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Music Celebs Mixed Quiz: The Day The Music Died | 10 Questions

A plane crashed near Mason City Iowa on February 3, 1959 taking the lives of three prominent Rock and roll stars. The shock waves created by this tragedy would later inspire Don Mclean to write a tribute entitled American Pie. Here's their story!

A multiple-choice quiz by richicago. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
richicago

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
191,012

Updated
Oct 20 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1630

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the Big Bopper's real name? Hint

P.J. Richards

J.P. Richardson

R.J Richards

J.R. Richardson

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Question 2 of 10

2. The Big Bopper was also an accomplished songwriter. One of his compositions helped Johnny Preston get a number one record. That song was entitled "Running _____". Hint

Bear

On Empty

Around

Back to you

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Shortly after the tragedy, a tribute record was released entitled "Three Stars". Do you remember the name of the artist? Hint

Tommy Roe

Jimmy Bowen

Bobby Darin

Tommy Dee

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. How many Top Forty hit records did Ritchie Valens actually have? Hint

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. According to Billboard, how many #1 records did the three achieve altogether? Hint

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Question 6 of 10

6. The last record released by The Buddy and the Crickets before the plane crash was entitled "It Doesn't Matter Anymore". Can you name the writer of the song? Hint

Neil Sedaka

Buddy Holly

Paul Anka

The Big Bopper

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. According to Billboard, which of the three had a Top Ten Album? Hint

Buddy Holly

None

Ritchie Valens

The Big Bopper

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. None of the three had a hit album until after their deaths.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the three stars had a small part in the movie "Go Johnny Go"? Hint

Ritchie

The Bopper

Buddy

All three

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. According to Billboard, how many top ten records did the three have between them? Hint

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the Big Bopper's real name?

Answer: J.P. Richardson

Jiles Perry Richardson was a popular Beaumont Texas DJ before embarking on his recording career.

2. The Big Bopper was also an accomplished songwriter. One of his compositions helped Johnny Preston get a number one record. That song was entitled "Running _____".

Answer: Bear

The Bopper also did the Indian chant heard in the song's background.

3. Shortly after the tragedy, a tribute record was released entitled "Three Stars". Do you remember the name of the artist?

Answer: Tommy Dee

Tommy Dee was also a DJ. An interesting note: the song was originally recorded by Eddie Cochran but went nowhere. When Tommy subsequently teamed up with Carol Kaye and the Teen-Aires, their record went all the way to #11 in 1959.

4. How many Top Forty hit records did Ritchie Valens actually have?

Answer: 1

Despite having only one record, "Donna", Ritchie became a Rock'n'roll hero and the subject of a movie named after the flip side of that very record, La Bamba. Interesting to note, both sides charted at the same time!

5. According to Billboard, how many #1 records did the three achieve altogether?

Answer: 1

Believe it or not, only "That'll Be The Day" hit #1. Even this song was not credited to Buddy, but to "The Crickets".

6. The last record released by The Buddy and the Crickets before the plane crash was entitled "It Doesn't Matter Anymore". Can you name the writer of the song?

Answer: Paul Anka

Paul Anka was approximately seventeen when he wrote the song. He later wrote the "Tonight Show Theme" Not too shabby!

7. According to Billboard, which of the three had a Top Ten Album?

Answer: None

The best they could do between them was Ritchie's album 'Ritchie Valens" which made it to #23.

8. None of the three had a hit album until after their deaths.

Answer: True

The Big Bopper never even had an album released prior to the tragedy.

9. Which of the three stars had a small part in the movie "Go Johnny Go"?

Answer: Ritchie

The movie starred (believe it or not) Chuck Berry. Ironically, co stars Eddie Cochran and Jackie Wilson would also die tragically later.

10. According to Billboard, how many top ten records did the three have between them?

Answer: 5

Hard to believe but these rock Legends only had five top ten hits between them! "Donna" by Ritchie, "That'll Be The Day" "Oh Boy" and "Peggy Sue" By Buddy and "Chantilly Lace" by The Big Bopper. Some may say that their tragedy was "The Day The Music Died" but I prefer to think that the legacy they left nurtured and furthered the greatness of classic rock.

Source: Author richicago

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Dalgleish before going online.
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