American Pop Music, 1964-1969 Trivia Quiz

Answer: 96

? and the Mysterians hailed from Bay City, Michigan. The leader of the band was named Question Mark (Rudy Martinez). The song "96 Tears" featured an organ riff that was either catchy or maddening, depending upon the listener's point of view. The song reached the top of the charts in October 1966.

Answer: Summer Rain

Johnny Rivers, born in New York City, had several top 40 hits during the 1960s. The song "Summer Rain" featured the lyrics, "Everybody kept on playing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". "Secret Agent Man" and "Poor Side of Town" were hit singles in 1966, and "Seventh Son" charted in 1965.

Answer: diamond

Gary Lewis & the Playboys were based in the Los Angeles area and had a string of hit songs between 1965 and 1967. "This Diamond Ring" climbed to the top of the Billboard charts in late 1965.

Answer: Sunday Will Never Be the Same

"Sunday Will Never Be the Same" was a top ten hit in the summer of 1967 for the group Spanky & Our Gang. The Turtles became famous for their catchy melodies and clever lyrics. "Happy Together" topped the singles charts for several weeks in 1967.

Answer: Eddie Brigati

"How Can I Be Sure?" reached number four on the Billboard singles charts in 1967, and it is perhaps Brigati's greatest vocal performance. Felix Cavaliere played keyboards for the Rascals, Gene Cornish was the guitarist, and Dino Danelli played drums for the band.

Answer: Mary Wells

Mary Wells was born in Detroit in 1943. Her biggest hit, "My Guy", was written by the legendary Smokey Robinson. Kim Weston and Tammi Terrell would each later have hit songs in duets with Marvin Gaye. Martha Reeves was the lead singer for the Vandellas, a highly successful group.

Answer: Where Did Our Love Go?

The Supremes featured the vocal talents of Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard. Their hit "Where Did Our Love Go?" reached number one in August 1964. "Baby Love" became a number one song in November 1964. "Stop! In the Name of Love" reached the top in 1965, and "You Keep Me Hangin' On" went gold in 1966.

Answer: Chicago

The Buckinghams, a Windy City product, were led by the vocal talents of Carl Giammarese. "Kind of a Drag" went to number one in 1967, and the group followed up with several other top twenty hits, including "Don't You Care" and "Hey Baby."

Answer: Born to Be Wild

Steppenwolf, a Los Angeles-based band, had a major hit with "Born to Be Wild." The song became a motorcycle anthem after it was featured in the movie "Easy Rider." The song's lyrics were written by Mars Bonfire, a Canadian. "Magic Carpet Ride" would later become the band's second-biggest hit. John Kay was the lead vocalist on both records.

Answer: honey bunch

Led by the fabulous singer Levi Stubbs, the Detroit-based Four Tops had several other top twenty hits in the 1960s, including "Reach Out" and "It's the Same Old Song"." Their song "I Can't Help Myself" was number one for two weeks in 1965.

Answer: Roulette

Roulette Records had a psychedelic design which looked "groovy" while spinning on the turntable. Tommy James and his band had several top twenty hits from 1967 to 1969, including "Mony Mony" and "I Think We're Alone Now."

Answer: Suspicious Minds

"Suspicious Minds", written by Mark James, helped launch a comeback for Presley. The song was later used in the soundtrack of the Richard Gere movie "Breathless." "In the Ghetto" was also released in 1969, peaking at number three on the charts. "Kentucky Rain" and "The Wonder of You" were released in 1970.

Answer: Rag Doll

"Rag Doll" reached the number one spot on the Billboard charts for two weeks in July 1964. "Save It For Me" was the follow-up single to "Rag Doll", and it also made the top ten leaderboard. "Let's Hang On" was a hit in 1965, and "Opus 17" was a top twenty song in 1966.

Answer: Turn! Turn! Turn!

The song "Turn! Turn! Turn!" took most of its lyrics directly from the Book of Ecclesiastes, 3:1. The folk singer Pete Seeger wrote the music, and the Byrds electrified that music. It reached the number one spot in the charts in December 1965. "Mr. Tambourine Man" (1965) and "My Back Pages" (1967) were composed by Bob Dylan.

Answer: Wedding Bell Blues

"Aquarius" was a monster hit, staying in the number one spot for six weeks in the spring of 1969. "Wedding Bell Blues", written by Laura Nyro, peaked at number one in November 1969. "Up Up and Away" was a hit in 1967, and "Stoned Soul Picnic" made the charts in 1968. "One Less Bell to Answer" became popular in 1970.