songs including "Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In)" and recorded under the banner of his radio show. Hamblen also pursued an unsuccessful political career. "Make Yourself Comfortable" was Top Forty hit in 1955 for both Peggy King and Andy Griffith. "Don't Be Angry" was done by Nappy Brown. Snooky Lanson took "It's Almost Tomorrow" to Number 20.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: The Elegants

The Elegants got their name from a bottle of whiskey ('Schenley's The Whiskey of Elegance').

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: Barry Gordon

"Nuttin' for Christmas" made it to Number Six by Barry Gordon during the final week of 1955. He was only seven years old when he recorded the popular song backed by Art Mooney and His Orchestra. The version became a million selling record. Ricky Zahnd and the Blue Jeaners took "(I'm Gettin') Nuttin' for Christmas" to Number 21 on Christmas Eve, 1955, and "Nuttin' for Xmas" was taken to Number 20 by Joe Ward the same week that Barry Gordon's version did. The other two versions failed to make the Top Forty. The Singing Dogs barked out the Number 22 "Oh! Susanna" in December of 1955. Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra had a Top Twenty with "The Popcorn Song" in August of 1955. The 1955 Top Twenty release, "Runaround", was recorded by The Three Chuckles.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: The Singing Nun

Sister Luc-Gabrielle, real name Janine Deckers, and a chorus of four nuns were from a convent in Fichermont, Belgium. She committed suicide in 1985.

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: Don Robertson

Don Robertson was born in China where his dad was temporarily working at The Peking Union Medical College. He went on to become a Country genre songwriter. Some of the many compositions he wrote or co-wrote that have been recorded by various singers included "I Really Don't Want to Know", "Please Help Me I'm Falling" and "There's Always Me". He also collaborated with Hal Blair to write Lorne Greene's Number One hit, "Ringo". Eddie Lawrence had his only Top Forty song with "The Old Philosopher". "The Fool" was by a Top Ten by Sanford Clark and the Top Ten "Cindy, Oh Cindy" was Vince Martin's only hit.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: The Silhouettes

The Silhouettes started out as a Gospel group known as the Gospel Tornadoes.

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly listed Jo Stafford as her favorite singer in her high school yearbook. Grace went on to become an Academy Award-winning actress and married the Prince of Monaco. Although not known as a singer, she did enjoy success with "True Love" when it topped out at Number Three in October, 1956. Jerry Lewis had a 1956 Top Ten hit with "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody". "Eloise" was a Top Forty release in 1956 by actress Kay Thompson. Jane Powell starred in many MGM Musical films and made it to Number 15 in 1956 with a song called "True Love".

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: The Tornadoes

The Tornadoes were the first British group to have a No. 1 hit on the American charts, even before The Beatles.

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: Stranded in the Jungle

In 1956 The Cadets had the biggest success with "Stranded in the Jungle" on Modern Records when it reached Number Two in July. The same week The Jayhawks reached Number 18 with the song. The following month a group called The Gadabouts barely broke the Top Forty when their rendition peaked at Number 39. "When You Dance" was the only Top Forty hit for The Turbans. "Graduation Day" was a Number 27 hit by The Rovers in 1956. Despite releasing over 100 recordings, "Since I Met You Baby" was the only Top Twenty single by Ivory Joe Hunter.

From Quiz 50s One Hit Wonders

Answer: The Teddy Bears

The Teddy Bears have often been referred to as Phil Spector's band. The famous record producer in the 1960s and 1970s first found instant success with The Teddy Bears. He would help create the band and their 1958 one hit wonder "To Know Him Is To Love Him" would be Spector's first record release. Spector would later go on to produce music for famous musicians like John Lennon and Leonard Cohen. Spector was charged with murder in 2003, however, as of January 2007, he was still waiting to stand trial.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Zager and Evans

'In The Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)' is the full title of the song. It stayed at No. 1 for 6 weeks.

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: Robert and Johnny

Robert Carr and Johnny Mitchell wrote most of their own material and recorded approximately a dozen singles on the Old Town Records label. "We Belong Together" was their biggest success, reaching Number 32. Their only other song to make the US Billboard chart was the Number 93 single, "I Believe In You", released the same year. The duo continued to record into the sixties before calling it quits. Ronald and Ruby took "Lollipop" to Number 20 before The Chordettes had their Top Ten hit with the song. "The Freeze" was released by Tony and Joe in 1957. "(It's Been a Long Time) Pretty Baby" went to Number 20 for Gino and Gina.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Bruce Chanel & Chanel & Bruce Channel & Channel

'Hey Baby' was No.1 for three weeks. Delbert McClinton played the harmonica solo in the song.

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: Carl Mann

Carl Mann began his career singing in church and at talent shows. He landed a recording contract with a local label and released a few unsuccessful hits. A member of Carl Perkins' band landed him a three-year Sun Records deal. He was only 16 when his version of "Mona Lisa" made the charts. Although he released follow-up singles, the only other Mann song to dent the charts was the Number 57 song, "Pretend". "I Ain't Never" was a Number 25 single by Webb Pierce. The Browns' version of "The Three Bells" went to Number One, while Dick Flood's rendition only made it to Number 23. "This Should Go on Forever" squeaked into the Top Twenty at Number 20 for Rod Bernard in 1959.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Mark Dinning

'Teen Angel' was written by Marks older sister Jean. All these artists had a song about death. Mark Dinning died from a heart attack on March 21st, 1986.

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: The Blob

A group of Los Angeles studio musicians under the direction of Bernie Nee formed The Five Blobs and recorded "The Blob" for the 1958 Steve McQueen film of the same name. Burt Bacharach and Hal David's brother, Mack, composed the song that featured a saxophone lead. The Columbia Records single reached Number 33 on the Billboard charts. "Poor Boy" was a Top Twenty by The Royaltones. Jan and Arnie released "Jennie Lee" in 1958. "The Swingin' Shepherd Blues" was a Top Forty single by The Moe Koffman Quartette.

From Quiz 50s One Hit Wonders

Answer: Sheb Wooley

Sheb Wooley was best known as a singer and an actor. He is best known for his 1958 novelty hit "Purple People Eater". As an actor, Sheb Wooley performed in many country and western films including "High Noon", "The Outlaw Josey Wales", and "Rawhide". Wooley was diagnosed with leukemia in 1996 and would succumb to his illness in 2003.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: The New Vaudeville Band

'Winchester Cathedral' won a Grammy for Best Rock and Roll record of 1966.

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: The Tempos

Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards wrote The Tempos' single, "See You in September". The flip side was a song called "Bless You My Love". The tempos' release of "See You in September" became part of the soundtrack of the 1973 film, "American Graffiti". The Happenings' version fared better on the charts, peaking at Number Three. The Falcons had a Top Twenty recording with "You're So Fine". "You Were Mine" was released by The Fireflies and The Mystics had a Number 20 single with "Hushabye".

From Quiz 50s One Hit Wonders

Answer: Phil Phillips

"Sea Of Love" reached #2 on the Billboard charts in 1959. This song was covered by many other artists, particularly "The Honeydrippers", when the song once again reached the Billboard charts at #3 in 1984.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Laurie London

Laurie London is a male not a female. He was only 13 years old when he recorded this song.

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties

Answer: Margie Rayburn

Margie Rayburn married Sunnysider member Norman Milkin while she was with the group. When "Hey! Mr. Banjo" made it to Number 12, Kapp records hastily tried to release an album by The Sunnysiders but they only had recorded three tunes. The Happy Harts are featured on most of the album's tracks. Freddy Morgan played the banjo on "Hey Mr. Banjo". Margie Rayburn switched to Liberty Records when she released her only Top Twenty hit, "I'm Available". "Dark Moon" was a one-hit wonder by Bonnie Guitar in 1957. Joy Layne's "Your Wild Heart" reached Number 20 the same year. "I Miss You So" was a 1957 Top Forty release by Chris Connor.

From Quiz 50s One Hit Wonders

Answer: The Impalas

The Impalas consisted of four singers; Joe Frazier, Richard Wagner, Lenny Renda, and Tony Carlucci. In 1959, they recorded "Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home)", and it peaked as a #2 pop hit and at #14 as an R&B hit. This would be the only hit The Impalas would have and the band would only be together for three years, disbanding in 1961.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Ernie K-Doe & K-Doe & Ernie

Born Ernest Kador Jr. February 22nd, 1936. He found the lyrics to the song 'Mother-in-Law' in a trash can after writer Allen Toussaint threw them away. Bass vocal was done by Benny Spellman.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Steam

Was actually a studio group. The song I believe is still used by the Chicago White Sox.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Lemon

The Lemon Pipers guitarist, Bill Bartlett was leader of the group Ram Jam.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: The Teddy Bears

The Teddy Bears were named after Elvis Presley's song 'Teddy Bear'. Founder Phil Spector would later become a well known writer and producer.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Lorne Greene & Greene

Lorne Greene was a radio announcer for the Canadian Broadcasting Company during World War II.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Playboy

It was No. 1 for 2 weeks.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt. 1

Answer: Kyu Sakamoto

Kyu Sakamoto was killed in August 1985 in an airplane crash. Hachidai Nakamura and Rokusuke Ei wrote 'Sukiyaki'. Chuichi Nagumo was an Admiral in the Japanese Navy during World War II.

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