Doo Wop Soul Quiz | Rock and Roll

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The magic numbers - 47 and 61... The year: 1961 The place on the charts: 47 The song: "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" The artist: ? -- your turn -- (Hey, you really didn't expect to get it ALL for free, did you?)

Answer: Curtis Lee

Curtis Lee from Yuma, Arizona had this minor hit back in 1961, with some help from a few other folks, including Phil Spector and back-up vocalists, The Halos.

His musical career was rather short-lived and by 1969 he had gone into construction work.

2. What was the name of this R&B number one hit song, which was originally sung in 1954 by The Penguins, later becoming a number three hit in 1955 for a group called The Crew Cuts?

Answer: Earth Angel

"Earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you."

The lyrics to "Earth Angel" were a composite of lyrics to many other songs that were popular during that time, and much of the song owes its lines to other artists and recordings.

3. Known for their 1956 doo-wop classic, "In The Still Of The Night", who was the lead singer for the Five Satins?

Answer: Fred Parris

Fred Parris sung lead for The Satins, who, for a brief time, were known as
Fred Parris and the Scarlets; that name was short-lived and they reverted back to The Satins.

The original group had organized in 1954 in New Haven, Connecticut.

"In The Still Of The Night" has been suggested as one of the major sources of the phrase "doo-wop", since in the background and in the middle of the song, "doo wop, doo wah" can be heard repeatedly.

4. "Where are you little star? (Where are you?) Whoah oh, oh, oh-uh-oh Ratta ta ta too-ooh-ooh Whoah oh, oh, oh-uh-oh Ratta ta ta too-ooh-ooh" "Little Star" was ORIGINALLY sung by which of the following?

Answer: The Elegants

"How I wonder where you are
Wish I may, wish I might
Make this wish come true tonight
Searched all over for a love
You're the one I'm thinkin' of."

While all of the possible choices listed did at least perform cover versions of the song, The Elegants were the original performing artists. It was a one-hit wonder for them, as they never were able to chart another tune, although the group continued to sing on into the 21st century.

5. The Falcons sang "You're So Fine" in 1959. In what U.S. city did they begin their recording career?

Answer: Detroit, Michigan

This song was clearly defined by its slow and easy beat.

"You're so fine, you're so fine
You're mine, you're mine
I walk, and I talk, about you
I love you, I love you
I need you, I need you
I walk, and I talk, about you

There's nothing in the world as sweet as your kiss
so fine, so fine
Every time we meet, my heart skips a beat
You're my first cup of coffee
my last cup of tea
You're so fine, you're so fine
You're mine, you're mine
I walk, and I talk, about you..."

Joe Stubbs was the group's lead vocalist during this hit's run in 1959, but in 1960 he was replaced by Wilson Pickett.

6. "One Summer Night" was a huge success in the doo-wop genre, topping out at number four on the Billboard Black Singles chart, and at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958. The group? The Danleers. Now, tell me, from what source did they get their name?

Answer: they were named in part after their manager, Danny Webb

Manager Danny Webb gave the group at least the "Dan" portion of his own name. The group was originally called "The Dandleers".

Jimmy Weston was the lead singer for this Brooklyn, N.Y. based quintet.

7. In 1953, The Orioles had their biggest success, a number one R&B smash hit called "Crying In The Chapel" which had been written by country musician Darrel Glenn. Ten years later, Elvis Presley also turned it into a number one hit. From where did the group known as The Orioles hail?

Answer: Maryland

The Orioles named themselves after the state bird of their home state, Maryland. Many other subsequent groups began mimicking that successful "formula", calling themselves after other birds, like The Penguins, The Ravens, The Flamingos and The Larks.

Sonny Til, born in 1928 as Earlington Carl Tilghman, who was the lead singer for the Orioles, died in 1981 from complications caused by heart failure and diabetes.

8. "When You Dance", a hit by a group called The Turbans may be one of the earliest songs to use the "doo wop" sound throughout the song, although an even earlier song, by The Clovers, 1953's "Good Loving" also used the phrase. Can you tell me in which two U.S. cities The Turbans and The Clovers trace their beginnings to, respectively?

Answer: Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

The Turbans were from downtown Philadelphia. By 1962 they had pretty much ceased to exist as a group. The Clovers hailed from Washington D.C. where their group had formed at Armstrong High School. They became one of the most successful R&B (Rhythm and Blues) groups of the 1950s and in 1959 launched one of their signature songs, "Love Potion Number 9".

9. "Oh-oh, yes I'm the great pretender Pretending that I'm doing well My need is such I pretend too much I'm lonely but no one can tell..." "The Great Pretender" was popularized by what group in 1956, reaching the coveted number one slot on both the R&B and the pop music charts?

Answer: The Platters

The Platters were formed in Los Angeles in 1953. Their first top ten hit, "Only You" in 1955 was soon to be followed in 1956 by their second and biggest hit, "The Great Pretender".

Many other individuals and groups have covered the song "The Great Pretender", including Dolly Parton, Pat Boone, Gene Pitney, Roy Orbison, Sam Cooke, Freddie Mercury, The Statler Brothers, and The Band.

10. "Tears On My Pillow" and "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop". These are two of this doo-wop group's best known hits. Do you remember the name of this late '50s/early '60s group?

Answer: Little Anthony and The Imperials

The lead singer for the group was Jerome Anthony "Little Anthony" Gourdine, who had originally belonged to a group called The Duponts.

Some of their other successes include hits like "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)", "Goin' Out Of My Head", "Hurt So Bad", along with "Take Me Back" and "Out of Sight, Out Of Mind".

On January 14, 2009, Little Anthony and the Imperials were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Source: Author logcrawler

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Doo Wop Soul Trivia Quiz

Some older tunes that belong to a by-gone era: a time of pedal pushers, hula hoops, bobby sox and penny loafers. Soulful, sweet and sometimes soppy, these tunes just got us right in the gut! That's like, cool jive, man!

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