Great Guitarists: Part II Quiz | Bands and Musical Acts

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This cat was an amazing songwriter, but most folks tend to forget what a wonderful guitar player he was (even though he's often shown with his guitar). Who is the soulful guitarist who had such hits as "Move On Up" and "Future Shock"?

Answer: Curtis Mayfield

Curtis is best known for his soundtrack to the film "Superfly". Songs off of that album include "Pusherman", "Freddie's Dead" and "Superfly". Fishbone went on to record a nice version of "Freddie's Dead" on their "Truth & Soul" album. Gordon Parks, Jr., incidentally, directed the film "Superfly".

2. This Louisiana-born guitarist made his name in the City of Big Shoulders -- Chicago. Playing with blues artists such as Junior Wells, what is the name of the guitarist who drinks TNT, smokes dynamite and recorded "Damn Right, I've Got The Blues"?

Answer: Buddy Guy

Well, I've got to admit that I think Magic Sam may be the greatest Chicago blues guitarist ever (if you don't believe me, check out his "West Side Soul" album"). But, that being said, Buddy Guy is the real deal. "Damn Right, I've Got The Blues" is a wonderful album from 1991. For an earlier taste, check out "Drinkin' TNT N' Smokin' Dynamite" with a cast including Buddy Guy, Junior Wells (vocals, harmonica), Pinetop Perkins (piano) and the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman (bass). Recorded at the 1974 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, this album wasn't mixed and released until 1980.

3. Born at the end of the nineteenth century, what guitarist is sometimes called the "founder of the delta blues"? Here's a hint: It is not Robert Johnson.

Answer: Charlie Patton

Charlie Patton, born (we think) in 1891, played at 'juke joints' throughout the Mississippi Delta region and is regarded as a landmark in blues history because -- to oversimplify it -- no one else ever recorded the sort of stuff he did before he did it (in the 1930s). If you are into blues music, drop everything and go check out his stuff.

4. Alright, time to mix it up a little bit. What singer/guitarist was the front man, and creative mastermind, behind the UK outfit called The Jam?

Answer: Paul Weller

The Jam recorded such favorites as "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight" and "Strange Town". Paul Weller went on to do some solo work, and also formed an interesting band in the 1980s (drawing on US soul music) called The Style Council. Bruce Foxton was The Jam's bassist, Rick Buckler the drummer, and Chris Parry was a talent scout who signed the boys up to the Polydor A&M label in 1977. Thanks Chris!

5. Okay, time for an easy one. What guitarist/singer wrote and recorded such hits as "Pop Life", "Cream" and "Controversy"?

Answer: Prince

Prince was an amazing guitarist. Look past the costumes and crazy outfits, and you will find an unbelievable musician. Try playing the little guitar fills to "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World", or listen to the solo in "Purple Rain" and you will realize that this man was truly a great guitarist.

6. What guitarist, who was a crucial component of Booker T. & The MGs, co-wrote such funky soulful hits as "Green Onions" and "In The Midnight Hour"?

Answer: Steve Cropper

Cropper is amazing. Not only did he record a number of hits with Booker T. & The MGs, backing up greats such as Wilson Pickett, but he actually co-wrote many of these songs. You may remember him as the whtie guy, with long hair and a beard, who played guitar in the original "Blues Brothers" movie. Matt 'Guitar' Murphy plays the other, also incredibly good, guitarist.

7. What guitar player, who has played with a variety of artists ranging from Tom Waits to Elvis Costello, formed Los Cubanos Postizos in the 1990s to record Cuban music by the likes of Arsenio Rodriguez?

Answer: Marc Ribot

Ribot is an unbelievably versatile player. He has played on free jazz projects such as "Surrender To The Air", songwriter albums such as Tom Waits' "Rain Dogs" and with his own band -- Los Postizos Cubanos (The Prosthetic Cubans) -- on Cuban-flavored albums such as "Muy Divertido".

8. Time for a change of pace. This guitarist, who was born in Paraguay, went on to compose a number of masterful pieces for classical guitar -- including "La Catedral" and "Villancico de Navidad". What is his name?

Answer: Agustin Barrios

Wow, any guitar fan who listens to a good classical guitarist play Barrios' work is in for a treat. The famed classical guitarist John Williams recorded an excellent album of Barrios' work titled "From The Jungles Of Paraguay: John Williams Plays Barrios". A brilliant composer, Barrios died in El Salvador in 1944.

9. Which well-known guitarist is fascinated by various international musical styles, recording with Mali-based guitar virtuoso Ali Farka Toure and playing guitar with the now famous Buena Vista Social Club?

Answer: Ry Cooder

Cooder is a great guitar player, and his "Buena Vista Social Club" album -- stocked with Cuban musical legends -- is well worth your time. He also recorded a great album with Indian musician V. M. Bhatt called "A Meeting By The River". While you're at it, check out anything by Ali Farka Toure. His relatively recent "Niafunke" album is particularly good.

10. This guitar virtuoso, who died in a jail cell in Reston, VA in 1988, was a guitarist who was famous primarily among other guitarists. He recorded an entire album with Charlie Daniels that was eventually scrapped (though great recordings from those sessions still exist), and wrote the beautiful guitar-song "The Messiah Will Come Again". Who was he?

Answer: Roy Buchanan

Buchanan was amazing. If you haven't heard him, go check out "Guitar On Fire" on Rhino Records or "Sweet Dreams: The Anthology" on Polygram. I've always wanted to get Danny Gatton into one of my quizzes, but haven't been able to. He's another unsung guitar hero. If you ever saw him live, you would agree with me. Anything he ever recorded is well worth having. He was a genius.

Source: Author wmshipman

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

Great Guitarists: Part II Trivia Quiz

This quiz covers great guitarists from a number of styles. Soul, blues, classical, you name it. If you think you know great guitar players, try this on for size. I dare you.

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