A Roy Orbison Retrospective IV Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. To which music Hall Of Fame was Roy Orbison NOT elected by 2000?

Answer: Rhythm And Blues Hall Of Fame

In 1987, Roy Orbison was initiated into both the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame. In 1989, he entered the Song Writers Hall Of Fame. And in 2014, he was elected to America's Pop Music Hall Of Fame. These honors speak to his broad appeal as well as to his singing and song writing skills.

2. In which year was Roy Orbison born?

Answer: 1936

Roy Kelton Orbison was born on April 23, 1936 in Vernon, Texas. His parents were Orbie Lee Orbison, a mechanic and oil well driller, and Nadine (Schultz) Orbison, a nurse.

3. Roy Orbison, lyrics, and Joe Melson, music, collaborated on many songs. Which of these songs did they NOT write together?

Answer: Oh, Pretty Woman (1964)

"Only The Lonely" was the first Orbison song to chart on the Billboard Top 40 Pop Hits, reaching Number Two in 1960. "Running Scared" was his first Number One hit on that list in 1961. "Blue Bayou" was a 1963 song that did not reach that chart. "Oh, Pretty Woman" was an Orbison collaboration with Bill Dees in 1964 that charted at Number One, Orbison's second, and last, Number One song on the Billboard Top 40 Pop Hits.

4. Which Roy Orbison song has these lyrics: "I'm just a bellhop, you see I can't stop / And tell her what I wanna say / That one of these days, I'm gonna have money / She'll wanna be my ever lovin' honey. / It won't be long, just wait and see"?

Answer: Uptown

"Uptown" was a 1959 song by Orbison (lyrics) and Joe Milson (music). The lyrics continue: "I'll have a big car, fine clothes, and then I'll be uptown / In penthouse number three /Uptown, just my baby and me." "Uptown" only reached Number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 list.

5. Roy Orbison had 22 songs reach the Billbord Top 40 Pop Hits lists between 1960 and 1966. His only other Top 40 song charted in 1989. What significant event(s) in his life may have contributed to that gap?

Answer: The deaths of his first wife and two of his sons

On June 6, 1966, his wife Claudette (Frady) was killed in an accident in Tennessee when the two were riding home on their motorcycles. On September 28, 1968, while he was touring in England, Orbison learned that his home in Tennessee had burned to the ground, killing his two oldest sons.

He was never diagnosed with throat cancer, nor did he feud with his collaborators. In 1965 he did break a foot when he fell off a motorcycle, but performed the same night in a cast.

6. Bill Dees wrote the music and Roy Orbison the words to many hit songs. Which of these did they NOT write?

Answer: Pretty Paper

"Pretty Paper," written by Willie Nelson, reached Number 15 on the Billboard Top 40 Pop Hits. The other three songs written with Bill Dees also charted: "Oh, Pretty Woman" (1964) made Number One; "It's Over" (1964) hit Number Nine; and "Ride Away" (1965) got to Number 25. Orbison and Dees worked together on many other songs including "Breakin' Up Is Breakin' My Heart" (Number 31 in 1966) and "Twinkle Toes" (Number 39 in 1966), the last two of his 22 Top 40 hits between 1960 and 1966.

7. Which Roy Orbison tune begins with these lyrics: "Hello, may I have this dance with you? / How have you been, girl? / Hold me, and then girl / Just let me look at you. / Tell me, now, is it true?"

Answer: (Say) You're My Girl

"(Say) You're My Girl," an Orbison collaboration with Bill Dees, squeezed into the Billboard Top 40 Pop Hit list in 1965 at Number 39. The singer has met a girl he's been in love with for years, a girl who was the love of his best friend. As he commiserates with her at their breakup, he also confesses his long-standing love for her.

8. In 1988, Roy Orbison's career seemed to be invigorated when he joined a group with four other established stars. What was the name of that supergroup?

Answer: Traveling Wilburys

The Traveling Wilburys was a remarkable group put together by George Harrison, and including Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison. Their first album, "The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1" (1988) won the Grammy Award in 1989 for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group.

9. In 1988 Roy Orbison recorded his last solo album. What was the name of the album?

Answer: Mystery Girl

Just as his career was taking off again, Roy Orbison passed away from a coronary event on December 6, 1988. His album "Mystery Girl" was released posthumously in 1989. It became a mega-hit worldwide: Number 1 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart, the Dutch Mega Albums Chart, the Norwegian VG-lista Albums chart, and the Swedish Albums Chart; Number Two on the UK Albums chart; Number Three on the Swiss Albums Chart; Number Four on the Austrian Albums Chart and the German Media Control Albums Chart; Number Five on the United States Billboard 200; Number Seven on the New Zealand Albums Chart; and even Number 89 on the Japanese Oricon Albums chart.

10. What was Roy Orbison's last charted song on the Billboard Top 40 Pop Hits chart that has these lyrics: "Every time I look into your lovely eyes, / I see a love that money just can't buy. / One look from you, I drift away. / I pray that you are here to stay."

Answer: You Got It

On December 6, 1988, Roy Orbison died of a heart attack at age 52. "You Got It," written by Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty, was released posthumously in 1989. It charted at Number Nine on the Billboard Top 40 pop Hits list in 1989, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Pop Vocal Performance--Male.

Source: Author lowtechmaster

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor 1nn1 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

This Roy Orbison Retrospective includes only a few songs. It centers on Orbison and his career. How many of these questions can you answer?

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>