Historical Figures on the Charts Quiz

Answer: Herman's Hermits

Hermans' Hermits unseated the Rolling Stones', "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", from the Number One spot with "I'm Henry VIII, I Am". It was the group's second and final Number One hit on the US Hot 100 chart. They topped the charts earlier the same year with "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter". "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" was a British music hall song that had been done by various artists since the turn of the century.
Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas had US hits with "Little Children" and "Bad to Me". "I'm Telling You Now" was a 1965 Number One hit by Freddy and the Dreamers.

Answer: Napoleon XIV

Everyone discovered that Jerry Samuels was indeed Napoleon XIV when New York Dee-Jay Cousin Brucie announced the identity of the singer on the air during a broadcast. While the song raced up the charts, mental health advocacy groups caused the song's popularity to decline just as quickly.

In 1966 Samuels released an album with the same title that included tunes such as "Split Level Head" and "Bats in My Belfry". He also parodied himself with a cut on the album titled "I'm Happy They Took You Away, Ha-Haaa!" by Josephine XV.

Answer: Johnny Horton

John Gale Horton adopted the stage name Johnny Horton and had several songs on the Billboard charts. Other Horton hits included "North to Alaska", "Sink the Bismark" and "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)". He was still putting songs on the charts in 1960 when he was killed by a drunk driver in Texas after leaving an engagement in Austin.
Johnny Cash was a close friend of Horton's and recorded a version of "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)" as a tribute to Horton on his "Personal File" LP.
"Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)" was a 1959 hit by Sammy Turner. Bill Parsons put "The All American Boy" on the charts the same year and "Gotta Travel On" was done by Billy Grammer.

Answer: Stonewall Jackson

Stonewall Jackson was named after General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. He claimed that the Confederate general was actually an ancestor. Stonewall Jackson had the distinction of being the first artist to become a member of The Grand Ole Opry without previously having a recording contract.

He was also the first singer to record a live album from the Grand Ole Opry. He had several successful hits on the US Country charts, but "Waterloo" was his biggest crossover hit. It topped the Country Charts and reached Number Four on the Pop charts. Harold Ray Ragsdale was the birth name of singer Ray Stevens. Buck Owens was born Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. and Morris Davis recorded under the name of Mac Davis.

Answer: Larry Verne

The only other song that Larry Verne charted was the Number 75, "Mister Livingston". Fred Darian, Al DeLory and Joe Van Winkle spontaneously composed "Mr. Custer" while working at Gold star Studios. A four-and-a-half minute demo was made and shopped around for months without success.

The demo was so worn out they had to record a shorter version. An independent label finally backed the production and it went on to become a Gold Record. After his brief singing career as a novelty artist Larry Verne left the music industry and enjoyed a career building movie sets. "Cradle of Love" went to Number Seven for Johnny Preston. Paul Evans had a Top Ten hit with "Happy-Go-Lucky-Me" and "Rockin' Little Angel" was a Top Forty tune recorded by Ray Smith.

Answer: Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)

Paul Revere was named Paul Revere Dick at birth. He was a restaurant owner in his early twenties when he met Mark Lindsey and formed The Downbeats. They changed their name to Paul Revere and the Raiders just before recording the 1961 Top Forty hit, "Like, Long Hair".

They became regulars on "Where the Action Is" (1965) and wore Revolutionary War outfits during the midst of the British Invasion era. They shortened their name to The Raiders before releasing their only Number one hit, "Indian Reservation", in 1971. "Hungry" made it to Number Six in 1966. "Kicks" made it to Number Four and "Good Thing" was a Top Twenty hit the same year.

Answer: Kit Carson

Songwriters Jack Taylor and Bob Musel published "Band of Gold" in 1955. Don Cherry had a Top Ten hit with the song the same year. Liza Morrow recorded a version the same year under the name of Kit Carson that cracked the Top Twenty for the Capital Records label. She also recorded "Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters" the same year. Liza had been of of the girls who worked in Benny Goodman's band in the forties before embarking on a solo career under the name of Kit Carson.
Petula Clark recorded a British version of "Band of Gold".

Answer: Al Hibler

Al Hibler was one of two artists who had chart success with "Unchained Melody" the same year.
Bill Hayes' version of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" made it to the Number One slot in 1955. The song was composed by George Bruns and Tom W. Blackburn.
Actor Fess Parker released a version that went to the Number Six slot while Tennessee Ernie Ford's rendition hit Number Five. All versions of the song fared well on the Country Music charts as well. Fess Parker had the role Davy Crockett on the miniseries, "Davy Crockett". The Crockett craze also fostered a boom in merchandising, especially coonskin caps.

Answer: Beautiful Sunday

The British singer using the name of Daniel Boone was born Peter Green. "Beautiful Sunday" was written by Boone and Rod McQueen. The song peaked at Number 21 on the UK singles chart. His follow up single, "Run Tell The People", barely dented the US charts, reaching Number 93. "Rolling Stone" magazine awarded Boone the "Most Likeable Singer" award.
"Crazy Mama" was a 1972 release by J.J. Cale. "I've Been Lonely for So Long" went to Number 27 for Frederick Knight. Joe Simon recorded the Number 11 "Power of Love" in 1972.

Answer: Chicago

"Harry Truman" was the first single release from the 1975 "Chicago VIII" album. The song was a post-Watergate tribute to the former president. Chicago keyboard player Robert Lamm composed the song. The song was so popular that it was featured as part of Dick Clark's 1975 "New Year's Rockin' Eve special" lineup. "Get Down Tonight" became a 1975 Number one hit for KC and The Sunshine Band. "Pick Up the Pieces" was a 1975 Number One hit for Average White Band. Earth, Wind and Fire took "Shining Star" to Number One in 1975.