Number One Folk Songs and Singers Quiz

Answer: Chad Mitchell Trio

New Mexico native John Denver's family relocated to Texas. After graduating from high school he went to Los Angeles where he began his musical career performing in coffee houses. He joined the Chad Mitchell Trio and sang with them for approximately four years until he left to embark on a solo career.
The Chad Mitchell Trio formed in the state of Washington and came to national attention when they appeared on the "Arthur Godfrey Show". Harry Belafonte featured the trio as backing musicians in his 1960 Carnegie Hall concert. They also had their own numbers during the show. When William Chadbourne Mitchell left the band they hired John Denver after an audition of several prospective members.
The Swagmen were sixties recording artists for the Parkway label. John Paine, Bob Flick, Mike Kirkland and Dick Foley were Phi Gamma Delta fraternity members who met at the University of Washington and named themselves the Brothers Four. Alumni of The New Christy Minstrels included Barry McGuire, Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes and Gene Clark of The Byrds.

Answer: Michael (Row the Boat Ashore)

The origins of the song "Michael(Row the Boat Ashore)" began during the Civil War around the Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina. The owners of the slaves abandoned the islands rather than defend them against a Union blockade. Abolitionist Charles Ware assumed supervision of the main island, Saint Helena Island, and heard the former slaves singing the song. He memorialized the song into music notation and it endured after the war.
The Highwaymen formed in the early sixties at Wesleyan University and followed "Michael (Row the Boat Ashore)" with the Top Twenty song, "Cottonfields", before disbanding to pursue their studies.
"Bless You" was a Number 15 release by Tony Orlando in 1961. "Sacred" by The Castells reached Number 20 the same year and "Wings Of A Dove" was a 1961 Number 12 Country crossover hit by Ferlin Husky.

Answer: Sunshine Superman

Epic Records released "Sunshine Superman" in the US in 1966 six months before it was released in the UK on the Pye label. It peaked at Number Two in the UK. The success of the single was a factor in naming Donovan's third album "Sunshine Superman". Donovan's roots were in the British Folk Music scene but he gradually incorporated aspects of various genres into his songs. Donovan enjoyed a close personal friendship with the Beatles, Joan Baez and other top acts of the sixties.

When Punk music came into vogue in the early seventies Donovan's appeal waned and he took a hiatus from the music business.

He released an album titled "Beat Cafe" in 2004. "Mellow Yellow" peaked at Number Two in 1966 in the US. "Catch the Wind" was Donovan's first US chart entry in 1965 and peaked at Number 23. "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" reached the same spot on the US charts in 1967.

Answer: Leaving on a Jet Plane

"Leaving on a Jet Plane" was the trio's only Number One on the Billboard Hot 100. They did place three Number One songs on the Adult Contemporary charts. "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was written by John Denver with the title "Oh Babe I Hate To Go" until his producer convinced him to rename the song.

He composed the song when he was with the Chad Mitchell Trio in 1967 and the group recorded a version. Spanky and Our Gang recorded a version the same year as well as other artists but none of them enjoyed the success with the tune that Peter, Paul and Mary did.

The song was from their "Album 1700" LP. "Puff (The Magic Dragon)" and "Blowin' in the Wind" made it to Number Two in 1963. "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" was a 1967 Top Ten hit for the trio.

Answer: Tom Dooley

"Tom Dooley" was a North Carolina folk song about the murder of a girl after the Civil War. The murder was the result of a love triangle involving a Confederate soldier named Tom Dula. He was hanged in May, 1868, still proclaiming his innocence. The first rendition of the song was recorded in the late twenties.
Bob Shane, Dave Guard and Nick Reynolds formed the Kingston trio in 1957 in Palo Alto, California. They were discovered while performing at college engagements and became regulars at The hungry i nightclub in San Francisco. They secured a one-record deal with Capitol Records but when "Tom Dooley" topped the charts they went on to record several more successful albums.
"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" reached Number 21 in 1962. "The Reverend Mr. Black" was the Folk group's only other Top Ten hit, peaking at Number Eight in 1963. "The Tijuana Jail" was a Number 12 hit the year after "Tom Dooley".

Answer: Melanie

New York native Melanie Safka's biggest hit was "Brand New Key", a single release from her "Gather Me" album. The song also came to be known as "The Roller Skate Song". The tune also reached the top slot in Canada and Australia. Other hits for Melanie included "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" and "What Have They Done To My Song, Ma?".

When she performed at Woodstock many attendees lit candles which inspired "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)". The song became her first US Top Ten hit the year after Woodstock.

She released five more singles before "Brand New Key" topped the charts and has released albums frequently since then. "Clean Up Woman" was a Number Six 1971 hit by Betty Wright. "Summer Sand" was a 1971 release by Dawn that reached Number 33. "For the Love of Him" reached Number 13 for Bobbi Martin.

Answer: Bonanza

Lorne Greene played the patriarch of the Cartwright family on "Bonanza" beginning in 1959. After deciding not to complete his studies in chemical engineering, Greene became a broadcaster for the CBC. His only major film role before being cast in "Bonanza" was as a prosecutor in the 1957 movie, "Peyton Place".

When "Bonanza" became popular, Greene recorded a number of albums such as "Portrait of the West", "American West" and "Welcome to the Ponderosa" in which he partially sang and narrated stories. "Ringo" was a surprise hit from one of the albums, "Lorne Greene the Man".

The ballad narrated the relationship between a lawman and an outlaw. The flip side contained a vocal version of the "Bonanza" theme song. "The High Chaparral" featured Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell. James Drury was the star of "The Virginian" and Robert Conrad was featured in "Wild, Wild West".

Answer: The Rooftop Singers

"Walk Right In" was originally recorded in the twenties by Gus Cannon and His Jug Stompers. The Rooftop Singers' "Walk Right In" album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording. Erik Darling was a creative force in the band. When he decided to record the song he had fellow guitarist Bill Svanoe play another 12-string guitar along with his 12-string. Lynne Taylor was the third member of the group.

Their vocal arrangements and dual 12-string guitar sound gave the song a unique dimension. "Walk Right In" stayed at the Number One spot for two weeks in 1963 and the trio performed at the Newport Folk Festival the same year. Glenn Yarbrough, Lou Gottlieb and Alex Hassilev formed the Limeliters in 1959.

The New Lost City Ramblers formed in New York in 1958.

The Seekers formed in Australia in 1962.

Answer: The Founder of the Dominican Order

Jeanine Deckers was a Belgian nun and member of the Dominican Fichermont Convent. She assumed the name Soeur Sourire, meaning sister smile, while with the convent but became known as the Singing Nun. She recorded the song on an album as a tribute to the founder of the Dominican Order while with the convent.

When the song became successful she appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964. She eventually left the order and ran a school for autistic children in Belgium until her death in 1985. Tomas de Torquemada was the Inquisitor General of Spain during the Spanish Inquisition.

He was a Segovian Dominican. None of the popes during the 15th century were named Dominique. In 1478 Pope Sixtus IV prepared the decree establishing the Inquisition. Saint Cecilia was the Patron Saint of singers.

Answer: True

"Like a Rolling Stone" reached Number Two in 1965 and "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35" hit the same spot the following year. They were the two highest charting singles for Bob Dylan on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Lay Lady Lay" and "Positively 4th Street" were both Top Ten hits for Dylan.

Despite a string of popular songs Dylan's first Number One album, "Planet Waves", didn't top the album charts until 1974. His first album, "Bob Dylan" failed to chart in 1962, but his follow-up, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", was instrumental in the resurgence of Folk music in the sixties. Classic Dylan songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind", "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" and "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" were among the tracks on the album.