Rock Legends-Do You Remember? Online Quiz | Music Mixture

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Born Walden Robert Cassotto, he had a string of hits from the late fifties through the seventies. In addition to his considerable musical talents, he was an Oscar-nominated actor and a member of Mensa. He was married to a very popular actress. Name this entertainer.

Answer: Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin's first big success was 1958's "Splish Splash". He had hits in folk, big band and rock and roll music during his career, "Mack the Knife" was probably the best known. He also appeared in several films, and received an Oscar nomination (Best Supporting Actor) for "Captain Newman MD" (1963). Darin married popular teen actress Sandra Dee in 1960; the marriage lasted seven years, they had one child. He died in 1973 after surgery on his heart, which had been damaged by rheumatic fever when he was young.

2. Francis Castelluccio was famous for his ground-breaking sound, an amazing falsetto. He was the frontman for a very successful pop group. Some of their early hits were "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Sherry" and "Walk Like a Man". By what name is Francis Castelluccio better known?

Answer: Frankie Valli

Frankie Valli was born in New Jersey in 1934. Valli, along with Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, and Bob Gaudio, formed the popular group The Four Seasons. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
The group's many hits included "Rag Doll", "Sherry", "Walk Like A Man" and "Big Girls Don't Cry". Valli also had several hits as a solo artist: "My Eyes Adored You", "Grease" and the lovely song "Can't Take My Eyes Off You".

3. This man wrote some of the best songs of the 60s. "In Dreams" and "Only the Lonely" were among his early hits. His trademarks were his pompadour hairdo and sunglasses, and he had one of the most haunting voices in all of popular music. Name this legendary musician.

Answer: Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison was a major influence on so many artists. He was the creator of a unique sound, a mix of rockabilly and blues, showcased in beautiful ballads. "Oh, Pretty Woman," "Crying," and "Blue Bayou" were among his most successful recordings.
Orbison had more than his share of tragedy in his life. His first wife Claudette was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1966, and in 1968, his home in Tennessee burned to the ground while he was away. Two of his three sons were killed in the fire. Orbison later remarried and had two more sons in addition to the surviving son, Wesley.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Roy Orbison died in 1988 at the young age of 52.

4. He was a pioneer, one of the most influential musicians in the history of rock and roll. He was a singer, guitarist and songwriter who had an impact on many rock and roll artists. Here's a hint: "Maybellene". Name this legend.

Answer: Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry is another pioneer, a songwriter, guitarist and performer who influenced many American and British groups in the sixties.
He was among the first to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame upon its opening in 1986.
Three of his songs: "Rock & Roll Music", "Johnny B. Goode" and "Maybellene" are included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame list of "the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll".

5. Known for his unique guitar sound, for "Electric Ladyland" and "Purple Haze" and his cover of "All Along the Watchtower", he was another artist that died too young. His rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" at Woodstock is a legend in itself. Name the musician.

Answer: Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix began his career as a member of colorful performer Little Richard's backup band, which probably inspired Hendrix' own flamboyance. Hendrix was an inspiration and major influence to a generation of rock guitarists. He was a performer, songwriter, and producer and innovator.
Jimi Hendrix was born in 1942 and died in 1970 of a drug overdose.
All of the artists mentioned in this question were major influential figures in music, and they all died young. Sam Cooke was murdered, Otis Redding died in a plane crash and Bob Marley died of cancer.

6. Lead singer and lyricist for one of the best of the sixties groups, this musician was no stranger to controversy. You might remember his arrest for indecent exposure at a concert performance in Florida, if you're old enough. He died in France in 1971, at 27. Some of his best work: "People Are Strange", "Love Me Two Times" and "Break On Through". Name this artist and poet.

Answer: Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison was an American singer, poet, and the lead singer and lyricist of The Doors, a most popular and influential sixties group. His charismatic performances are legendary, his best known song "Light My Fire" an all-time classic.
Upon his death, no autopsy was performed, but there is evidence that he died of a drug overdose. He had been sentenced to six months in jail on the indecent exposure charge, and was free on appeal at the time.
The other three artists mentioned in this question also died very young. Duane Allman died in a motorcycle crash, Gram Parsons of a drug overdose, and Brian Jones drowned in his swimming pool.

7. This rock and roll idol was born in Lubbock, Texas in 1936. Along with his band, the Crickets, he was one of the most influential musicians of the era, an inspiration to the Beatles and many others. He was killed in a plane crash in 1959, on a day later to become known in a popular song as "the day the music died". Name the artist.

Answer: Buddy Holly

Charles Hardin Holley was a performer, writer and major pioneer of rock and roll. He had been a star for a very short time before he died. His wife Maria was pregnant with their first child at the time of Holly's death-she miscarried soon after. Buddy Holly has been described as one of the most innovative artists in early rock & roll music. His work influenced all the greats, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. The other three artists mentioned all died in plane crashes.

8. The Beach Boys were known for their songs about the California lifestyle: surfing, cruising and young love. With their beautiful harmonies and lyrics emphasizing "fun", the group became one of the most popular of the early sixties. The troubled creative genius of the group was one of the three brothers who founded the Beach Boys. Who was he?

Answer: Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson was the lead songwriter, singer and bass player of the rock and roll band called the Beach Boys. The group began with brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, along with their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Wilson would reach the peak of his career as a composer and musician with the brilliant and influential Beach Boys album "Pet Sounds".
Brian Wilson's well-known struggles with mental illness eventually caused him to leave the group. His brother Dennis died in an accidental drowning in 1983, and Carl Wilson died of cancer in 1998.

9. This genius musician has said that his earliest inspirations were singers Odetta and Woody Guthrie. He began his career as a folk singer, performing with an acoustic guitar. He would become one of music's finest songwriters. At one point, he was backed up by the great band called The Band. Name this legendary artist.

Answer: Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is a singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who's been a major figure in popular music for more than forty years. Dylan's most celebrated work is probably from the sixties. His songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became a symbol of American anti-war sentiment, the civil rights struggle and the sixties youth movement.

The other three artists mentioned in this question are also influential songwriters. Robbie Robertson was a member of The Band.

10. And for last, the King: Elvis Presley. He came to tremendous stardom in the fifties and early sixties, and stayed on top until the so-called "British invasion". Elvis would make his big comeback in the late sixties, and remain very popular until his death. How old was Elvis when he died?

Answer: 42

Elvis Presley was a fantastic singer and performer, as well as a musician and actor. At the beginning of his career, his gyrations while singing were considered scandalous. He appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (the top talent showcase of the time) and was shot by the cameras from the waist up only.

He was considered too sexy for TV at the time. There hasn't been a singer before or since that inspired such love and admiration in his fans. He died of an overdose of prescription medication in 1977.

Source: Author robbieh

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Rock Legends-Do You Remember? Trivia Quiz

There are musical legends that will never be forgotten, the rock and roll icons, the inspiration for generations of artists. For this quiz I've concentrated on American artists.

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