1960s Music: Male Groups Trivia Quiz

Answer: I'm a Believer

Composed by Neil Diamond, "I'm a Believer" stayed there for seven weeks and it hit number one in the UK for four weeks during January and February 1967. "Last Train to Clarksville" topped the Billboard Hot 100 on November 5, 1966. "Daydream Believer" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1967 and it was their last number one hit in the USA. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" topped at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The Monkees consisted of Davy Jones (1945-2012) who was born in Manchester and had played the role of the Artful Dodger in the original London and Broadway productions of "Oliver!" as a 15 year old. Michael Nesmith (b. 1942) is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer and philanthropist. Peter Tork (b. 1942) is an American musician and actor who was the keyboardist and bass guitarist of the group. Micky Dolenz (b. 1945) is an American actor, musician, television director, radio personality and was the drummer of the group.

Answer: The Kinks

The Kinks was formed in North London and consisted of brothers Dave and Ray Davies, Mick Avory and Pete Quaife. "You Really Got Me" was their third single. In 1965 "All Day and All of the Night" reached number two in the UK and number seven in the USA. "Tired of Waiting for You" (1965) reached number one in the UK and number six in the USA.
The Troggs formed in Hampshire in 1964 and their "Wild Thing" peaked at number number two in the UK and number one in the USA in 1966.
The Yardbirds formed in London in 1963 with "For Your Love" reached number two in the UK and number six in the USA in 1965. Eric Clapton was one of the original members of the group.
The Who also from London with "I Can't Explain" peaked at number eight in the UK in 1965 and was much less successful in the USA at number 93.

Answer: I Get Around

"I Get Around" was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love and was released in May 1964. It was their first number one hit. Their second number one hit was "Help Me Rhonda" in 1965. Also in 1965 "California Girls" peaked at number three. "Good Vibrations" was their last number one in the decade being in 1966.

They did have another number one hit in 1988 with "Kokomo" which appeared in the Tom Cruise movie "Cocktail". The group consisted of the three brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine and Mike Love.

Their original group name was "The Pendletones".

Answer: The Drifters

The Drifters started out in 1953 and over the years there have been numerous changes to the group. However, in 1960 it was with Ben E. King on the vocals of "Save the Last Dance for Me". The song was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. The inspiration of the song was from the wedding of Doc Pomus as he was wheelchair-bound and watching his bride dancing with guests.
The Everly Brothers had "Cathy's Clown" at number one for 5 weeks in May-June 1960. Percy Faith and His Orchestra had "Theme from A Summer Place" as number one for 9 weeks (M-A-M) also in 1960.
"Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs was number one in November 1960.

Answer: Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter

The group was made up of Keith Hopwood, Carl Green, Peter Noone, Derek Leckenby and Barry Whitwam. Derek and Barry had replaced Alan Wrigley and Steve Titterington from the original group. "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" was first sung by the actor Tom Courtenay on British television and became a popular birthday song substituting the "Mrs. Brown" by Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Jones depending on the surname of the birthday girl.

However, the best known version of the song is the one by Herman's Hermits. "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am" was the groups second number one hit in the USA in 1965. "I'm into Something Good" was number one in the UK and number 13 in the USA in late 1964. "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" reached number two in the USA in 1965.

Answer: The Four Seasons

Eventually The Four Lovers became The Four Seasons (they took the new name from a bowling alley) with Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DiVito and Nick Massi. Their other number one hits were "Big Girls Don't Cry" (November 1962), "Walk Like a Man" (March 1963) and "Rag Doll" (July 1964).

In 1976 they also had a number one hit with "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)". Jersey Boys was a film based on The Four Seasons and was directed and produced by Clint Eastwood in 2014. The Diamonds were a Canadian group and their song "Little Darlin'" reached number two in 1957.

The Hollywood Argyles had a number one hit with "Alley Oop" in 1960.

Answer: Proud Mary

The group were originally The Blue Velvets, then the Golliwogs and eventually Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) in 1968. The group consisted of John and Tom Fogerty, Doug Clifford and Stu Cook.
"Proud Mary" reached number two in March, "Bad Moon Rising" (number two in April ), "Green River" (number two in July) and "Down on the Corner" (number three in December). The band had five number two hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 but never a number one. The other number twos were "Lookin' Out My Back Door" and "Good Golly, Miss Molly" both in 1970.

Answer: The Temptations

The Temptations started out in 1960 under the name "The Elgins". The original members were Otis Williams, Elbridge Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams. Dave Ruffin replaced Bryant in 1964 and became their lead vocalist on a number of their big hits. Their other number one hits were "I Can't Get Next to You" (1969), "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (1971) and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972).
Gary Lewis (son of Jerry Lewis) and the Playboys had a number one hit in February 1965 with "This Diamond Ring". The Four Tops are from Detroit and for 2 weeks in June-July 1965 had a number one hit with "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)".
The McCoys were from Union City, Indiana and with "Hang on Sloopy" had a number one hit in October 1965.

Answer: The Doors

The Doors were out of Los Angeles are consisted of Jim Morrison (vocalist), Ray Manzarek (keyboardist),Robby Krieger (guitarist) and John Densmore (drummer). They had two singles reaching number one and the first was "Light My Fire" (July 1967).
The band Them wwas a band from Belfast, Northern Ireland formed in 1964 which launched the musical career of Van Morrison (in 2015 he became Sir George Ivan Morrison).
The Miracles were a rhythm and blues vocal group from Detroit, Michigan formed in 1955 who had a number one hit with "Tears of a Clown" (1970).
Jefferson Airplane were an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965.

Answer: Gerry and the Pacemakers

Gerry and the Pacemakers first three singles that reached number one in the UK were "How Do You Do It?", "I Like It" and You'll Never Walk Alone" all in 1963. The group was originally formed in 1959 and with a small adjustment finished up with of Gerry Marsden, his brother Freddie, Les Chadwick and Les Maguire. Their highest chart topper in the USA was ""Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" at number four in May 1964.
The Merseybeats emerged from Liverpool and also performed at The Cavern Club with the The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers in the early 60s. They had a number of top 40 hits in the UK charts from 1963-1965.
The Searchers were also a Liverpool group and they were the second group from Liverpool (after The Beatles) to have a hit in the USA with "Needles and Pins" reaching number 13 in 1964.
The Beatles (The Fab Four) need no introduction as they have numerous number one hits in the USA (besides the UK) with the first being "I Want To Hold Your Hand" in February 1964. They had a total of 20 number one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 from 1964-1970.
The achievement of Gerry and the Pacemakers of three first releases reaching number one was equaled by a fellow Liverpool band Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984 and then beaten by The Spice Girls with six consecutive first singles at number one during 1996-1997.