1950s Rock'n'Roll/Rockabilly Trivia Quiz

Answer: Benny Joy

Benny Joy (1935 - 1988) made some fine rockabilly with Big John Taylor on the guitar around 1955-1958. For example songs like "Steady with Betty", "Spin the Bottle", "Roll the Juke Box Rock", and the one that for some reason became a hit in Italy: "Crash the Party". All of his stuff has been re-released in Europe by White Label Records, Collector Records and Bear Family Records.

Answer: Johnny Carroll

Johnny Carrell (1937 - 1995) recorded some brilliant, wild rockabilly for Decca in 1956, like "Crazy, Crazy Lovin'", "Wild, Wild Women" and "Hot Rock". His name was misspelled as CARROLL on his first release (his name was CARRELL with an E really), but he didn't bother to correct it, so his further releases were also as CARROLL. Johnny continued performing until his death with his beautiful ex-model wife Judy Lindsay.

He was a fine guitar player as well; he had been taught by Cliff Gallup, Gene Vincent's guitarist.

Answer: Bobby Charles

The song was written by the white Cajun blues musician Bobby Charles in 1955. He also recorded the first version of the song himself for Chess Records. His version was a minor local hit in New Orleans, but (as everyone knows) Bill Haley made a monster hit of the song in 1956.

Answer: Teddy Redell

Teddy Redell recorded songs like "Knocking on the Backside", "Pipeliner", "Gold Dust", "Can't You See" and "Judy", the last of which was covered by Elvis Presley.

His recordings were first re-released in Holland on Collector and White Label. They have been re-released since then on many re-issue labels.

Answer: Al Ferrier

Al Ferrier and his Boppin' Billies were an early rockabilly band from Louisiana. Al was the singer, and lead guitar was played by his brother Bryan Ferrier.

Answer: Columbia

The first single by the Everly Brothers was "Keep A-Lovin' Me" in 1956 on Columbia. It wasn't a hit. They started their hit streak on Cadence label in 1957 with "Bye Bye Love", and when they switched to Warner Brothers in 1960, they had a monster with "Cathy's Clown".

Answer: Hank Ballard

"The Twist" was written by and first recorded by Hank Ballard (of The Midnighters fame) in 1959. Chubby Checker covered the song the following year and took it to number one on the charts.

Answer: teacher

Ray Campi is a school teacher, although he's done many other things in his life as well. None of which are mafioso, pilot, or magician, though (but who knows for sure?.. well, Ray does, of course). Ray Campi has become one of the most famous slapping bass players on the rockabilly scene... and yet his original 50s recordings like "Caterpillar" on TNT label did not feature a slapping bass at all, they had an electric bass. Useless trivia for you there :)

Answer: red

Sonny Burgess dyed his hair bright red and wore a red suit and played a red guitar in his shows with his band the Pacers. Well, why would that be surprising? If you've ever heard his Sun recordings of "We Wanna Boogie", "Ain't Got A Thing", "Red Headed Woman", etc.... a wild man he was, for sure.

Answer: Jerry Allison

Jerry Allison played behind Buddy Holly, and in my opinion added to the sound with his cool drumming.