Musicians Who Passed in 2016 Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Heat is On

"Dirty Laundry", "The Boys of Summer" and "Sunset Grill" were eighties solo releases from fellow Eagles member Don Henley. Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey composed Frey's US Number Two single "The Heat is On" for the 1984 film "Beverly Hills Cop".
In the late sixties Detroit native Glenn Frey was backing Bob Seger on such releases as "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" and "Against the Wind". Glenn went to California to meet a girlfriend, where he met Don Henley in 1970. They formed The Eagles with Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon. Glenn began writing songs including "Take It Easy" (1972) with Jackson Browne and "Tequila Sunrise" (1973) and "Lyin' Eyes" (1975) with Don Henley. Glenn Frey composed "You Belong to the City" with Jack Tempchin in 1984 for the "Miami Vice" TV show. Frey also occasionally acted on the show.
Frey was part of the Eagles' 1994 "Hell Freezes Over" reunion tour but became ill from complications of rheumatoid arthritis in 2000 which resulted in complicated intestinal surgeries. After he passed The Eagles and Jackson Browne performed "Take It Easy" at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards as a tribute.

Answer: Earth, Wind and Fire

Earth, Wind and Fire was founded in Chicago by Maurice White. Philip Bailey and Maurice White shared vocal duties in Earth, Wind and Fire. The band was awarded six of the 20 Grammy awards they were nominated for.
Maurice White was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1941 and lived with his grandmother. He became friends with Booker T Jones and they formed a band when they attended Booker T. Washington High School. When still in his teens he relocated to Chicago where he played drums as a session played for Chess Records while he attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music. In the mid-sixties he became a member of The Ramsey Lewis Trio until forming Earth, Wind and Fire.
White began the onset of Parkinson's disease in 1987 and finally retired from Earth Wind and Fire in 1994. White continued to work with various artists as a producer until Parkinson's claimed him in February, 2016, at age 74.

Answer: The Belmonts

The Belmonts recorded "Teenage Clementine" for Mohawk Records in 1957 with Milano on lead vocals. Dion was also signed to the label and was laying down vocals on backing tracks recorded by the Timberlanes. Dion didn't like the style of the Timberlanes' music and Dion With the Belmonts was formed to record "We Went Away" before signing with Laurie Records as Dion and the Belmonts. Their first release, "I Wonder Why", hit Number 22 and led to appearances on "American Bandstand". Their first Top Ten US single was in 1959 with "A Teenager in Love" and in 1960 they made Number Three with "Where or When". That same year Dion went solo.
The Belmonts continued to record for different labels. Their biggest success was the Number 18 "Tell me Why" in 1961. Their final Top Forty single was "Come On Little Angel" the following year. Mastrangelo co-wrote songs with Dion and the original Belmonts reunited with Dion for a 1972 concert. Mastrangelo lived near DiMucci in Florida until he passed at age 78.
The Classics had a hit in 1963 with "'Til Then". The Bel-Airs were a Surf Rock band from Los Angeles. The Heartbeats released "A Thousand Miles Away" in 1957.

Answer: Davy Jones

Bowie was born David Robert Jones in London. When he was in his early teens his father brought home records by American Rock and Roll artists who had a profound influence on him. He began working with a number of different groups and changed his name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees. In addition to pursuing a music career David began training in dance and art which influenced his decision to adopt various personas throughout his musical career.
In 1969 "Space Oddity" became his first successful single. Bowie then formed a band and went on to sell over 140 million records during his career.
He also worked as an actor appearing in several films beginning in 1976 with "The Man Who Fell to Earth". Bowie earned two Grammy Awards and in January, 1996, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Exactly 20 years later he passed from liver cancer.

Answer: Guitar

Paul Kantner was the rhythm guitar player on every Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship album released. Born in San Francisco Paul became part of the emerging musical scene in that area in the mid-sixties. In 1965 he met Marty Balin and became part of Jefferson Airplane. The group became commercially successful which led to appearances at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Kantner began a relationship with the group's singer, Grace Slick, which produced a daughter named China Wing Kantner in 1971.
Two years later Jefferson Starship was formed with former members of Jefferson Airplane. In 1980 Paul suffered a cerebral hemorrhage which sidelined his career. After recovering Paul left the band to form the KBC Band with Marty
Balin and Jack Casady.
In 1996 Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with all the original members except Grace Slick who was ill. In 2016 Kantner passed from complications following a heart attack.

Answer: The Nice

Todmorden, England, native Keith Emerson began combining Classical music themes with rock while working with Nice. When he co-founded ELP in 1970 he was a major contributor to their songwriting and arrangements. Emerson was also a pioneer in the use of synthesizers.

When ELP disbanded in the late seventies Emerson focused on scoring soundtracks and working with orchestras with the Keith Emerson Band. His first solo album, "Honky" came out in 1981. Later in the eighties he formed Emerson, Lake and Powell with drummer Cozy Powell and also Aliens of Extraordinary Ability.

In 1991 ELP reformed and recorded two albums but Keith had to take time off from touring in support of the albums because of a nerve condition. He later developed additional medical issues and took his own life in March, 2016. Soft Machine formed in 1966 with Robert Wyatt, Daevid Allen, Kevin Ayers and Mike Ratledge. Robert Fripp is the only member of King Crimson to have been with them since the group was founded. Yes featured Rick Wakeman on keys.

Answer: False

Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson comprised The Highwaymen.
Merle's family relocated to Bakersfield, California, from Oklahoma during the Depression. Merle was a troubled youth and was frequently incarcerated. After being released from San Quentin in 1960 he worked in construction while trying to develop a music career. In 1966 he recorded "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" which began a string of Number One US Country hits in the sixties. In 1969 he released the Number One "Okie from Muskogee" and began the seventies topping the charts with "The Fightin' Side of Me". By the end of the eighties he had released 38 Number One singles.
He also collaborated with several country artists including the 1983 album "Pancho and Lefty" with Willie Nelson.
Among the numerous awards Haggard received was a 2006 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. California governor Ronald Reagan granted Haggard a pardon in 1972.
In 2008 Haggard was diagnosed with lung cancer. In 2015 he was diagnosed with pneumonia and passed from complications the following year.

Answer: Live and Let Die

George Martin produced "Live and Let Die" for Paul McCartney. He also composed the film's score. Martin had previous experience with the "James Bond" films, producing the theme to "Goldfinger" (1964). He also signed Matt Monroe to the EMI label prior to Monroe recording the theme for "From Russia with Love".
London native George Martin was in The Royal Navy during WWII and went on to work for EMI producing comedy albums before being teamed up with The Beatles. He was not impressed with their early demos but when he produced "Please Please Me" he was convinced the band could be successful.
Martin published "All You Need is Ears" in 1979 which he co-wrote with Jeremy Hornsby about his work with the The Beatles and other artists. "Summer of Love: The Making of Sgt Pepper" was written in 1993. Martin passed in his sleep at age 90 in 2016.

Answer: Troy Shondell

Troy Shondell was born Gary Wayne Schelton in Fort Wayne, Indiana. When he was 14 he composed a song that was recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials. Troy learned how to play five instruments and released his first single, "My Hero", in 1958 for Mercury Records as Gary Shelton. The following year he released "Kissin' at the Drive-In" before switching labels and releasing "Goodbye Little Darlin'" and "The Trance".
In 1961 he changed his stage name to Troy Shondell and released his first Top Ten, the US Number Six "This Time (We're Really Breaking Up)". In 1962 he followed up with "Tears From An Angel" which failed to hit the Top Forty.
The following year a singer named Tommy Jackson was fronting a high school band known as Tom and the Tornados. He changed his name and as a tribute to Troy his band became Tommy James and The Shondells.
Shondell became a songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music in Nashville and later was appointed Assistant Regional Director for ASCAP's Southern Regional Office. He occasionally toured with other Oldies artists until passing from complications of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease in 2016.

Answer: When Doves Cry

Prince Rogers Nelson wrote and produced "When Doves Cry", a single from his "Purple Rain" album. The song remained at Number One for five weeks. Prince also directed the MTV video for the single.
Prince was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and by the age of 18 had signed a recording contract with Warner Brothers. In 1978 his debut album "For You" was released. After the success of "Purple Rain" in 1984 he formed a band he called The Revolution and in 1991 he formed another group called The New Power Generation. In 2007 Prince performed at the Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show in Miami.
In 2016 Prince passed at his Paisley Park complex following what was eventually ruled as an accidental overdose of Fentanyl.
"Little Red Corvette" reached Number six in 1983. "Raspberry Beret" hit Number Two in 1985. "I Would Die 4 U" topped out at Number Eight in 1984.