Johnnies of Pop Trivia Quiz

Answer: Johnny Preston

Johnny Preston reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 with "Cradle of Love". He also charted with "Feel So Fine", "Charming Billy", "Free Me" and "Leave My Kitten Alone" in 1960 and 61. He will of course always be remembered for his breakthrough hit late in 1959, "Running Bear".

The song was famously written by JP (The Big Bopper) Richardson, who had planned to record it. Richardson had discovered Johnny Preston and decided to have him record the song. The song was recorded in late 1958 with Richardson and George Jones singing backup.

It was released in August 1959 and made the top of the charts in December where it stayed for three weeks. After the string of hits through 1961 he left the charts and faded from the scene, resurfacing in the 1990s and appearing at 'Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theatre' in Branson Missouri.

Answer: Johnny Hallyday

France's answer to Elvis Presley, Johnny Halliday was born Jean-Phillipe Smet in 1943 in Paris. In a more than 55 year career he released 79 albums, sold over 100 million. Johnny reportedly recorded over 1100 songs and has been called the "Biggest rock star you've never heard of". Almost all of his success was in the French-speaking world.

His first number one in France was "Viens Danser le Twist" (When Dancing the Twist), in 1961. One biographer listed 22 number one singles in France for Johnny.

In her delightful biography and homage "In My Eyes" author Amanda Sthers states that he had 15 number one singles and 30 number one albums. It is a pity that he was relatively unknown outside Europe.

Answer: Johnny Rebb and The Rebels

Born Donald James Delbridge, Johnny Rebb started as a Country singer, which at the time was called a hillbilly singer. After "Rock Around the Clock" became a hit in Australia in late 1956, Johnny gathered a group of musicians and they started performing as Johnny Rebb and The Rebels. They found a recording by Rusty and Doug Kershaw entitled "Hey Sheriff". Their note for note rendition of the Kershaws' record became a top ten hit in late 1959 early 1960 all over Australia. Johnny charted a couple more hits into the early sixties, then faded for a while. In the late 1960s Johnny resurfaced as the vocal frontman of The Atlantics, who in the early sixties charted the instrumental hit "Bombora". Their recording of Screaming Jay Hawkins', "I Put a Spell on You" was a chart success for them. After a few more recordings Johnny went back to being an accountant; in his heyday he was known as "The Gentleman of Rock 'n" Roll. Johnny passed away in 2014, he was 75.

Answer: John Leyton

A reluctant pop star - although he liked to sing, John Leyton preferred acting. However, "Lonely Johnny", "Johnny Remember Me" and "Wild Wind" were top twenty chart hits for him during the early part of the 1960s. He acted in the British 1960 series "Biggles" playing the part of Ginger.

He then acted in "The Great Escape" and "Von Ryan's Express". His pop music career was overwhelmed by the Merseybeat onslaught of the early sixties.

Answer: Johnny Tillotson

Born in Jacksonville Florida in 1938, Johnny Tillotson's first recording in 1958 was "Dreamy Eyes" which crept into the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed around for a few weeks.
In 1960 he recorded his best known song, "Poetry in Motion", which reached the number two position in late 1960 on the Billboard Hot 100. Johnny continued with top ten hits through 1965, titles such as, "Talk Back Trembling Lips", "Without You" and "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'". As of May 2018 Johnny Tillotson still performs occasionally at the sparkling age of 80.

Answer: Johnny O'Keefe and The Dee Jays

John Michael O'Keefe was born in Sydney in January 1935. Graduating high school in 1951, he enrolled in an economics course at Sydney University. After six months he dropped out and began working in his father's furniture store. All this time, Johnny was performing at local dances and socials. Like all early rockers the arrival of Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" changed his life. Johnny's early hit "Wild One" gave him his nickname; the song, also known as "Real Wild Child", has been recorded by many artists.

His best known hit was a note for note copy of the Isley Brothers "Shout". His first number one hit was "She's My Baby" in late 1959. This song was recorded in the USA and released there on Liberty Records. He did a promotional tour through the USA, visiting over thirty states, billed as the 'Boomerang Boy'. Further hits followed through the early sixties.

The British Invasion curtailed his career and he spent most of his later career as a club and cabaret performer. His legacy and impact on Australian Rock 'n' Roll music cannot be understated.

Answer: John Fogerty

As the composer, arranger, lead singer and driving force of Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty charted 17 top 50 hits between 1968 and 1972 with five making it to number two and another five making the top ten. Creedence hold the record for the most number two hits, without ever achieving number one on the Billboard chart. John went solo in the late seventies and had hits with "Jambalaya", "The Old Man is Down the Road" and "Rocking All Over the World". "Rocking All Over the World" was recorded by Status Quo in 1977 and was a monster hit for them in the UK, Europe and Australia. John Fogerty at the time of writing this quiz (May 2018) is still performing and is in fact in Las Vegas in May 2018.

Answer: Johnnie Ray

Originally recorded on Sun records in 1952 by The Prisonaires, "Just Walking in the Rain" was a huge hit for Johnny Ray in 1956. The song placed in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, made Number one in both The UK and Australia. Johnny Ray first came to prominence in 1952 with his best selling Number one hit "Cry".

He continually charted through the early 1950s and starred in the all star movie, "There's No Business Like Show Business" in 1954. His chart success waned as rock 'n' roll took over the charts.

In late 1959 Johnny made Number one in Australia with "I'll Never Fall in Love Again". This record did not make the charts in his USA homeland.

Answer: Johnny Crawford

Johnny Crawford, from 1958 to 1963, was known to baby boomers as Mark McCain on "The Rifleman". With his fame from the TV series he ventured into pop music and recorded a number of top forty hits between 1961 and 1964. "Cindy's Birthday" and "Rumours" were his biggest Billboard Hot 100 hits. In Australia he charted with "Proud" and "Nobody Really Loves a Clown".

Answer: Johnny Otis

Johnny Otis was an influential bandleader/songwriter/producer and performer, born December 1921 in the bay area of San Francisco. Contrary to his look and his wish he was not black; he was in fact born to Greek parents. He is reported as saying he was 'Black by persuasion'. Among his many recordings was the 1958 smash hit "Willie and the Hand Jive" which has been covered by many performers.

He followed up in a similar vein with "Crazy Country Hop", this too has been covered by a number of artists and featured in many live performances with its catchy chorus, "Ooh wee oh oh, Ooh la la, let's rock and roll."