Help, I've Lost My UK Backing Group - Vol.II Quiz

Answer: The Steelmen

Tommy Steele and The Steelmen were the UK's first home grown Rock 'n' Roll outfit. Formed as Tommy Hicks and The Cavemen with songwriters Lionel Bart and Mike Pratt in 1956, they were renamed by their manager Larry Parnes. Their first hit was "Rock With The Caveman" which peaked at number 13 on the UK singles chart in 1956. They had no chart hits in the USA. Tommy Steele's next hit and only number one was a cover version of "Singing The Blues", it was number one on the UK singles chart for one week in 1957.

After this he abandoned Rock 'n' Roll but had further hits in the late '50s and early '60s. He then went into mainstream entertainment and was very successful on stage and in movies. He also became a sculptor and his Eleanor Rigby, which he donated to the City of Liverpool as a tribute to The Beatles, stands in Stanley Street not far from the Cavern club. Lionel Bart went on to write the score for "Oliver". Mike Pratt became an actor and starred as Jeff Randall in the UK TV series "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)", which ran from 1969 to 1970.

Answer: The Checkmates

Emile Ford and The Checkmates topped the UK singles chart with their first entry "What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For" in 1959. It was number one for six weeks enabling them to become the last group of the '50s and the first group of the '60s to top the UK singles chart. He was the first black singer to have a UK number one hit.

Emile Ford was born Michael Emile Telford Miller in Castries, Saint Lucia, West Indies, in 1937. He and the multi-racial Checkmates had four Top 20 hits in 1960, two of which made the Top Ten. They faded from public view after some minor UK hits in 1961 and 1962. The Checkmates later recorded for independent record producer Joe Meek without success. Emile Ford died in London in 2016 aged 78.

Answer: The Roulettes

Adam Faith and The Roulettes only became a combo in 1963 to complete against the new groups storming the UK chart. They had one Top Ten hit on the UK singles chart with "The First Time" which peaked at number eight.

As a solo singer Adam Faith (born Terence Nelhams-Wright in 1940) had ten Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart between 1959 and 1962. They included the two number one hits "What Do You Want" (number one for three weeks in 1959 and "Poor Me" (number one for one week in 1960). He later became an actor and financial adviser.

Adam Faith died of a heart attack at the North Staffordshire Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, England, in 2003 aged 62.

Answer: The Paramount Jazz Band

Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band were at the forefront of the UK trad-jazz revival in the late '50s & early '60s along with Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen.

Acker Bilk (born Bernard Stanley Bilk in 1929) and His Paramount Jazz Band had three Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart between 1960 and 1961. In 1962 he recorded "Stranger On The Shore" with The Leon Young String Chorale and had his biggest hit ever. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart but was number one for weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. The epithet "Acker" is Somerset slang for "friend" or "mate".

Acker Bilk died of a stroke during cancer treatment on 2 November 2014 at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, Somerset, England, aged 85.

Answer: The Hermits

Herman a.k.a Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone was born in Davyhulme, Manchester, England, in 1947.

Herman's Hermits were formed as Herman and His Hermits in Manchester in 1964. They were Karl Green (bass guitar, backing and lead vocals), Keith Hopwood (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Derek Leckenby (lead guitar), Peter Noone (lead vocals) and Barry Whitwam (drums).

Between 1964 and 1970 they had ten Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart which included their only number one hit "I'm Into Something Good". They were very popular in America were they had 11 Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1965 and 1967. This included the two number one hits "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" (three weeks in 1965) and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" (one week in 1965). Neither of these two US number one hits made the UK singles chart.

Answer: The Luvvers

Lulu was born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie on the 3 November 1948 in Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire, Scotland.

Between 1964 and 1965 Lulu and The Luvvers had Two Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart. Both "Shout" (1964) and "Leave A Little Love" (1965) made the Top Ten. Solo, between 1967 and 1986 she had nine Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart. six of those were Top Ten hits. The only UK number one hit that Lulu had was "Relight My Fire" with Take That which was number one for two weeks in 1993.

Between 1964 and 1981 Lulu had two Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with "To Sir With Love", (number one for five weeks in 1967) and "I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)", (number 18 in 1981). "To Sir With Love" did not chart in the UK.

Answer: The Blue Flames

Georgie Fame was born Clive Powell on the 26 June 1943 in Leigh, Lancashire, England.

Between 1964 and 1966 Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames had four Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart. Two of those, "Yeh Yeh" (1964) and "Get Away" (1966), were number one hits. Solo between 1967 and 1969, he had three Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart. One of those, "Ballad Of Bonnie And Clyde" (1967), was a number one hit. Georgie Fame holds an unusual record in that his only three Top Ten hits were all number one hits.

As part of a duo with Alan Price (ex-Animals keyboard player) he had one Top 20 hit with "Rosetta" (number 11 in 1971).

Answer: The Blockheads

Ian Dury was born Ian Robins Dury on the 12 May 1942 in Upminster, London, England.

Between 1978 and 1979 Ian Dury and The Blockheads had three Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart. All three were Top Ten hits: "What A Waste" (number nine in 1978), "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" (number one for one week in 1979) and "Reasons To Be Cheerful (Pt. 3)" (number three in 1979). They never had any hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Ian Dury died of metastatic colorectal cancer in Upminster, London, England, on the 27 March 2000 aged 57.

Answer: The Banshees

Siouxsie Sioux was born Susan Janet Dallion on the 27 May 1957 in London, England.

Between 1978 and 1995 Siouxsie and The Banshees had five Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart. Two of those, "Hong Kong Garden" (1978) and a cover of The Beatles' song "Dear Prudence" (1983), were Top Ten hits. They had two minor hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Peek-A-Boo" (number 53 in 1988) and "Kiss Them For Me" (number 23 in 1991).

Siouxsie Sioux went solo in 2004 and released her first solo album "Mantaray" in 2007.

Answer: The Ants

Adam Ant was born Stuart Leslie Goddard on the 3 November 1954 in Marylebone, London, England.

Between 1980 and 1982 Adam and The Ants had eight Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart. Seven of those were Top Ten hits, two of which made it to number one, "Stand And Deliver" (five weeks in 1981) and "Prince Charming" (four weeks in 1981). They had two Billboard Top 20 hits, "Goody Two Shoes" (number 12 in 1983) and "Room At The Top" (number 17 in 1990). They were the top UK chart act of 1981 with a total of 91 weeks on the chart.

Adam Ant (Stuart Goddard) was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder at the age of 21 and is now involved with the Black Dog campaign, which promotes better understanding of mental illness.