1950s and '60s Instrumental Hits [Vol. 5] Quiz

Answer: Hank Mizell

"Jungle Rock" was written by Mizell/Bobo/Collins/Simonton. It did not chart in the US or UK on release in 1958 or on reissue in 1959. It peaked at number three on the UK singles chart for Hank Mizell when re-released in 1976. It did not chart in the US.

Hank Mizell was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA, in 1923. He was 53 years old when "Jungle Rock" entered the UK singles chart but he could not be found to appear on "Top Of The Pops". He was eventually found in Tennessee and persuaded to come over to the UK to appear on TV. He died in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA, in 1992 aged 69.

Answer: Sandy Nelson

"Teen Beat" was written by Arthur Egnoian/Sandy Nelson. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for Sandy Nelson in 1959. It peaked at number nine on the UK singles chart the same year.

Sandy Nelson was born Sander L. Nelson in Santa Monica, California, USA, in 1938. His first recording was the best forgotten "Geronimo" with a group named The Renegades which included future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston. Nelson also played as a session man on such records as "To Know Him Is To Love Him" The Teddy Bears (1958), "Alley-Oop" The Hollywood Argyles (1960) and "A Thousand Stars" Kathy Young with the Innocents (1960).

Answer: Johnny and The Hurricanes

"Beatnik Fly" was written by T. King/I. Mack. It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Johnny and The Hurricanes in 1960. It peaked at number eight on the UK singles chart the same year.

Johnny Paris was born John Matthew Pocisk in Walbridge, Ohio, USA, in 1940. Johnny and The Hurricanes started as The Orbits in Toledo in 1957. Their first hit was "Crossfire" which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. The group were very popular in Europe where in 1962 they played the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, with The Beatles as the opening act. They had six Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart between 1959 and 1961, four of which made the Top Ten.

Answer: Duane Eddy

"Because They're Young" was written by Aaron Schroeder/Don Costa/Wally Gold. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for Duane Eddy in 1960. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year and was his biggest hit on both charts.

Duane Eddy was born in Corning, New York, USA, in 1938. His first hit was "Movin' N' Groovin'" which peaked at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957. Between 1957 and 1962 he had six Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 three of which made the Top Ten. On the UK singles chart between 1959 and 1975 he had 16 Top 20 hits of which seven made the Top Ten. He also featured on the 1986 cover version of "Peter Gunn" by Art Of Noise which peaked at number eight on the UK singles chart.

Duane Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2008.

Answer: The Shadows

"Kon-Tiki" was written by Michael Carr. It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for The Shadows in 1961. It did not chart in the US.

The Shadows at the time were Hank Marvin (lead guitar), Jet Harris (bass guitar), Tony Meehan (drums) and Bruce Welch (rhythm guitar). Between 1960 and 1980 they had 24 Top 20 hits, 17 of which were Top Ten hits and five of those were number one hits. In their spare time they also backed Cliff Richard and had more number one hits with him.

Tony Meehan left The Shadows in 1961 followed by Jet Harris in 1962. They teamed up and had three Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart in 1963. Their first record "Diamonds" was number one for three weeks.

Answer: Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen

"The Green Leaves Of Summer" was written by Paul Francis Webster/Dimitri Tiomkin. It peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart for Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen in 1962. It peaked at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Kenny Ball was born Kenneth Daniel Ball in Basildon, Essex, England, in 1930. After being in a number of prominent bands he formed his own in 1958. Their first hit on the UK singles chart was "Samantha" which peaked at number 13 in 1961. Later that year they had their biggest hit when "Midnight In Moscow" peaked at number two on the UK singles chart. It also peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

There was a jazz revival in the UK in the early '60s and Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen's Dixieland style was at the forefront of it, along with Mr. Acker Bilk and His Paramount Jazz Band.

Answer: Jet Harris & Tony Meehan

"Applejack" was written by Vandyke/De Mare. It peaked at number four on the UK singles chart for Jet Harris & Tony Meehan in 1963, It did not chart in the US.

Both Jet Harris and Tony Meehan left a very successful instrumental group, The Shadows. Tony Meehan left in 1961 and went to work at Decca records UK and Jet Harris left in 1962 and went solo. Tony Meehan was at the Decca Beatles audition which they failed and Brian Epstein wanted him to record the boys so they had some demos. After Meehan had made some derogatory remarks about The Fab Four's audition, the plan was dropped.

Jet Harris had some solo chart success then teamed up with Tony Meehan and recorded "Diamonds" which was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart in 1963. This was the first recording session that Jimmy Page played on. Harris later had a road accident and they split up.

Answer: The Tornados

"Dragonfly" was written by Wain/Gray/Asquith. It peaked at number 41 on the UK singles chart for The Tornados in 1963. It did not chart in the US.

The Tornados' classic line up was George Bellamy (rhythm guitar), Heiz Burt (bass guitar), Alan Caddy (lead guitar), Clem Cattini (drums) and Roger LaVern (keyboards). After their world wide 1962 hit "Telstar", The Tornados only managed one more UK Top Ten hit with "Globetrotter" which peaked at number five. "Dragonfly" was their last UK hit.

Heinz Burt went solo in 1963 and had a number five hit with a tribute to Eddie Cochran "Just Like Eddie"; four minor hits later he was gone. By 1965 all of the classic line up had left the group and the drummer Clem Cattini became a very sought after and successful session man. He has appeared on more UK number one hits than anyone else.

Answer: Sounds Orchestral

"Cast Your Fate To The Wind" was written by Vince Guaraldi/Carel Werber. It peaked at number five on the UK singles chart for Sounds Orchestral in 1964. It peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.

Sounds Orchestral were a British studio-based group, assembled by composer/arranger/songwriter/record producer John Schroeder in 1964, with Ken Clare (drums), Johnny Pearson (piano) and Tony Reeves (bass). They would be supplemented by various musicians at different times. Their only other chart success was a UK number 43 hit with "Moonglow" in 1965 and a US number 76 hit with "Canadian Sunset" in 1965.

Answer: The Ventures

"Hawaii Five-O" was written by Mort Stevens. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Ventures in 1969. It did not chart in the UK

The Ventures were formed in Tacoma, Washington, USA, in 1958 by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. They recruited others until they had the well known line up of Bob Bogle, Nokie Edwards, Howie Johnson and Don Wilson which lasted until 1962. There have been more than dozen band members since then.

The Ventures have sold in excess of 100,000,000 records and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. They have earned the sobriquet, "The Band that Launched a Thousand Bands".