Band Leaders and Their Signature Tunes Quiz

Answer: Frankie Carle

Frankie Carle was a pianist who was nicknamed "The Wizard of the Keyboard". He was a bandleader during the 1940s and 1960s. His most famous composition was the tune 'Sunrise Serenade' which sold over one million copies when it was first released in 1939.

Answer: Glenn Miller

Glenn Miller was a trombonist and big band leader. Glenn Miller and His Orchestra was the band with the best selling recordings in the US from 1939-1942. 'Moonlight Serenade' was composed by Miller and became his signature song. The song was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1991. During the Second World War Glenn Miller served in the US Army Air Force and went missing during a flight over the English Channel in 1944.

Answer: Les Brown

Les Brown led the big band Les Brown and His Band of Renown from 1938 until 2000; following his death in early 2001 his son Les Jr. took over the band. The band's signature song was 'Sentimental Journey' which was written by Les Brown and Ben Homer with lyrics by Bud Green.

The band originally recorded the song in 1944 with Doris Day as the singer and when it was released in 1945 the song became Doris Day's first number one record.

Answer: Count Basie

Count Basie was born William James Basie in 1904 and took on the nickname "Count" while playing with Walter Page's Famous Blue Devils. In 1935 he formed his own big band, the Count Basie Orchestra, which he led for almost 50 years. 'One O'clock Jump' which became Basie's signature tune, was developed from an improvisation session while the band had some time to fill one evening.

Answer: George Shearing

George Shearing was a jazz pianist who was born in London and emigrated to the US during the 1940s. He formed a jazz quintet called the George Shearing Quintet who recorded many records with MGM, Discovery and Capitol Records. 'Lullaby of Birdland' was written by Shearing in 1952 and became one of his biggest hits.

Answer: Lawrence Welk

Lawrence Welk was an American acordionist who led a big band during the 1930s and 1940s before hosting 'The Lawrence Welk Show' on TV in the 1950s which featured classic big band music along with more popular tunes of the era. 'Bubbles in the Wine' was one of his songs, the title of which references Welk's style of music which was often referred to as "champagne music" as it was light and bubbly in style.

Answer: Wayne King

Wayne King was an American bandleader and songwriter who was born in 1901. He was known for writing waltzes and became known as "the Waltz King". 'The Waltz You Saved For Me' was written in 1930 and became the song King used to close his set.

Answer: Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington was born in 1899 and was a jazz pianist who led his own jazz orchestra from 1923 until his death in 1974. 'Take The "A" Train' was composed by Billy Strayhorn and became a hit for Ellington's band in 1941 from which date it became their signature theme song.

Answer: Tommy Dorsey

Tommy Dorsey was a jazz trombonist and big band leader. He originally played in a band he co-led with his brother Jimmy but the brothers went their separate ways in the 1930s and Tommy went on to lead his own successful big band. The song 'I'm Getting Sentimental Over You' was written by George Bassman with lyrics by Ned Washington and was first performed in 1932.

It became the song most associated with Dorsey who played the trombone solo when he performed it with his band.

Answer: Woody Herman

Woody Herman was born in 1913 and was a jazz clarinettist and saxophonist. He led a number of bands during his career which lasted from the 1930s until his death in 1987. 'Blue Flame' was one of his biggest hits and was number five in the US charts when it was released in 1941.