Unroyalty Trivia Quiz

Answer: Clark Gable

William Clark Gable (1901-1960) first started acting on stage, and soon appeared in silent films as an extra. He moved on to supporting roles at MGM in 1931, and the following year starred with Norma Shearer in "Strange Interlude". For the next thirty years he was one of Hollywood's biggest stars in over sixty films. Movies like "Mutiny on the Bounty", "It Happened One Night" and, of course, "Gone with the Wind" helped earn him the appellation "King of Hollywood" or, occasionally, simply just "The King".

Answer: Scott Joplin

American pianist and composer Scott Joplin (1868-1917) created the ragtime musical work "Maple Leaf Rag" which was copyrighted in 1899. It was one of his early pieces, and it became the prototype for the ragtime compositions which followed. It also generated a steady income for Joplin for the rest of his life.

He went on to create 44 original ragtime works, one ragtime ballet and two operas (although the operas were not well received). His compositions, which also included "The Entertainer" (featured in "The Sting") and "Palm Leaf Rag", earned him the nickname "The King of Ragtime".

Answer: Aretha Franklin

Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer who was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1942. Aretha's father was a minister, and she began singing gospel in her father's church. Her first breakout hit came in 1967 with "I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)" and combined elements of pop, soul, rhythm and blues.

This was followed by "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman". By the end of the 1960s, Aretha had earned the sobriquet, the "Queen of Soul".

Answer: Leona Helmsley

American businesswoman and entrepreneur Leona Helmsley (1920-2007)was married to real estate mogul Harry Helmsley whose company, Helmsley-Spears, owned some of New York City's most prestigious properties, including the Empire State Building. Although Leona came from humble beginnings, she worked her way up to becoming vice president of a New York real estate firm and, even before her affair and subsequent marriage to Harry, she had become a millionaire in her own right. Leona was known for her tyrannical rants and mistreatment of her employees, earning the title "Queen of Mean".

She was also found guilty of charges which included tax evasion, and she served nineteen months in prison.

Answer: Davy Crockett

As the song goes, frontiersman and politician Davy Crockett (1786-1836) was "born on a mountain top in Tennessee". Besides "killing a bear when he was only three", he served in the Tennessee state legislature and went on to become a US Congressman in 1825, often opposing the policies of President Andrew Jackson.

In 1836, he moved to Texas and took part in the Texas Revolution. That same year, in March, he was killed at the Battle of the Alamo. The exploits of his life made him a folk-hero and "King of the Wild Frontier".

Answer: Benny Goodman

Benjamin David Goodman (1909-1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader. His band was one of the most popular groups in the 'big band era' of the 1930s. Goodman introduced a jazz and swing sound and, in an era of racial segregation, his jazz group was integrated.

His concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938 was described as "jazz's coming out party to the world of respectable music". Called the "King of Swing", Goodman's hits included such classics as "Moonglow", "Sing, Sing, Sing" and "Stompin' at the Savoy".

Answer: Michael Jackson

It was so sad to lose such a great talent, as Michael Jackson (1958-2009), so young. But Michael Jackson's abbreviated like was filled with music, dance and ground-breaking innovations. Starting at five years old with the Jackson 5, Michael stood out even then.

He was a singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and record producer. He gave us the 'moonwalk', and incredible hits like "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and the best-selling album "Thriller". There is not enough space to list the many awards he garnered throughout his career, so many, in fact, that he was listed in the "Guinness Book of World Records". Among his many accolades were "Artist of the Century" and "King of Pop".

Answer: Joan Baez

Folksinger, songwriter and activist Joan Baez was born in Staten Island, New York in 1941. Her career has spanned sixty years with songs like "Diamonds and Rust" (1975), which deals with her relationship with original thinker and singer Bob Dylan. Among her other hits were "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "There But for Fortune".

Influenced by singers like Harry Belafonte, Pete Seeger and Odetta, her voice and her songs earned her the title "Queen of Folk", but she was much more than that. Baez was also a staunch advocate for civil rights, the environment and social justice.

Answer: Michael Flatley

Although Michael Flatley is known for Irish dance shows like "Riverdance", he was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1958. A musician, dancer and choreographer, Flately is of Irish descent. He began dancing at eleven years old, and, at 17, he was the first American to ever win a dance title at the World Irish Dance Championships.

In addition to his dancing, Michael was also an accomplished flutist and an amateur boxer. After "Riverdance", Michael created "Lord of the Dance", with a performance that debuted in Dublin, Ireland in 1996.

Answer: James Brown

Singer, dancer, bandleader, record producer and creator of funk music, James Brown (1933-2006) was often called the "Godfather of Soul". He began as a gospel singer, in a career which spanned six decades. His popularity peaked in 1960s with hit songs like "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)" which is almost impossible to listen to without getting up to dance.

By the early 1970s, Brown had created his 'funk sound'. He had also begun to produce songs of social commentary like "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud!" in 1968.

He was among the first group of performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.