1950s Rock and Roll Artists Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bill Haley

Although Bill had been actively singing and recording since 1946 and formed The Saddlemen circa 1951, his rise to international acclaim didn't begin until 1952 when he chose Haley's Comet as a fitting name. I'm always amused when I see his group styled 'and ensemble'. I imagine the music moguls of the time scratching their heads as they attempted to categorise the genre.

Answer: Janis Martin

After her first public performances in talent contests, Janis appeared alongside artists such as Cowboy Copas and Sunshine Sue. In 1955, she began to tire of country music and was signed to RCA after they had heard her demo of 'Will You, Willyum'. Coupled with her own song "Drugstore Rock 'N' Roll", it sold 750,000 copies and proved to be the biggest hit of her career.

Her dancing onstage led her to be dubbed the female Elvis, but although Elvis' manager, Tom Parker tried to sign her as a boy-girl act with Elvis, her parents vetoed it as they felt that at 15 she was not ready for the grueling tour circuit.

Answer: Wanda Jackson

It was Elvis who recommended she learn rockabilly. She dated him for a while. She was considered to have brought glamour to the country music scene. When she was adamant about the type of sound she wanted, Ken Nelson put session musicians Merrill Moore and Buck Owens into the lineup.

Answer: The Jodimars

Marshall Lytle, Jody d'Ambrosia and Dick Richards were founder members of the Jodimars. They left their original band, The Comets, due to a dispute over the pay structure, which saw them on a wage rather than the money received by piano player Johnny Grande and steel guitarist Billy Williamson, who Bill Haley saw as partners.

They left their record label, Capitol, in 1958, and had no success with a couple of other labels.

Answer: Johnny and Dorsey Burnette and Paul Burlison

All three men were keen boxers, and it was through this that Paul Burlison first met Dorsey in 1949. As the Rock and Roll Trio their partnership was rocky due to stresses among them about the formation of the band. After three wins of a contest in 1956, they were signed by Coral records.

At this time they acquired a manager, Bandleader Henry Jerome and drummer Tony Austin, Carl Perkin' cousin. After another bust up, days before they were due to be in Alan Freed's movie, 'Rock, Rock, Rock', Dorsey left and Johnny Black, brother of Elvis's Bass player Bill, was drafted in.

Answer: Chuck Berry

His first break was down to meeting Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Chess records owner Leonard Chess in Chicago. His first recording, "Maybelline", went to number one and sold in excess of a million copies. He was still performing in 2012 at the age of 86.

Answer: Brenda Lee

At the age of ten, on her father's death, she became the breadwinner for her family. a year later she had her first break. Red Foley's show, "Ozark Jubilee" came to Augusta and a local DJ advised Foley to listen to her before the show. He was so surprised to hear her voice that he allowed her to sing "Jambalaya".

He and the audience were transfixed and she wasn't allowed to leave the stage until she had sung three more songs.

Answer: Kay Starr

Her oddly-named song, "Rock and Roll Waltz" was a satirical dig at the genre.

Answer: Warren Smith

His first recording for Sam Phillips Sun Label was "Rock and Roll Ruby". It was initially accredited to Johnny Cash, but later it was suggested it was written by George Jones and sold to Cash for $40. It went on to sell more copies than the first songs by Elvis, Cash and Carl Perkins.

Answer: Simon and Garfunkel

They were given the names by the studio which produced their song, "Hey Schoolgirl" in 1957. Their later efforts in 1958 weren't as successful, so they broke up and went to different colleges, reuniting in 1963 through a common interest in the folk scene.