Grammy Hall of Fame Awards Trivia Quiz

Answer: Drums

Despite being afflicted with tuberculosis of the spine, William Henry "Chick" Webb became a professional drummer before he was in his teens. When he was 18 he was heading his own band in New York. His bass drum sported a symbol of a chicken. He began winning band contests and in 1935 he hired a teenager named Ella Fitzgerald as a singer. Al Feldman and Ella Fitzgerald composed "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" based on a popular nursery rhyme and recorded the song with Webb's orchestra in 1938.

The following year Webb passed away due to complications from his tuberculosis at age 34.

In 1942 Ella began her solo career and had several hits through the years, passing away in 1996 at age 79. The "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook" (1956) album was issued a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 and "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook" (1956) was recognized the following year.

Answer: Bob Dylan

The 1963 "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" LP contained his composition, "Blowin' in the Wind". "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" and "Girl from the North Country" are among the other memorable Dylan songs on the album. The song gained popularity as a war protest anthem and has been covered by over 100 international artists since it was released.
The song was sung by Forrest Gump's girlfriend, Jenny, while being billed as Bobby Dylan singing nude in "Forrest Gump" (1994).
"Woodstock" (1970) is among the many notable songs penned by Joni Mitchell. Woody Guthrie was one of Dylan's major influences. His 1963 rendition of "We Shall Overcome" was awarded in 1999. Joan Baez revealed in her memoirs that Dylan was the inspiration for her 1975 recording, "Diamonds & Rust".

Answer: Hoagy Carmichael

The music for "Stardust" was composed in 1927 by Hoagy Carmichael. Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1929. In 1927 Gannett Records of Richmond, Indiana, recorded Hoagy Carmichael and His Pals performing an up-tempo version of the jazz standard. A legion of notable artists have recorded their own interpretations of the song since Hoagy Carmichael and His Pals did their version. Carmichael received a a law degree from the Indiana University School of Law in 1926. Paul Whiteman And His Orchestra received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 for his recording of "Whispering" in 1920. Fats Waller received an award in 1984 for his 1929 recording of "Ain't Misbehavin'". Artie Shaw was recognized for his 1938 rendition of "Any Old Time".

Answer: Mack the Knife

"Mack the Knife" was originally done in the early twenties as part of Bertolt Brecht's "Three Penny Opera". Louis Armstrong recorded a Hit Parade version of "Mack the Knife" in 1954. The version recorded by Louis Armstrong & the All-Stars was recognized with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. Darin had been signed to the Decca label, but after failing to release any notable chart hits he signed with Atco as a songwriter and artist.

In 1958 he wrote and recorded the US Number Three "Splish Splash" on a dare from a New York deejay.

The success of the song led to more hits and packed houses for Darin at The Copacabana as well as Las Vegas venues. "Beyond the Sea" was recorded by Darin during the same session and released in 1960. Neil Sedaka played piano on the 1959 US Number Two hit, "Dream Lover".

Answer: Midnight Cowboy

"Everybody's Talkin'" garnered a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Harry Nilsson. John Barry also won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Theme for the theme to "Midnight Cowboy". Nilsson was attracted to many genres of music and signed with RCA Victor in 1966.

The following year he released "Pandemonium Shadow Show". In 1968 Nilsson released "Aerial Ballet", the album that included his version of Fred Neil's composition, "Everybody's Talkin'". Fred Neil's 1966 eponymous LP contained his own rendition of the song.

In 1969 Capitol records re-released Neil's album under the title "Everybody's Talkin'" after "Midnight Cowboy" was released. "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969) featured Oliver singing Rod McKuen's composition, "Jean".

The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song from a Movie but lost to "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969. The soundtrack for "Easy Rider" (1969) featured music by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Band and Steppenwolf among others.

Answer: Take Five

"Take Five" was a 1963 Dave Brubeck classic recognized in 1996. "Kind of Blue" was a Miles Davis album released in 1959 on Columbia Records. "Freddie Freeloader" was one of the tracks on the album. Cannonball Adderley played alto saxophone and the tenor saxophonist was John Coltrane. "Bitches Brew" was a 1970 double album by Davis on Columbia Records.

The cut, "Bitches Brew", took up the entire side two. Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter and Dave Holland were among the musicians who recorded tracks on the sessions.

The 1960 "Sketches of Spain" album paired Davis with arranger Gil Evans. It was Davis' tenth album for Columbia. Other Miles Davis recordings to merit a Grammy Hall of Fame Award were "Birth of the Cool" (1957), "Miles Ahead" (1957) and "Kind of Blue" (1959).

Answer: (Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay

"(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" was written by Otis Redding and guitarist
Steve Cropper and released after Redding's death on December 10, 1967, at age 26. Otis was inspired to write the song while staying on a houseboat in Sausalito. He was touring after his outstanding performance at the 1967 Monterrey Pop Festival and upon returning from the tour he got together with cropper and completed the song. The sessions were completed on December 8, 1967. "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" was released in January the following year along with other archived Redding recordings.
"Sittin' on Top of the World" was written by Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon of the thirties band, Mississippi Sheiks. "Ain't No Sunshine" was a 1971 release by Bill Withers. "That's My Desire" was a 1947 Mercury release by Frankie Laine, who lived to be 93. All three songs have received Grammy Hall of Fame Awards.

Answer: Everybody Loves Somebody

"Everybody Loves Somebody" was written in 1947 by Irving Taylor and Ken Lane. Several artists recorded the song without chart success. In 1964 Ken Lane was a pianist playing on sessions for Martin's "Dream With Dean" album. The producers were trying to come up with one more song to complete the album when Lane suggested that Dean try "Everybody Loves Somebody".

The song was first recorded with sparse instrumentation. A subsequent version was done with a chorus and more instruments, leading to an album being released with the title "Everybody Loves Somebody".

Despite being released at the height of the British Invasion in 1964, the song topped the charts and was the theme for Dean's television show when it debuted the following year. "The House I Live In" (1946) and "I've Got You Under My Skin" (1956) were Frank Sinatra Grammy Hall of Fame Award winning songs. "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" was a 1962 Tony Bennett classic that was also recognized by the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Answer: Jackie Wilson

Some of the profits from "Lonely Teardrops" became the seed money for Gordy to start Motown Records the following year. The success of the song also landed Jackie Wilson a spot on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (1948-1971). Wilson was an only child who was prone to mischief.

He channeled his energy into boxing and became a Detroit Golden Gloves champ by age 16 before embarking on a music career. His first success was "Reet Petite" in 1957, followed by a succession of releases before "Lonely Teardrops". Jackie's dynamic stage performance and delivery set him apart from most entertainers and he became an inspiration for later artists, such as Michael Jackson.

He had a heart attack on stage in 1975 and fell, striking his head which caused him to lapse into a coma.

He was singing "Lonely Teardrops" at the time. Dee Clark sang "Raindrops", released in 1961. "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" was a hit by B. J. Thomas in 1969. "Baby Baby Don't Cry" was done by Smokey Robinson.

Answer: Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters used his real name, McKinley Morganfield, as the composer of the song on the recording. The record had the distinction of being the first Muddy Waters record released by Chess Records. In 1950 Leonard Chess bought interest in Aristocrat records, partnered with his brother Phil and renamed the label Chess Records.

The label signed numerous legendary artists including Chuck Berry, Etta James and Buddy Guy. Waters had been performing around Chicago for a decade when he began recording for Aristocrat Records in the late forties.

The Chess brothers retained him when they formed Chess but initially wouldn't let Muddy use his backing musicians, preferring to use the stable of Chess studio players. Chess Records was situated at 2120 S. Michigan Avenue.

The Rolling Stones recorded an instrumental on their 1964 "12 X 5" album at Chess Records simply titled "2120 S. Michigan Avenue". John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley and Memphis Slim also recorded for Chess records during the fifties.

Answer: A Hard Days Night

"A Hard Days Night" was released in July of 1964 in support of the film. The film was the Beatles' first full-length movie. The album and the single both hit the Number One spot on their respective charts. "Rubber Soul" was released in 1965, "Revolver" in 1966 and "The White Album" in 1968. "Meet the Beatles" (1964) and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967) were albums that were also given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. "Eleanor Rigby", "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" were Beatles singles that have been recognized with an award as well.

Answer: Carole King

"You've Got a Friend" was a cut from Carol King's 1971 "Tapestry" album. James Taylor's was off his 1971 "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon" album. Taylor's version reached Number One in July, 1971. Taylor won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Male and Carol King was awarded a Song of the Year Grammy. "It's Too Late", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "I Feel the Earth Move" were other cuts from Carol's Tapestry LP. "Music" was the name of her follow-up album. Aretha Franklin's 1967 version of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon" was Taylor's third album. "James Taylor" was released in 1968 and "Sweet Baby James" came out in 1970 and contained his hit song, "Fire and Rain".

The LP was honored with an award in 2002.

Answer: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

"Georgia on My Mind", "You Don't Know Me" and "I Can't Stop Loving You" were three cuts from Ray's critically acclaimed "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" album. Ray was known as a blues, jazz and R&B singer, but he enjoyed country music. One of the last recordings he did on Atlantic before going to the ABC-Paramount label was a rendition of Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On".

When he pitched the idea of doing an entire album of Country songs to ABC-Paramount it was met with mixed reception. Exercising the stipulation in his contract the he had artistic control of his recordings, Ray went ahead with the project.

The album sold over a half-million copies in the first three months of release. "Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)" was a 1935 Carter family single. "The Wild Side of Life" was a 1952 single by Hank Thompson And His Brazos Valley Boys. "Live at the Apollo" was a career-boosting album for James Brown released in 1962.

Answer: Ethel Merman

Ethel Merman was one of Broadway's hardest working female singers and earned the nickname "The Grande Dame of the Broadway stage". Merman was born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann in New York City. She worked at singing engagements and became known for her precise singing diction and powerful voice.

She eventually got a third billed part in "Girl Crazy" and was soon featured in roles in in five Cole Porter musicals. When she starred in "Annie Get Your Gun" she became synonymous with the song "There's No Business Like Show Business" from the play.

She landed the role of Gypsy Rose Lee's mother, Rose, but the part in the film version went to Rosalind Russell. Merman appeared in over 15 films including "There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963). Waters was recognized for her 1925 single, "Dinah". Ella Logan was honored for her work in the 1947 Broadway play "Finian's Rainbow" and Garland has been honored for her 1961 album, "Judy at Carnegie Hall".

Answer: The Penguins

One of the members of The Penguins, Curtis Williams, was originally credited with composing "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)", but Jesse Belvin and Gaynel Hodge were added as writers two years after the record was released. Dootone released "Hey Señorita" by the group, but soon the flip side, "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)", was getting requests and became a Top Ten hit.

It was the only hit for The Penguins and has been covered through the years by several artists. The Five Satins' 1956 recording of "In the Still of the Nite" was inducted in 1999 along with "I Wonder Why" (1958) by Dion & the Belmonts. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" was released in 1955 by The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon and recognized in 2001.

Answer: Louie, Louie

"Louie Louie" was written by Richard Berry in 1955 and released as a single with his band, the Pharoahs. The song fared poorly on the charts, but other bands who heard the song when Berry performed on the West Coast adopted it into their repertoire. In 1963 The Kingsmen and Paul Revere and the Raiders both recorded versions at the same studio in Portland, Oregon. While Paul Revere's version sold big regionally, The Kingsmen's version stayed in the Top Ten for two months, spending a total of 16 weeks on the Hot 100. Their version was done in one take, complete with minor mistakes.
In 1964 an irate parent complained to Attorney General Robert Kennedy that the words were obscene. An FBI inquiry was launched and after an investigation lasting over two years it was concluded that there were no obscenities in the lyrics. The song was banned by some radio stations and even a few politicians.
Charlie Rich's 1973 release, "Behind Closed Doors", was honored in 1999. "Dang Me" was recorded by Roger Miller in 1964 and also honored in 1999. Billie Holiday's 1939 recording of "Strange Fruit" was a 1978 inductee.

Answer: Aaron Copland

"Copland: Appalachian Spring" was the title of the album. The classical album was recognized in 2000. Pianist and composer Aaron Copeland was born at the turn of the century in New York. By age 11 he was endeavoring to compose operas. He studied in Europe then returned to New York and struggled to achieve his goal of being a full time composer. By 1939 he was doing scores for such Hollywood films as "Of Mice and Men" and "Our Town".

In the forties he began composing classics including "Rodeo", (1942) "Appalachian Spring (1944) and "Fanfare for the Common Man" (1945).

His career became a combination of composing and conducting until he was well into his seventies. Henry Mancini was honored for his 1961 "Moon River" recording, "The Music from Peter Gunn" (1959) and the theme to "The Pink Panther", released in 1964. French composer Maurice Ravel was honored for his 1937 "Bolero". German composer Wilhelm Furtwangler was recognized for his 1953 LP, "Wagner: Tristan und Isolde" in 1988.

Answer: Cab Calloway

After high school Cabell "Cab" Calloway III toured in a Black revue called "Plantation Days". He relocated to Chicago when the tour was over and started performing, drumming and emceeing in night clubs. He assembled an orchestra and got a break when the band filled in for Duke Ellington at The Cotton Club.

When the Cotton Club performances began live broadcasting Cab received more exposure and in 1931 he recorded "Minnie the Moocher", a song he wrote with Irving Mills. He remained active throughout the next few decades in films, performing live and doing television appearances until he passed in 1994.

The Cab Calloway Museum is in Baltimore, Maryland. Louis Armstrong received the honor in 2008 for his 1921 Okeh recording of "St. Louis Blues". Louis Prima's 1957 LP "The Wildest" was honored in 1999. Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose" (1934) received an award in 1999.

Answer: Guitar

Andrés Torres Segovia was born in 1893 in Spain. He was attracted to the guitar as a young boy and by the time he was in his teens he was a student of the instrument in Granada. He performed his first show at 16 and within a few years he had his first concert in Madrid featuring the works of other contemporary guitarists as well a some Bach pieces.

In the forties he became a pioneer in the use of nylon strings. He toured internationally and recorded several albums on the Decca label. Segovia expressed pride in taking the guitar from being an accompaniment instrument to the concert stage.

He performed frequently throughout his later years until his death at age 94.

Answer: The Temptations

Smokey Robinson and Ronald White wrote the number one Temptations hit, "My Girl". It was the first Temptations song to showcase David Ruffin as the lead vocalist. Ruffin left the group in 1968. Otis Redding did a version of of "My Girl" the following year, followed by several covers by various artists over the next two decades. The Temptations also received recognition for "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972). "The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (1970) was honored in 2002. "People Get Ready" was a 1965 recording by The Impressions recognized in 1998.

The 1966 recording, "Reach Out I'll Be There" by the Four Tops received the honor in 1998.