Backing Bands for Fifties and Sixties Artists Quiz

Answer: The Strangers

Fargo, North Dakota, native Robert Thomas Velline adopted the stage name Bobby Vee. In 1959 he released "Suzie Baby" which only made it to Number 77 on the US Billboard chart but garnered the attention of Liberty Records. His first release with Liberty was the 1960 single "What Do You Want?" but he did not achieve Top Ten success until "Devil or Angel" and "Rubber Ball" both reached Number Six in the US in 1961.
When Vee went on the road he formed a band he called The Shadows but learned it was the name of Cliff Richard's band so they changed their name to The Strangers. Bobby's 1967 Number Three single "Come Back When You Grow Up" was credited to Bobby Vee and The Strangers.
A musician who called himself Elston Gunnn and briefly toured with the band was actually Bob Dylan.
The Crickets backed Buddy Holly, The Comets were Bill Haley's band and The Stingers backed pianist B. Bumble.

Answer: Brian Poole

Brian Poole and the Tremoloes formed in Essex, England, in 1958. They began performing locally and their close harmonies brought them a wide audience. In 1962 Decca Records was looking for a Beat group to sign and chose Brian Poole and the Tremoloes over The Beatles. The following year both groups released a cover of "Twist and Shout" with Brian Poole and the Tremoloes' version reaching Number Four in England.
When Brian Poole left to pursue a solo career The Tremeloes switched to CBS Records and began a string of hits in 1967 with their rendition of a Cat Stevens song titled "Here Comes My Baby". The Tremeloes continued to perform for several decades. Poole never achieved solo recording success.
Ian Page was with Secret Affair. Dick James was a London singer and publisher who co-founded Northern Songs. Alexis Korner was associated with Blues Incorporated in the sixties.

Answer: The Midnighters

Hank Ballard was born John Henry Kendricks and fronted Hank Ballard and the Midnighters beginning in the early fifties. They had a Number 22 US single in 1954 with "Work With Me, Annie". They landed some songs on the Rhythm and Blues charts but didn't enjoy Billboard Top Forty Pop success until 1959 when "The Twist" reached Number 28. The song was originally the "B" side of "Teardrops on Your Letter" but when Chubby Checker's version topped the charts a few months later the original version by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters also climbed the charts. The group had other minor hits until disbanding in 1965.
Hank's cousin Florence Ballard was a founding member of The Supremes.
In the eighties Hank reformed The Midnighters and they performed until 2002. Hank passed the following year from throat cancer.
The Imperials backed Little Anthony. The Five Keys and The Ravens did not feature a front man in their name.

Answer: Hurricanes

Johnny and the Hurricanes originally formed in Toledo, Ohio, as The Orbits in 1957. Saxophonist Johnny Paris was born John Matthew Pocisk and adopted his stage name while in a band in school backing a Rockabilly singer. They signed a deal with Twirl Records and recorded a song titled "Crossfire" in an empty theater to enhance the reverb sound.

The record reached Number 23 in the US. They followed with "Red River Rock" which became a Top Ten single beginning a succession of Rock Instrumentals. Their last Top Forty single was "Beatnik Fly" based on "Blue Tail Fly". The band developed a following in Europe and in 1962 their opening act in Germany was The Beatles.

They toured Europe frequently with various members until 2005. Paris passed the following year.

Answer: Huey "Piano" Smith

New Orleans native Huey Pierce Smith was eight years old when he composed "Robertson Street Boogie" which was inspired by the street where he lived. He was influenced by the musicians performing in New Orleans and began working in clubs in his teens. He also did piano session work with artists such as Little Richard and Lloyd Price.

In 1957 he formed Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns and signed with Ace Records. Shortly after signing the group released a hit record with Smith's composition "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu".

In 1959 they scored their biggest US single with the Number Nine "Don't You Just Know It". Smith signed with Imperial Records to be able to work with Fats Domino but did not have any successful hits with that label. Baton Rouge native Jimmy Clanton recorded "Just A Dream" in 1958. Fats Domino was born in New Orleans. Dave Bartholomew was a musician and producer who worked with Fats Domino.

Answer: Little Joe and The Thrillers

Philadelphia native Joseph Cook possessed a unique falsetto voice and and was singing in Gospel groups and performing on radio by the time he was twelve years old. When Sam Cooke left The Soul Stirrers to pursue a solo career Joseph was asked to replace him.

He declined and formed Little Joe and The Thrillers, releasing "Do the Slop" on Okeh Records in 1957. The song was a regional hit in the Philadelphia area. Their second release, "Peanuts", written by Little Joe, went to Number 22 and earned the group a spot on American Bandstand.

Although they continued to release records for Okeh Records until 1961 they failed to enjoy another Top Forty hit. They switched to 20th Century Records before disbanding. Willie Lee Perryman released several hits including "Doctor Feelgood" (1961) as Dr. Feelgood and the Interns. Lee Andrews and The Hearts released "Long Lonely Night" in 1957. "Denise" was a 1963 single from Randy and The Rainbows.

Answer: Lulu

With Lulu as one of the singers The Luvvers was originally The Gleneagles. After playing the Glasgow clubs the group relocated to London, recorded an album titled "Something To Shout About" and began touring with American acts such as Gene Vincent and Gene Pitney. They then embarked on a European tour with groups including The Animals, The Hollies and Gerry and The Pacemakers. In 1965 they released the Number Eight "Leave a Little Love".
After they released "Shout" in 1966 Lulu embarked on a solo career and acted in "To Sir With Love" the following year. The remaining members of The Luvvers gradually left the group until it disbanded.
Marianne Faithfull was not known for having a backing group. Dusty Springfield was a member of The Springfields before going solo. Priscilla Maria Veronica White had 11 British Top Ten singles as Cilla Black between 1964 and 1971.

Answer: Duane Eddy

In 1958 "Rebel Rouser" was the first US Top Ten single by Duane Eddy and The Rebels. It was a release from his Number Five "Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel" LP. Duane Eddy began playing the guitar at age five and formed a duo called Jimmy and Duane. They met a disc jockey while doing a radio promo named Lee Hazelwood who co-wrote Eddy's 1957 single "Movin' n' Groovin'". Eddy specialized in playing the lower strings of the guitar which produced his signature twangy sound.

He would go on to chart 16 US Top Forty singles between 1957 and 1963 and appeared regularly on "The Dick Clark Show" (1957-1960). Duane Eddy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Link Wray was backed by The Wraymen. Booker T. and the MG's was the house band for Stax Records and had a hit in 1962 with "Green Onions". Gilmer was backed by The Fireballs.

Answer: True

Gerald "Gerry" Granahan began his career as a disc jockey in his native Pittston, Pennsylvania. He possessed a voice similar to Elvis and recorded demos to submit to him. Using the name Jerry Grant he recorded Rock-A-Billy songs for Atlantic Records without success.

In 1958 he recorded "No Chemise Please" for Sunbeam Records which peaked at Number 28 in the US. Granahan co-wrote "Click-Clack" with Dave Alldred and released it on Swan Records as Dickey Doo and the Don'ts because he was still under contract with another label.

After their appearance on "American Bandstand" "Click-Clack" went to Number 28. A follow up titled "Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu" reached Number 40 and they released more singles. Their last charting single was "Teardrops Will Fall" (1959) that made it to Number 61. Granahan turned to producing and worked with artists including Jay and the Americans, Patty Duke and The Angels.

He later served as vice-president of Dot Records.

Answer: Davie Allan

Growing up in Southern California in the early sixties guitarist Davie Allan formed a Surf Rock group in 1963 and signed with Curb Records. In 1965 "Apache '65" reached Number 64. Mike Curb formed a subsidiary called Sidewalk Records and entered into an agreement with Roger Corman to supply music for his Teen genre films. Davie formed The Arrows and the opening song from "The Wild Angels" titled "Blue's Theme" made it to Number 38 on the US charts and remained on the charts for 17 weeks. The group recorded music for other films including "Thunder Alley" (1967), "The Born Losers" (1967) and "Devil's Angels" (1967) while also releasing albums.
In 1994 Allan released his "Loud, Loose and Savage" album, reformed The Arrows and continued to do concerts into the 21st century.
Gene Vincent was a vocalist backed by The Blue Caps. Saxophonist Junior Walker had the All Stars backing him. Saxophonist King Curtis was backed by The Kingpins.