Kennedy Centre Honours for Musicians Quiz

Answer: Jazz

The Kennedy Center Honours were first awarded in 1978. Ella Fitzgerald was honoured a year later in 1979. When it came time for her to be recognized, Peggy Lee provided an overview of Ms. Fitzgerald's career that she narrated while a video of her career played in the background.

Then, after the video montage, Count Basie and his band performed a live jazz piece in her honour. For the event, a reception was hosted at the White House by President and Mrs. Carter. Ms. Fitzgerald and the other honourees attended both the event at the theatre, and the after party at the White House.

Other honourees for the year 1979 include Aaron Copland (composer and conductor), Henry Fonda (actor), Martha Graham (dancer and choreographer), and Tennessee Williams (playwright and screenwriter).

Answer: Ray Charles

Ray Charles was recognized at the 1986 Kennedy Center Honours ceremony along with Lucille Ball (actress, comedian), Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, (married couple, both actors), Yehudi Menuhin (violinist, conductor), and Antony Tudor (ballet choreographer, teacher and dancer). Quincy Jones was the emcee for the portion of the show that honoured Ray Charles, and President and Mrs. Reagan were in attendance. Stevie Wonder was led onto the stage after the video history of Mr. Charles' career was played.

There, he sang "I Just Called To Say I Love You" in honour of the great musician who had so positively influenced his own career.

Answer: False

The committee that decides on the honourees at the Kennedy Center Honours has determined that honourees should generally be American, but can have citizenships in other countries if they have had a significant impact on American culture. Elton John was honoured in 2004 along with Warren Beatty (actor), Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee (married; actors, activists), Joan Sutherland (Australian soprano), and John Williams (composer and conductor).

Other honourees without US citizenship include Paul McCartney, Pete Townsend, and Roger Daltrey.

Answer: Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby never received the Kennedy Center Honours. The ceremony began in 1978, but he passed away in 1977. The remaining three musicians were recognized in 2013. Also recognized in 2013 was Martina Arroyo, an American operatic soprano. Shirley MacLaine was the only non-musician honouree in 2013. Her brother, Warren Beatty, was also honoured in 2004.

Answer: To thank him for his humanitarian work in that country

Sidney Poitier was the emcee at the portion of the ceremony that honoured Harry Belafonte in 1989. Belafonte is known for his music, perhaps most notably for "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)". He also appeared in a number of movies and television shows. It was noted, however, that his activism was likely more important to him. The show highlighted his work with Martin Luther King, Jr. before turning a spotlight on his work in Africa, specifically with UNICEF, and helping to fight Apartheid in South Africa. Archbishop Desmond Tutu travelled to the US to make a speech recognizing Mr. Belafonte during the ceremony. He said, "my friends, such as they are, won't believe that I came 10,000 miles and actually made a speech that lasted only two or three minutes".

Other honourees in 1989 include Claudette Colbert (actress), Alexandra Danilova (prima ballerina), Mary Martin (actress and singer), and William Schuman (composer).

Answer: True

Paul Simon was recognized at the Kennedy Centre Honours in the 21st century, in 2002. Steve Martin, a friend of Simon's, was the emcee during the portion of the show that honoured this musician. As one can imagine, he had the entire auditorium in stitches when he provided his salute. Simon was honoured for his influential work in the music industry from Simon and Garfunkel and through his solo career. Alicia Keys gave an amazing live performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" during the ceremony.

Other honourees in 2002 include James Earl Jones (actor), James Levine (conductor and pianist), Chita Rivera (actress, singer, dancer), and Elizabeth Taylor (actress).

Answer: Over 100

The ceremony honouring Carole King in 2015 was one of the best I've seen. She was clearly very excited and thrilled to be there. The portion of the ceremony when she was honoured featured re-enactments from the story of her life provided by actors from the Broadway play "BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical". This salute reviewed many of the songs by Ms. King that many don't recognize as having been written by her such as "Locomotion", "Go Away Little Girl", "I'm Into Something Good" and many others. There are various estimates of the number of songs that Ms. King has written or co-written, but all list well over 100 songs. Many music critics call her the most successful female song writer of the 20th century.

The show in 2015 also contained photos, film, and live performances. Included in the live performances were James Taylor who sang "Up On the Roof", and Aretha Franklin who sang "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman", both songs co-written by Ms. King and her lyricist Gerry Goffin. Ms. Franklin brought down the house when she walked onstage in a full-length fur coat, sat down at a piano, and began to play the song. Her performance was absolutely incredible. At one point, President Obama is seen wiping tears from his eyes. He and his wife Michelle Obama can also be seen singing along to the song. You won't be disappointed if you take the time to watch this show on YouTube.

Answer: Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard was recognized at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honours. Besides the usual photo/film montage of his musical history, various country artists sang "Silver Wings", "Workin' Man Blues", "Today I Started Loving You Again", "Ramblin' Fever", all songs that had been written by Mr. Haggard.

It was quite the celebration, as evidenced by all of the VIPs bopping along in the balcony. Other celebrities recognized at the Kennedy Center Honours in 2010 include Jerry Herman (composer and lyricist), Bill T. Jones (choreographer, director, author and dancer), Paul McCartney (singer, songwriter, musician), and Oprah Winfrey (talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist). All of the other options in this question have been recognized with Kennedy Center Honours in other years.

Answer: Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett was recognized at the 2005 Kennedy Center Honours. The ceremony for the Honours is held annually at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Quincy Jones, Winston Marsalis, Vanessa Williams, John Legend, k.d. lang, and Diana Krall all appeared live during the celebration to sing/play some of Mr. Bennett's hits from over the years. In August, 2021, Mr. Bennett performed with Lady Gaga in a farewell performance. It had been announced that he had developed Alzheimer's, so that would be his final show.

Other honourees at the 2005 Kennedy Center Honours included Suzanne Farrell (ballerina), Julie Harris (actress), Robert Redford (actor, director, producer, and activist), and Tina Turner (singer, and actress).

Answer: Sting

Sting (born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner) first came to fame as the bass player and lead singer in the band the Police. He was with the Police from 1977 through to 1984 when he started his solo music career. Sting had released more than twenty albums as a member of the Police and as a solo artist when he was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honours. He has also been very involved in the human rights group Amnesty International over the years, has supported Indigenous people from around the world, and has helped to raise funds for various environmental and social causes. He is truly a man of action when he sees a need in the world.

Meryl Streep was the emcee for the portion of the Kennedy Center Honours that honoured Sting in 2014. Performers at the show include Lady Gaga, Esperanza Spalding, Herbie Hancock, Bruce Springsteen, and Bruno Mars. The finale of the portion of the show that honoured Sting had almost everyone in the audience singing along with the performers as the "sending out an S.O.S." refrain from "Message in a Bottle" was sung. Everyone, including President and Mrs. Obama, were singing, standing, and rocking! It was quite a show! Other honourees in 2014 include Al Green (singer, songwriter, pastor, and record producer), Tom Hanks (actor, and filmmaker), Patricia McBride (ballerina), and Lily Tomlin (actress, comedian, and writer).