Biography Books of Music Celebrities Quiz

Answer: Sonny Bono

Sonny Bono's music career had actually begun a decade before he paired up with Cher. He had worked as a promoter for various labels, written a few successfully recorded songs and was working as an assistant for Phil Spector at the time he met Cher. He was able to gradually get Cher into Spector's sessions as a background singer.

After Bono parted company with Spector he initially marketed the two of them as Caesar and Cleo before Sonny and Cher. He wrote "I Got You Babe" on a piano in the basement of their small home.

After the song was recorded using many of Spector's techniques, the duo hit the national spotlight. In the book that he authored himself, Sonny Bono is very candid about his relationship with Cher and his political aspirations after his music career waned. Dean Torrence worked with Jan Berry as Jan and Dean, Peter Asher was Peter of Peter and Gordon and Bill Medley was half of the Righteous Brothers.

Answer: George Martin

George Martin's book not only chronicles his decade with the Beatles, it delves into his tenure in the British military and his early years producing comedy and classical music albums. He also reveals some of the studio techniques he used in recording and producing the various groundbreaking Beatles albums.

He addresses the composition, inspiration and arranging of many of the Lennon/McCartney and George Harrison songs. There is also information about many of the groups he worked with in the seventies and eighties, such as America. Rodger Bain produced Black Sabbath's first three albums. Joe Meek is known for producing such acts as The Tornados and The Honeycombs. Keith Forsey is a contemporary of producer Giorgio Moroder and has worked with acts such as Donna Summer.

Answer: Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman is the original bass player for the Rolling Stones. The book begins with his early childhood and how he eventually became a member of the band. There is candid insight into his personal relationships and his decades with the band. He also shares unique stories about other musicians of the British Invasion era.

There is no gossip about the other members of the band, but rather factual and interesting accounts detailing the rise of the band and the early struggles they endured on their rise to the top of the charts. Of particular interest is how they kept Bill's actual age under wraps from the press and teen magazines.

He was already close to 30 when he joined the band.

Answer: Michelle Phillips

Michelle Phillips wrote a very revealing and candid book which begins in her teen years as a model and goes through the formation and breakup of the Mamas and Papas. She details the band's struggles in New York and the Caribbean before heading to California. Once in California the vocal group finally got an audience with Lou Adler who agreed to produce and record the group after an impressive audition backed only by John's 12-string guitar.

She recounts the height of the celebrity of the band and the excesses which eventually tore them apart.

She also addresses her friendship with Cass Elliot and her marriage and split with Papa John Phillips. Spanky McFarland fronted Spanky and the Gang and later worked in reunion efforts of the Mamas and the Papas along with John Phillips' daughter by an earlier marriage, MacKenzie. Jill Gibson was a group replacement for Michelle when she and John briefly split up.

Answer: Eric Burdon

Eric Burdon was the singer for the Animals. He went on to work with the band War and released several solo projects. In his autobiography he recounts how the Animals got together and ended up being one of the primary British Invasion bands. He is candid about the breakup of the band, their occasional reunions and his life in the United States working and living on the West Coast during the late sixties and seventies.

He performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and and recalls his friendship with fellow musicians in an upbeat and sometimes humorous manner. Gerry Marsden fronted the Pacemakers, Peter Noone sang as Herman with his Hermits and Billy J. Kramer was the leader of The Dakotas.

Answer: Paul Simon

The book about Paul Simon starts with his youth in the city of New York, his meeting Art Garfunkel and their musical relationship. They began singing in the fifties as Tom and Jerry, appearing on Dick Clark's show singing "Hey Schoolgirl". Their musical direction shifted into the burgeoning folk scene.

After recording an unsuccessful acoustic album for Columbia, Art Garfunkel returned to college and Paul Simon headed for England. In the interim, Columbia put an electric band behind the folk music tracks and released "Sounds of Silence".

The song was starting to climb the charts before Paul even heard it. The book goes in detail about the success of the duo after the hit and Simon's solo career. Patrick Humphries has also written books about Bob Dylan, Elvis and Tom Waits. Roland Trone was Don in the duo Don and Juan. Jan Berry was Jan of Jan and Dean and Phil and Don were the Everly Brothers.

Answer: Glen Campbell

Glen's biography starts when he was a boy in Arkansas playing with various bands, his journey to Los Angeles and his solo stardom. Glen played guitar on sessions for everyone from Streisand to the Beach Boys. He recounts his days with "The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour" and his stardom after "Gentle on My Mind" began a string of hits for the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. He touches on his four marriages, his relationship with Tanya Tucker and his battle with drugs and alcohol.
Other books by Tom Carter chronicle the lives of Merle Haggard and Jimmy Carter.
Mason Williams worked with Campbell on his television show and recorded "Classical Gas". Guitarist Roy Clark is a veteran of "Hee-Haw". Porter Wagoner had a long-running show that launched the career of Dolly Parton.

Answer: Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn has been known as "The Coal Miner's Daughter". Her biography recounts her becoming a 13-year-old bride followed by her rise to stardom with over 15 number one Country Music hits. Her evolution from poverty to superstar status is inspirational at times and the story is related in very personal terms. George Vecsey has also co-authored books with Barbara Mandrell and Martina Navratilova. Reba McEntire's biography is titled "Reba: My Story" and was penned by Tom Carter. Tammy Wynette wrote "Stand by Your Man" about her life in the Country Music business and "Tammy Wynette: My Mother's Story" was written by Jackie Daly with Tom Carter. Dolly Parton wrote "Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business".

Answer: Dion Dimucci

One of Dion's many sixties hits was "The Wanderer" and he has assumed the nickname. "The Wanderer: Dion's Story" depicts his rise to stardom with The Belmonts and as a solo artist. He also reveals his struggles with heroin addiction and his conversion to being a born again Christian. Davin Seay is familiar with celebrity biographies.

He has written or co-authored books about Snoop Dogg, Erik Estrada and Al Green as well as the book "With God on Our Side: One Man's War Against an Evangelical Coup in America's Military". Freddy Cannon, Bobby Rydell and Frankie Avalon all enjoyed sixties pop music success.

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen has been backed by the E Street Band since the early seventies. Various members of the band have done session work with other artists when they're not touring or recording with The Boss. Drummer Max Weinberg replaced original drummer Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez in 1974 and has been the band leader for "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" for 15 years. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt has been a regular on "The Sopranos" since the late nineties.

He left the band in 1984 to try a solo career and rejoined ten years later. All the members of the band approve this book about the history of the group. Robert Santelli has also written several books about drummers, the blues, roots music and Woody Guthrie. Phil Collins was the drummer for Genesis before embarking on a solo career in the eighties. Bob Seger fronts the Silver Bullet Band and Rod Stewart was with Faces before "Maggie Mae" launched his solo career in the early seventies.