Motown (1965-69) Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Temptations

Written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, and with lead vocals by David Ruffin, "My Girl" reached the top of the Billboard chart in 1965 for the Temptations.

Answer: The Isley Brothers

"This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)" was their only top 20 hit in the US for Motown, reaching number 12 on the Billboard chart. However, somewhat unusually for Motown acts, they had more success in the UK where they achieved four top 20 hits between 1966 and 1969, with "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)" being the highest placed at number three.

Answer: Jimmy Ruffin

Jimmy Ruffin is the brother of the Temptation's David Ruffin, and he reached the top ten in both the US and UK with "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" on its release in 1966.

Answer: Reach Out I'll Be There

"Reach Out I'll Be There" gave the Four Tops their second number one on the Billboard chart in the US in 1966, with "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" having given them their first number one the previous year. "Standing in the Shadows of Love" reached number six in 1966 and "Bernadette" made it to number four in 1967.

Answer: Martha and the Vandellas

"Jimmy Mack" reached number 10 on the US Billboard chart in 1967, and was the last top 10 hit for Martha and the Vandellas. All of their six top 10 records were between 1963 and 1967, with the others being "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave", "Quicksand", "Dancing in the Street", "Nowhere to Run" and "I'm Ready for Love".

Answer: Florence Ballard

Florence Ballard left following Berry Gordy's decision to change the name to highlight Diana Ross being the group's lead singer, and was replaced by Cindy Birdsong. Barbara Martin had already left the Supremes in 1962 prior to their first hit, and Jean Terrell would later replace Diana Ross when she left to pursue a solo career in 1970. Mary Wilson continued in the Supremes throughout their Motown career.

Answer: Gladys Knight and the Pips

Gladys Knights and the Pips reached number two on the Billboard chart in the US with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". They had already had a US top 10 before they joined Motown with "Every Beat of My Heart" in 1961 when it reached number six, and they would reach the number one spot after leaving Motown with "Midnight Train to Georgia" in 1973. Marvin Gaye's version spent seven weeks at the top of the Billboard chart in the US over December '68 & January '69, and he repeated this success in the UK with three weeks at number one in 1969.

Answer: Tammi Terrell

Tammi Terrell was Marvin Gaye's third singing partner and they had five US top 20 hits in 1967 & 1968, with "Your Precious Love" being their most successful after reaching number five in 1967. Marvin Gaye had two top 20 hits with Mary Wells, and one with Kim Weston, before his partnership with Tammi Terrell.

He also went on to have two further top 20 hits with Diana Ross (in 1973 & 1974).

Answer: David Ruffin

Following several disagreements with other members of the Temptations, David Ruffin was replaced by Dennis Edwards. Elbridge Bryant was replaced by David Ruffin at the end of 1963, and Eddie Kendricks left in 1971 to be replaced by Ricky Owens (who was only briefly with the group before he was replaced by Damon Harris). Otis Williams remained with the Temptations throughout their Motown career, and at the end of 2015 is the only original member still performing with them.

Answer: Diana Ross and the Supremes

Despite having written number one hits for other Motown artists, Smokey Robinson never reached number one with the miracles in the 1960s. Stevie Wonder only reached number one once in the 1960s with "Fingertips" (Part 2), while the Temptations made it to the number one spot twice, with "My Girl" and "Can't Get Next To You".

The Supremes had a total of 12 number ones in the 1960s, which was surpassed only by the Beatles with 18 (the Beatles also had two further number ones in 1970).