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Forever Motown Trivia Quiz

A quiz offering a mixture of questions covering classic Motown music and information regarding it.

A multiple-choice quiz by Deadwood003. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Deadwood003

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
385,144

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
563

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (7/10), Guest 174 (10/10), Guest 96 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Supremes are the first female group that signed with Motown records. They would eventually go on to record ten number one hits for the record company in the United States.

It would be which song, whose title is asking a question, that was their first number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart? Hint

The Happening

You Can't Hurry Love

Where Did Our Love Go

Stop! In The Name Of Love

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The Motown record label is currently the only record label to have its name in a dictionary. What dictionary is this? Hint

Canadian Oxford

The American College

Century

Collins English

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, and first African-American to own a record label, was once a professional athlete in which of the following sports? Hint

Baseball

Boxing

Basketball

Billiards

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. This Motown artist gave both his daughter and son names linked to Motown; Tamla (Berry's original name for the record label) and Berry are the names of the children of this Motown great.

You shouldn't need a miracle to know what his name is. Hint

Marvin Gaye

Smokey Robinson

David Ruffin

Stevie Wonder

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Marvin Gaye is credited with releasing two of Motown's top ten selling albums of all time. His albums "What's Going On" and "Let's Get it On" sold millions worldwide and made him famous, but all that meant nothing when on April 1st, 1984, he would be shot and killed by whom? Hint

His manager

His son

His wife

His father

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. On May 16, 1964, the Motown family celebrated their first song that reached number one on the US Billboard charts under the Motown name, when Mary Wells sang which hit? Hint

Please Mr. Postman

Carolina Moon

Respect

My Guy

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. It was at the "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" special that this artist first publicly performed his moonwalk on national television. Who was this great artist? Hint

Prince

Michael Jackson

Lionel Richie

Stevie Wonder

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. This legend in the music industry would be signed to the Motown Record label at the age of only 11. Who is Stevland Hardaway Judkins better known as in the music world? Hint

Lionel Richie

Stevie Wonder

Little Richard

Percy Sledge

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. This popular quartet from England were big Motown music fans, and in 1960 added Motown artist Barrett Strong as one of their opening acts. Later on in 1964 they would add another Motown artist to their opening acts for what would later be their second North American tour in 1965.

What group did Motown artist Brenda Holloway open up for? Hint

The Beatles

The Animals

The Rolling Stones

The Hollies

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. This Motown group would be the first group signed to the label that had a number one album in the UK. They would achieve this milestone February, 1968; the album "Greatest Hits" included hits: "Bernadette" and "Reach Out I'll Be There."

What Motown group was this? Hint

The Temptations

Four Tops

The Miracles

The Contours

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 11 2024 : Guest 86: 7/10
Dec 08 2024 : Guest 174: 10/10
Dec 03 2024 : Guest 96: 8/10
Dec 03 2024 : Guest 107: 6/10
Nov 12 2024 : Guest 81: 0/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Supremes are the first female group that signed with Motown records. They would eventually go on to record ten number one hits for the record company in the United States. It would be which song, whose title is asking a question, that was their first number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart?

Answer: Where Did Our Love Go

On August 22, 1964, "Where Did Our Love Go" reached number one on the US Billboard charts, although it would only stay two weeks at number one before being bumped by the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun."

The ladies in all would go on, and spend a total of nineteen weeks at the number one spot on the US Billboard Charts with their music.

2. The Motown record label is currently the only record label to have its name in a dictionary. What dictionary is this?

Answer: Collins English

The Collins English Dictionary printed its first edition in 1979 in Glasgow, Scotland. Currently there are twelve editions available, and they have also printed dictionaries in four other languages including German and Spanish.

3. Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, and first African-American to own a record label, was once a professional athlete in which of the following sports?

Answer: Boxing

Berry made his professional debut as a boxer on December 1st, 1947, at Maple Leafs Gardens in Toronto, Canada. Berry would only fight professionally for three years, but would end his career with a pretty decent boxing record at 12-2-2.

4. This Motown artist gave both his daughter and son names linked to Motown; Tamla (Berry's original name for the record label) and Berry are the names of the children of this Motown great. You shouldn't need a miracle to know what his name is.

Answer: Smokey Robinson

William Robinson, Jr (aka Smokey Robinson) was one of the longest-serving artists on the Motown record label. Smokey and his group the Miracles ran into Berry after they unsuccessfully tried to get signed to Brunswick Records. He has gone on to release more than 22 records both with the Miracles and as a solo artist.

Answer: His father

Tragically Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. would be shot twice by his father after Marvin had intervened in a fight earlier between his parents. His father Marvin Pentz Gay Sr. shot his son twice hitting him in his heart, which proved fatal, and again in his shoulder.

Marvin Pentz Gay Sr. was initially charged with murder in the first degree, but those charges would be dropped to voluntary manslaughter when it was revealed that he had a brain tumor. He would be given a six-year sentence that was suspended, and five years probation. Marvin Pentz Gay Sr. passed away 14 years later in 1998 of pneumonia.

6. On May 16, 1964, the Motown family celebrated their first song that reached number one on the US Billboard charts under the Motown name, when Mary Wells sang which hit?

Answer: My Guy

"My Guy" was written and produced by Smokey Robinson; it became Motown's first number one hit under the Motown name. However, it was not their first hit overall in the music industry.

Debuting in 1959, as Tamla Records, Tamla was Berry's first label and they had a number one hit back in 1961, with "Please Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes.

7. It was at the "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" special that this artist first publicly performed his moonwalk on national television. Who was this great artist?

Answer: Michael Jackson

It was 1983, and more than 33 million viewers watched as Motown had a televised special celebrating their 25 years in music. Highlights from this included a battle of the bands between the Four Tops and the Temptations, and The Supremes reuniting, but it was Michael Jackson doing the moon walk to "Billie Jean" that brought the crowd to their feet.

8. This legend in the music industry would be signed to the Motown Record label at the age of only 11. Who is Stevland Hardaway Judkins better known as in the music world?

Answer: Stevie Wonder

Berry Gordy signed Stevie Wonder (Stevland Hardaway Judkins) after hearing him audition at Hitsville in 1961. Stevie's mom, Lula Mae, at first opposed the idea of her son signing at such a young age, but eventually let it happen.

The family was given a monthly stipend of around $200 a month to help with family expenses, and Motown provided Stevie with a private tutor for his schooling.

9. This popular quartet from England were big Motown music fans, and in 1960 added Motown artist Barrett Strong as one of their opening acts. Later on in 1964 they would add another Motown artist to their opening acts for what would later be their second North American tour in 1965. What group did Motown artist Brenda Holloway open up for?

Answer: The Beatles

Brenda Holloway would go on to open up for The Beatles at Shea Stadium in New York in front of 54,000 fans. She would later say about that experience "Opening for the Beatles was the most fantastic, beautiful, educational, historical event of my life."

The other three bands listed all got their start in the music industry in 1962.

Answer: Four Tops

The Four Tops would make their first trip to the UK in 1965. It was during their return trip in 1966, that Brian Epstein, manager to the Beatles, would book The Four Tops at his club, the Saville, in London. The sell out show was a huge success for The Four Tops, as their hit "Reach Out I'll Be There" was already at the top of the charts in the UK.

Source: Author Deadwood003

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