Dead? It's OK It's Only A Song Quiz

Answer: Drowned in a river

"Running Bear" was a number one hit for three weeks on the US pop chart in 1960. It was number one for two weeks on the UK chart the same year.

The song was written by J. P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) who died along with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens in 1959. Indian sounds were made by Country star George Jones and The Big Bopper who also sang backing vocals. Johnny Preston died of heart failure aged 71 in 2011 after bypass surgery in 2010.

Answer: To retrieve her boyfriend's high school ring

Mark Dinning had a number one hit for two weeks on the US pop chart with "Teen Angel" in 1960. It reached number 37 on the UK chart the same year.

The song was written by Mark Dinning's sister Jeannie. It was his only US Top 40 entry. It was also his only entry on the UK chart. He died from a heart attack aged 52 in 1986.

Answer: $1000

"Tell Laura I love Her" was a number seven hit on the US pop chart for Ray Peterson in 1960. It did not chart in the UK. A cover version by UK singer Ricky Valance was number one for three weeks on the UK chart in 1960 in spite of being banned by the BBC. It did not chart in the US.

Thousands of Ray Peterson's original version were made but Decca UK decided the song was in bad taste and they were destroyed. EMI were not so squeamish and recorded Ricky Valance's version.
Ray Peterson died of cancer aged 65 in 2005. Ricky Valance was born in 1939.

Answer: 1203

The Everly Brothers had a number eight hit with "Ebony Eyes" on the US pop chart in 1960. It was the B-side of "Walk Right Back" which reached number seven on the US pop chart. It was a double A-side number one for three weeks on the UK chart the same year.

"Walk Right Back" was written by Cricket Sonny Curtis born in 1937 and "Ebony Eyes" was written by John D. Loudermilk born in 1934. Don Everly was born in 1937, Phil Everly was born in 1939.

Answer: Pat Boone

Pat Boone had a number one hit for one week on the US pop chart with "Moody River" in 1961. It reached number 18 on the UK chart the same year.

Written and originally recorded by a Dot records label-mate of Pat Boone, Chase Webster. It was also recorded by the other three alternative singers. Johnny Burnette died from drowning after a boating accident aged 30 in 1964, Frank Sinatra died from a heart attack aged 82 in 1998, Johnny Rivers was born in 1942. Pat Boone born in 1934 was the only one that hit the charts with the song.

Answer: Big Bad John

Jimmy Dean had a number one hit for five weeks on the US pop chart with "Big Bad John" in 1961. It reached number two on the UK chart the same year.

Written by Jimmy Dean/Roy Acuff the song is about a man alone who is rumoured to have killed a man over a woman. He is working as a miner when there is a cave in and because of his heroism 20 men escape but he is doomed when the mine collapses on him. Roy Acuff died from heart failure aged 89 in 1992. Jimmy Dean died of natural causes aged 81 in 2010.

Answer: The Shangri-Las

The Shangri-Las had a number one hit for one week on the US pop chart with "Leader Of The Pack" in 1964. It reached number 11 on the UK chart in 1965, number three in 1972 and number seven on two different record labels in 1976 spending a total of 44 weeks on the UK chart.

Written by George Morton/Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich, it was banned by the BBC but the ban had been lifted by the time it re-entered the UK chart in 1972. The parents of the girl in the song Betty, tell her that Jimmy her motorcycle riding boyfriend is from the wrong side of town and to end it with him. He rides off on the rain soaked road surface too fast and is killed. George Morton was born in 1940. Jeff Barry was born in 1938. Ellie Greenwich died from a heart attack in 2009. Barry & Greenwich were married at the time this song was written.

Answer: Terry

Twinkle had a number four hit on the UK chart with "Terry" in 1964. It did not chart in the US.

Written by Lynn Ripley (Twinkle) born in 1948. It tells the story of how they had a quarrel and she was unfaithful to him on the night he died on his motorcycle. She asks him to wait at the gate of heaven for her. You can find it on YouTube and one of the comments on there is that, quote "She couldn't carry a tune in a bucket" un quote.

Answer: The Beatles

"A Day In The Life" was the last track on side two of The Beatles album "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band". It was number one for 27 weeks on the UK album chart in 1967. It was number one for 15 weeks on the US Billboard album chart the same year.

Written by Lennon/McCartney as two different songs. The inspiration for John Lennon's part of the song but not what the song is about was the death in a car crash, of Guinness heir Tara Browne. A friend of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, he had crashed his car in London in 1966. The BBC in their wisdom banned the broadcasting of the song for its supposed drug references. Like all the other songs that the BBC banned, the ban probably increased sales. John Lennon was murdered in New York in 1980. Procol Harum, The Tremeloes and The Foundations all had number one hits this year.

Answer: Tallahatchie (Mississippi)

Bobby Gentry had a number one hit for four weeks on the US pop chart with "Ode To Billie Joe" in 1967. It reached number 13 on the UK chart the same year.

Written by Roberta Lee Streeter (Bobby Gentry) born 1944. The song tells the story of and the indifference to Billie Joe McAllister who with his girlfriend (who may or may not be the singer) threw something off the Tallahatchie bridge, (we know not what but we think we know what it was). Later he throws himself from the bridge and life carries on as normal.