Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Fifties Quiz

Answer: Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In)

Stuart Hamblen was one of the pioneer singing cowboys and later became a radio personality. He was the first recording artist to be signed to MCA records in the thirties. In 1949 he underwent a faith conversion and began broadcasting with a Christian radio show called "The Cowboy Church of the Air" between 1949 and 1952.

He wrote several Christian songs including "Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In)" and recorded under the banner of his radio show. Hamblen also pursued an unsuccessful political career. "Make Yourself Comfortable" was Top Forty hit in 1955 for both Peggy King and Andy Griffith. "Don't Be Angry" was done by Nappy Brown. Snooky Lanson took "It's Almost Tomorrow" to Number 20.

Answer: Barry Gordon

"Nuttin' for Christmas" made it to Number Six by Barry Gordon during the final week of 1955. He was only seven years old when he recorded the popular song backed by Art Mooney and His Orchestra. The version became a million selling record.
Ricky Zahnd and the Blue Jeaners took "(I'm Gettin') Nuttin' for Christmas" to Number 21 on Christmas Eve, 1955, and "Nuttin' for Xmas" was taken to Number 20 by Joe Ward the same week that Barry Gordon's version did. The other two versions failed to make the Top Forty.
The Singing Dogs barked out the Number 22 "Oh! Susanna" in December of 1955. Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra had a Top Twenty with "The Popcorn Song" in August of 1955. The 1955 Top Twenty release, "Runaround", was recorded by The Three Chuckles.

Answer: Don Robertson

Don Robertson was born in China where his dad was temporarily working at The Peking Union Medical College. He went on to become a Country genre songwriter. Some of the many compositions he wrote or co-wrote that have been recorded by various singers included "I Really Don't Want to Know", "Please Help Me I'm Falling" and "There's Always Me".

He also collaborated with Hal Blair to write Lorne Greene's Number One hit, "Ringo". Eddie Lawrence had his only Top Forty song with "The Old Philosopher". "The Fool" was by a Top Ten by Sanford Clark and the Top Ten "Cindy, Oh Cindy" was Vince Martin's only hit.

Answer: Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly listed Jo Stafford as her favorite singer in her high school yearbook. Grace went on to become an Academy Award-winning actress and married the Prince of Monaco. Although not known as a singer, she did enjoy success with "True Love" when it topped out at Number Three in October, 1956.
Jerry Lewis had a 1956 Top Ten hit with "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody". "Eloise" was a Top Forty release in 1956 by actress Kay Thompson. Jane Powell starred in many MGM Musical films and made it to Number 15 in 1956 with a song called "True Love".

Answer: Stranded in the Jungle

In 1956 The Cadets had the biggest success with "Stranded in the Jungle" on Modern Records when it reached Number Two in July. The same week The Jayhawks reached Number 18 with the song. The following month a group called The Gadabouts barely broke the Top Forty when their rendition peaked at Number 39.
"When You Dance" was the only Top Forty hit for The Turbans. "Graduation Day" was a Number 27 hit by The Rovers in 1956. Despite releasing over 100 recordings, "Since I Met You Baby" was the only Top Twenty single by Ivory Joe Hunter.

Answer: Robert and Johnny

Robert Carr and Johnny Mitchell wrote most of their own material and recorded approximately a dozen singles on the Old Town Records label. "We Belong Together" was their biggest success, reaching Number 32. Their only other song to make the US Billboard chart was the Number 93 single, "I Believe In You", released the same year.

The duo continued to record into the sixties before calling it quits. Ronald and Ruby took "Lollipop" to Number 20 before The Chordettes had their Top Ten hit with the song. "The Freeze" was released by Tony and Joe in 1957. "(It's Been a Long Time) Pretty Baby" went to Number 20 for Gino and Gina.

Answer: Carl Mann

Carl Mann began his career singing in church and at talent shows. He landed a recording contract with a local label and released a few unsuccessful hits. A member of Carl Perkins' band landed him a three-year Sun Records deal. He was only 16 when his version of "Mona Lisa" made the charts.

Although he released follow-up singles, the only other Mann song to dent the charts was the Number 57 song, "Pretend". "I Ain't Never" was a Number 25 single by Webb Pierce. The Browns' version of "The Three Bells" went to Number One, while Dick Flood's rendition only made it to Number 23. "This Should Go on Forever" squeaked into the Top Twenty at Number 20 for Rod Bernard in 1959.

Answer: The Blob

A group of Los Angeles studio musicians under the direction of Bernie Nee formed The Five Blobs and recorded "The Blob" for the 1958 Steve McQueen film of the same name. Burt Bacharach and Hal David's brother, Mack, composed the song that featured a saxophone lead. The Columbia Records single reached Number 33 on the Billboard charts.
"Poor Boy" was a Top Twenty by The Royaltones. Jan and Arnie released "Jennie Lee" in 1958. "The Swingin' Shepherd Blues" was a Top Forty single by The Moe Koffman Quartette.

Answer: The Tempos

Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards wrote The Tempos' single, "See You in September". The flip side was a song called "Bless You My Love". The tempos' release of "See You in September" became part of the soundtrack of the 1973 film, "American Graffiti". The Happenings' version fared better on the charts, peaking at Number Three.
The Falcons had a Top Twenty recording with "You're So Fine". "You Were Mine" was released by The Fireflies and The Mystics had a Number 20 single with "Hushabye".

Answer: Margie Rayburn

Margie Rayburn married Sunnysider member Norman Milkin while she was with the group. When "Hey! Mr. Banjo" made it to Number 12, Kapp records hastily tried to release an album by The Sunnysiders but they only had recorded three tunes. The Happy Harts are featured on most of the album's tracks. Freddy Morgan played the banjo on "Hey Mr. Banjo". Margie Rayburn switched to Liberty Records when she released her only Top Twenty hit, "I'm Available". "Dark Moon" was a one-hit wonder by Bonnie Guitar in 1957. Joy Layne's "Your Wild Heart" reached Number 20 the same year. "I Miss You So" was a 1957 Top Forty release by Chris Connor.