How Classic Can You Go? Second Edition Quiz

Answer: When I Dream

The song, "When I Dream" was written by Sandy Mason Theoret. In 1979, singer Crystal Gayle took it to number three on the country charts. Born Brenda Gail Webb on January 9, 1951, in Paintsville, Kentucky, she is the youngest sister to the legendary country crooner, Loretta Lynn.

After she entered the music industry, her professional stage name was changed to Crystal Gayle. Gayle's most recognizable trademark was her long, dark, flowing hair. She always kept it three inches from the floor and frequently turned her back so the audience could see it sway.

She had 18 number one country hits during her career. Some included: "Ready for the Times to Get Better" (1978), "Talking in Your Sleep" (1978), and "Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For?" (1979).

Her last hits were in 1986, when shortly afterwards, she disappeared from the public eye. She later operated a store in Nashville specializing in fine jewelry, and of course, crystal.

Answer: Stranger

The words of the chorus are,

"And she said, Stranger, shut out the light and lead me
Somewhere, shut out the shadows too
And while we lay here, makin' believe you love me
Stranger, could I believe in you".

The smooth baritone voice of John "Johnny" Richard Duncan made the song "Stranger" a top ten hit in 1976. Another hit that reached number one that same year was called, "Thinking of a Rendezvous". Duncan discovered the versatile singer, Janie Fricke, of Dallas, Texas, and began utilizing her voice as his back up on records and stage as well. Fricke, with the help of Johnny Duncan, later went solo and became a successful artist in her own right. Other hits were: "It Couldn't Have Been Any Better", "Come A Little Bit Closer" and "She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed Anytime". He not only was a great country singer, but also penned songs that were recorded by legendary artists such as: Charley Pride, Chet Atkins, Conway Twitty, Jim Ed Brown and Marty Robbins. Johnny Duncan was born in Dublin, Texas on October 5, 1938 and was a cousin to Jimmy Seals (of the duo Seals & Crofts) and country singer Dan Seals. He died on August 14, 2006 of a heart attack.

Answer: Take Me Back

Charlotte "Charly" Denise McClain was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 26, 1956. She was a popular country artist during the 80s with huge hits like: "Dancing Your Memory Away" (1982), "Radio Heart" (1987), "Sentimental Ole' You" (1983), "Sleeping With the Radio On" (1981), "Surround Me With Love (1981), "The Very Best is You" (1981) and "Who's Cheatin' Who?" (1980). Charly also contributed in creating other successful songs with singers like Johnny Rodriguez, and making her major duet with Mickey Gilley.

In 1983, she and Gilley scored a big hit with "Paradise Tonight". It was McClain's second number one hit in the year of 1983. One of my personal favorites, "Take Me Back" was written by McClain and co-writers, Larry Rogers and Red Williams, and was recorded in 1978.

Although it never made it to the number one spot, it did place in the top 25 on Billboard's Country Charts. Charly married Wayne Massey, a former American soap star who portrayed Johnny Drummond on "One Life to Live" from 1980 until 1984.

She recorded her last studio album in 1989 before completely leaving the music industry.

Answer: How Could I Love Her So Much?

As a teenager, Johnny Rodriguez stayed in trouble with the law before becoming a hit maker in the music business. He was born in 1951, in Sabinal, Texas, just miles from the Mexican border. Being a fan of country music, his older brother Andres, bought seven year old Johnny his first guitar. Rodriguez had been a popular kid in high school, being the captain of his football team at the age of sixteen, but his life escalated out of control when he lost his father to cancer.

He collected four arrests in only two years. One day, in 1971, while singing from his jail cell, a Texas Ranger overheard him.

He was so impressed with Rodriguez's voice that he introduced him to a music promoter who booked him to sing at a Texas amusement park. Being at the right place at the right time, two well-known and influential country music artists, Tom T. Hall and Bobby Bare, discovered him.

They asked him to come to Nashville where he signed a contract with the Mercury label. They released his first single, "Pass Me By (If you're Only Passing Through)" in 1973.

It made it into the Top Ten, and Rodriguez began to rise up the country music ladder with 14 more consecutive singles. In 1974, he succeeded with "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico" as a number one hit. Other huge hits included: "That's the Way Love Goes" (1974), "Just Get Up and Close the Door" (1975), "Desperado" (1977), "Down on the Rio Grande" (1979), "Foolin'" (1983), and "How Could I Love Her So Much?" (1983). Before leaving the music business, he recorded his last single in 1989. Ten years later, in 1999, Johnny stood trial for murder but was acquitted in the shooting death of his 26 year old neighbor who had illegally entered his Texas home. According to CMT.com, on June 9, 2007, he returned to the annual CMA Music Festival in Nashville to perform a free concert. Announcements were made that plans for a new album would be recorded by the 55 year old country artist, and be produced by veteran legend, Merle Haggard. Unfortunately, his plans had to be put on the back burner. Something he had not planned on was being pulled over in his pick up truck by a highway patrol official, six days after his Nashville visit. On June 15, 2007, in Purcell, Oklahoma, Rodriguez was stopped for speeding. Unfortunately, the officer found drug paraphernalia, marijuana, methamphetamine, and an open container of beer in his possession. Before he was able to return to his home in Laredo, Texas, he spent the night in jail. He was released the following day on June 16. According to public court documents, he had been charged with three felony drug counts. No update is available on the incident, but two years later, no album has been released either.

Answer: Big Four Poster Bed

Brenda Mae Tarpley was born in a charity hospital on December 11, 1944 to a poor, uneducated family from Atlanta, Georgia. She began singing at a very early age in her church and various contests. In 1957, she received the nickname Little Miss Dynamite, for her four foot, nine inch stature and her boisterous voice.

Many were surprised that the vocals were coming from her, since she was such a small person! In February 1956, an Atlanta disc jockey introduced her to country artist, Red Foley. He was so overcome with her talent, he put her on as a regular performer on his television show "Foley's Ozark Jubilee".

This led to better proposals for Brenda and three months later, in May, she signed a recording contract with Decca Records. Owen Bradley, a well-known Nashville producer, took over her business deals. Thinking that her surname would be too hard to remember, he christened her with her professional name, Brenda Lee. Bradley was successful in making Lee a musical star, but her pop, country, and rockabilly music became more popular abroad than in the United States.

In the years, 1958-59, she traveled and toured all through Europe, Australia, Japan, and South America, making several number one hits. She also holds the distinction of being the opening act in the United Kingdom for a not-so-well-known band, called The Beatles. As we know however, that group skyrocketed in their musical career later. In 1957, at the age of thirteen, Brenda recorded, what has now become, the popular Christmas classic, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" which sold over five million copies. From that recording, it was not long that she soon became a household name in the states, and then she released her signature ballad, "I'm Sorry", in 1959. It reached number one on the Billboard Pop charts and became her first gold single. She later became known as one of the best-selling female singers of the sixties era after she collected fifty singles on the pop charts between 1960 and 1973. Other hits were "Break It to Me Gently" (1962) and "Too Many Rivers" (1965). Her touring came to an abrupt end when health issues arose for Lee in the 70s. She suffered with damaged vocal chords and had to have several serious abdominal surgeries. When she recuperated from her ailments, she rejoined her old producer, Owen Bradley, and continued recording another line of hits such as "Big Four Poster Bed" (1974) and "Broken Trust" (1980). Lee and her husband, Ronnie Shacklett, were married in 1963, and had two daughters, Jolie and Julie. In the 80s, she served on the board of directors for the Country Music Association and the Country Music Foundation. She received the Jo Meador-Walker Lifetime Achievement award in 2006, after celebrating being a recording artist for nearly over fifty years. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, and was honored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in February 2009. "Brenda Lee: Little Miss Dynamite", her autobiography, was published in 2002.

Answer: I Just Came Home to Count the Memories

Calvin Grant Shofner was born in Gans, Oklahoma on April 7, 1932, but grew up in Oakland, California. He is known by his fans, and the country music industry, as Cal Smith. He rose quickly when he recorded his popular number one hit "Country Bumpkin" (1974).

When he was trying to break into the business, he worked at various jobs including truck driving and bronco riding. He later decided to sign up and serve two years in the military. After his discharge, he returned home and started playing with a band in San Francisco. Country music legend, Ernest Tubb heard the band play in 1961 and later auditioned Smith.

He hired him to play for his band, the Texas Troubadours. Cal stayed with Tubb for eight years, then in 1969, he recorded his first album.

It wasn't until March 1973, that he recorded, "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking", written by another country artist, Bill Anderson. It was actually his first number one hit. He recorded "Country Bumpkin" in 1974, and it received Song of the Year Awards from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association as well.

His single, "I Just Came Home To Count The Memories" was recorded in 1977. Cal and Darlene Smith live near Branson, Missouri, and enjoy their favorite past-time hobby, fishing.

Answer: How Far Is Heaven?

One of the few recording artists born in Nashville, Tennessee, Ellen Muriel Deason was born in Music City, August 30, 1919, to Charles Cary and Myrtle Deason. When Ellen was 18, she married Johnnie Wright on October 30, 1937. She and Johnnie, an aspiring singer himself, began performing as a duo not long after the vows were exchanged. Ellen changed her professional name to Kitty Wells and later began singing and recording solo albums.

She was soon called, "The Queen of Country Music". Her signature song came in May of 1952, which was an answer to Hank Thompson's number one hit, "Wild Side of Life".

A Decca Records executive persuaded Kitty by offering her a payment of $125.00 to record the song, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels". The song seemed to be a controversial subject in lyrics and was rejected by many radio stations and temporarily banned from the Grand Ole Opry. That did not last because the people who had already heard it earlier could not get enough. Later that summer, her song had sold more than 800,000 copies.

She made history when she became the first female country singer to produce a number one hit single. She paved the way for her fellow female followers in the music industry such as, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette. In 1955, Kitty, with the help of her young daughter, Carol Sue, recorded, "How Far is Heaven?", which rose to the charts at number 11. The song was penned by writers, Tillman Franks and Jimmie Davis. Kitty and Johnnie performed their last husband and wife act together before announcing their retirement on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000. The couple celebrated 70 years of wedded bliss in 2007.

Answer: The Auctioneer

Leroy Frank Van Dyke was born on his family's farm in Pettis County, near Mora, Missouri, on October 4, 1929. He completed high school and went on to graduate from the University of Missouri, majoring in animal husbandry and journalism, with a minor in speech. Van Dyke became an auctioneer in 1951 and the fast, smooth talking changed the entire course of his life when he incorporated the style into his music. He and his co-writer, Buddy Black, wrote the words to a composition, "The Auctioneer". After its release in 1956, 2.5 million records were sold. In his illustrious career, Leroy had recorded over 500 songs, many ranking high on the charts. Another big smash for him was his record "Walk On By", released in 1961. It quickly spiraled to the number one slot and stayed there for 19 weeks. It sold more than 1.5 million copies. In February 1962, the same hit song reached number five in the UK Singles Chart. Van Dyke played the starring role as an upcoming, country performer in the movie, "What Am I Bid?". He was co-founder and co-host with Bill Mack on the widely, syndicated radio show "Country Crossroads" for ten years. He was honored to be named the World's Most Famous Auctioneer, was the only country performer to open a show for Marilyn Monroe, and since entertaining in 1956, had not missed a performance in nearly four decades. He continues to travel and still performs at agricultural shows, clubs, concerts, conventions, fairs, festivals, livestock events, private functions and rodeos.
"Forty-five dollar bid it now, fifty dollar, fifty
Will you gimmie fifty, make it fifty
Bid it on a fifty dollar, will you gimmie fifty
Who'll-ll bid it at a fifty dollar bid
Fifty dollar bid it now, fifty-five
Will you gimmie fifty-five
To make it fifty-five, to bid it a fifty-five
Sold that horse for a fifty-five dollar bill
Hey, well alright sir, open the gate and let 'em out and walk 'em boys
Here we come with lot number 29 in, what'd ya gonna give"

Answer: Don't Be Angry

Yvonne Vaughn, better known as country music singer Donna Fargo, was born on November 10, 1945, in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Fargo later relocated to sunny Southern California and became a schoolteacher. She then moved to Nashville to give her try at music. Donna wrote one of the most popular songs in the country music industry in 1972.

She recorded the, "Happiest Girl in The Whole USA", and it instantly brought her fame and success. She later followed with "Funny Face". Donna became the first female in country music history to have million-selling singles back-to back. Both of her recordings achieved gold and platinum status in Australia, Canada, U.S., and New Zealand.

At the pinnacle of her short-lived career, she was struck with multiple sclerosis in 1979, yet continued to perform and record as much as her health would allow. Donna's spirit did not wane but remained positive and powerful.

She wrote a book, "Trust in Yourself: Thoughts About Listening to Your Heart and Becoming the Person You Want to Be" (1997).

In addition, "To the Love of My Life: A Collection of Love Poems", was released in 2002. In conjunction with Blue Mountain Arts, she wrote inspirational thoughts in a line of greeting cards called, The Donna Fargo Collection. Donna is still a favorite choice of entertainers at concerts, conventions, fairs, and outdoor shows, and does her best to accept any performance that she can.

Answer: Old Rivers

Born July 25, 1894 in Massachusetts, American actor and singer Walter A. Brennan achieved much in his lifetime. He was best known for his characters in western films and co-starred with many big name Silver Screen actors. He worked a variety of jobs such as bank messenger, gravedigger, lumberjack and vaudeville. Brennan studied engineering at Cambridge, Massachusetts, but while there, he became more interested in theatre. He joined the military in 1917 to serve his country in World War I and fought with the 101st Field Artillery. Later, after he had returned home in 1923, he became a film extra and stuntman and earned $7.50 per day. One of Brennan's greatest contributions had to be "Old Rivers" on April 7, 1962. The soulful, spoken/sung song reached the charts at number five and spent eleven weeks on the Billboard. His aging and cracked voice made the song even more emotional in the way he delivered it. He produced several more albums after the success of "Old Rivers" and had three other Top 100 singles. Emphysema took the life of Walter Brennan on September 21, 1974 in Oxnard, California. He was interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Los Angeles County, California.

www.cmt.com/artists/
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