60s One Hit Wonders Vol.17 Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Singing Nun

Billboard number one, December 7, 1963. Jeanine Deckers was born in Wavre, Belgium in 1935. She REALLY was a nun, part of The Dominican Fichermont Convent in Belgium. The song, recorded in French, was one of only two Belgian hits to make it to number one on Billboard's Top 100.

She never duplicated her success, and after many years of commercial failure, and financial problems, she unfortunately committed suicide in 1985.

Answer: The Silkie

Billboard number ten, November 27, 1965. This British imitation of Peter, Paul and Mary, were managed by Brian Epstein. They actually released this song as a cover of The Beatles version which was out at the same time. Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison assisted on the recording in various capacities.

This was the only time they helped out on a recording by the group, and not coincidentally, the only single for The Silkie that ever charted.

Answer: Robert Parker

Billboard number seven, June 18, 1966. Parker was born in New Orleans in 1930. He played the saxophone professionally from about 1949, and played with the likes of Fats Domino and Huey "Piano" Smith in the 50's before going out solo.
This song was the pinnacle of his success. He was inducted into the "Louisiana Musicians' Hall Of Fame" in 2007.

Answer: Miriam Makeba

Billboard number 12, November 25, 1967. Miriam was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1932. Makeba has been performing since the 1950's and also has been politically active. She was married at different times to Hugh Masekela (Grazing in The Grass), and Black Panthers leader Stokely Carmichael.

She also testified at the United Nations in 1963, speaking out against the Apartheid policies of South Africa, for which she had her South African citizenship revoked by that government. She appeared with Paul Simon during his Graceland tour in 1987, and returned to South Africa at the behest of Nelson Mandela in 1990.

As of 2008, she is still actively touring. Pretty good for a one hit wonder at age 76.

Answer: Iron Butterfly

Billboard number 30, August 24, 1968. They were considered either "heavy metal" or "psychedelic" or both, depending on who you spoke to. It is widely believed however, that this was the point where psychedelic evolved into heavy metal. As far as the title, there are various stories of how the title was changed from "In The Garden Of Eden", or "In The Garden Of Venus".

These stories involve one or more members allegedly being drunk and slurring the words, or not hearing correctly in the headphone during recording, but in any event, this 17 minute long track took up the whole second side of their initial album.

Answer: Smith

Billboard number five, November 1, 1969. Originally from St. Louis, they were discovered in Los Angeles by Del Shannon, and had their only charted hit with this song. The group disbanded about a year later.

Answer: Barry and The Tamerlanes

Billboard number 21, December 7, 1963. A doo-wop group from California, they were led by Barry DeVorzon, who had written the hit song "Dreamin" for Johnny Burnette in 1960. This song was originally written for the Cascades of "Rhythm Of The Rain" fame, but they declined to do it, so Barry did it himself with the help of singers Terry Smith and Bodie Chandler. Barry also went on to a successful career as a composer, and also signed The Association to their first contract.

Answer: The New Vaudeville Band

Billboard number one, December 3, 1966. In the tradition of Ron Dante of "The Archies" fame, this song was put together by songwriter Geoff Stephens, and with the help of some studio musicians, was able to re-create the sounds of vaudeville type songs of the 1920s. In reality the band never existed.

Answer: Jeannie C. Riley

Billboard number one, September 21, 1968. Jeannie was actually a country singer, and was the first woman to have a song hit the top of the country and pop charts at the same time, a feat not repeated until Dolly Parton did it in 1981. The song itself spawned a movie in 1978, and a TV show in 1981.

Although Riley had significant Top 10 success on the country charts, she could never crack the Billboard Top 40 Pop charts again.

Answer: The Flying Machine

Billboard number five, November 22, 1969. Largely a studio band, the group never cracked the UK charts with this song, but made it here in the US. The song was co-written by Ton McCauley and Geoff Stevens.