BRI's Top Ten Hits of 1961 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Runaround Sue

Dion was singing on street corners long before he formed his group Dion and the Belmonts. He was on the same tour as Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, and was actually supposed to fly with them on the American Pie that fateful night.

Answer: Take Good Care of My Baby

Bobby Vee (or Velline as he was known then) and his group the Shadows got their first big break the night they were asked to step in to entertain the audience that had assembled to hear the musicians who lost their lives on 'the day the music died'. Bobby Vee was just 15 years old at the time, and in shock himself over the news of the plane crash. "Take Good Care of My Baby" was his first number one hit.

Answer: Will You Love Me Tomorrow

The Shirelles started singing together in high school, when they were only 16 and 17 years old. Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" became the first recording by a black female group to hit number one on the pop charts.

Answer: Pony Time

"Pony Time" was written by Don Covay and John Berry, and originally released by a band called The Goodtimers. Chubby Checker, who was making a career for himself singing dance songs, liked the song and released his own version. Checker's recording spent 16 weeks on the charts, spending some of that time in the number one spot.

Answer: My True Story

"My True Story" was the biggest hit for The Jive Five, and was supposedly based on the true story of when the girlfriend of one of the group members married his best friend. However, try as I might, I have been unable to find out which member this story is supposed to be about.

This is one of the few songs on the countdown lists that I don't know, which means that it doesn't get any air time on my Oldies radio station!

Answer: Runaway

Born Charles Weedon Westover, Del Shannon took his last name from that of wrestler Mark Shannon, and his first name from his favourite car, a Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Peaking at number one, "Runaway" was one of a number of chart hits that Del Shannon had in the 60s. Sadly, Shannon killed himself on Feb 8, 1990.

Answer: Crying

Roy Orbison received his first guitar as a birthday present from his father, when he was only 6 years old. He has had some of his biggest hits with sad, heart-broken songs like "Crying", which is ironic given the tragedy he later experienced in his own life.

In 1966 his wife was killed in a motorcycle accident, in 1968, 2 of his 3 children died in a fire at his home, and he himself died of a heart attack in 1989, at the age of only 52.

Answer: Michael

Combining folk music with wonderful vocal harmonies, The Highwaymen formed in 1958, under the name The Clansmen. They chose this name because of the heavy Irish/Scottish influence in their music and backgrounds, having absolutely no idea of the racist connotations associated with the name in the States.

They were encouraged to change their name, and chose The Highwaymen after the famous poem by Alfred Noyes.

Answer: I Fall to Pieces

Patsy Cline's break in show business came when she won an Arthur Godfrey talent show, singing the song "Walking After Midnight". Harlan Howard and Hank Cochran wrote "I Fall to Pieces", which turned out to be her biggest hit. Tragically, she too was killed in a plane crash at the age of 31.

Answer: Tossin' and Turnin'

Raised in an orphange where he learned to play piano, Bobby Lewis was adopted when he was 12 years old. He had a long and interesting career in music, playing with some of the biggest names of the time. He only had two number one hits himself though, "One Track Mind" and "Tossin' and Turnin'", which was written by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene.