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Rock and Roll Firsts Trivia Quiz

Rock wasn't the first musical form but history may show it to be the most popular. So you ought to know your history if you are a rocker.

A multiple-choice quiz by tncvols. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
tncvols

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
331,160

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1227

Last 3 plays: kino76 (10/10), Guest 15 (3/10), Guest 136 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Rock wasn't yet invented when its first mention in a 1947 R&B song was part of which title? Hint

Good Rockin' Tonight

Rock Around the Clock

We're Gonna Rock And Roll

I Want To Rock and Roll

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Everyone knows the electric guitar is the basis for Rock and Roll's signature sound but who invented it?
Hint

Adolph Rickenbacker

Leo Fender

Les Paul

Orville Gibson

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Question 3 of 10

3. Rock and Roll started a long tradition of being part of movie sound tracks when "Rock Around The Clock" was included in which 1955 movie? Hint

East of Eden

Rebel Without a Cause

The Blackboard Jungle

Guys and Dolls

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 1954, long before MP3s, the transistor radio was invented by the TTK corporation and was an early rock accessory for hip fans. What company is TTK now? Hint

RCA

JVC

Phillips

Sony

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Which song, by Bill Haley and the Comets, was the first song to chart as "Rock and Roll" on the Bill Board Jukebox and Cash Box charts? Hint

See You Later Alligator

Rock Around The Clock

Crazy Man Crazy

Shake Rattle and Roll

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Rock has made a habit of producing crossover hits, but which was the first song to top pop, jazz and the R&B charts? Hint

Tracks of My Tears

Spinning Wheel

You Send Me

This Masquerade

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Which was the first song by a black act to go number one on the Cash Box charts? Hint

Where Did Our Love Go

Tears Of a Clown

My Guy

Crying in The Chapel

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Flutes are not usually seen in rock music but which song had a flute solo first?
Hint

Rockin Robin

California Dreaming

Bourree

All You Need Is Love

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Who was the first all female act to go to Billboard number one? Hint

The Shirelles

The Ronettes

The Supremes

The Marvelettes

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Going national in 1957 after a run on local TV, having acts lip sync songs, an ageless host, going from black and white to color and back again did not slow down which early rock show? Hint

The 950 Club

Hootenanny

American Bandstand

Soul Train

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 19 2024 : kino76: 10/10
Nov 13 2024 : Guest 15: 3/10
Nov 12 2024 : Guest 136: 8/10
Nov 01 2024 : Guest 98: 10/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Rock wasn't yet invented when its first mention in a 1947 R&B song was part of which title?

Answer: Good Rockin' Tonight

"Good Rockin' Tonight" was written in Texas by Roy Brown, a New Orleans native. He later was nicknamed Good Rocking Brown. A young Elvis had seen him perform and in 1954 covered this song.

2. Everyone knows the electric guitar is the basis for Rock and Roll's signature sound but who invented it?

Answer: Adolph Rickenbacker

Adolph completed the first electric with his partner George Beauchamp for their company Electro String Instrument Corporation, now Rickenbacker International Corporation. It was first played by a Hawaiian band. And yes, he is a distant cousin to Eddie Rickenbacker.

3. Rock and Roll started a long tradition of being part of movie sound tracks when "Rock Around The Clock" was included in which 1955 movie?

Answer: The Blackboard Jungle

It was recorded in 1954 and made three appearances the following year in the movie, in the opening credits, instrumentally in the middle of the film and at the closing credits. It moved the year old song to number one in the charts and forever linked rock with teen rebelliousness.

4. In 1954, long before MP3s, the transistor radio was invented by the TTK corporation and was an early rock accessory for hip fans. What company is TTK now?

Answer: Sony

Sony began a long association with portability of music with this invention. The very name Sony is derived from sonus, Latin for sound.

5. Which song, by Bill Haley and the Comets, was the first song to chart as "Rock and Roll" on the Bill Board Jukebox and Cash Box charts?

Answer: Crazy Man Crazy

"Crazy Man Crazy" hit number 15 in 1953. "Rock Around the Clock" was only on the Cash Box charts one week in 1954 but its movie appearance took it to number one one year later. Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" (Buddy Guy on guitar) also in 1953 is classed as R&B.

6. Rock has made a habit of producing crossover hits, but which was the first song to top pop, jazz and the R&B charts?

Answer: This Masquerade

Leon Russell defined crossover with this song. George Benson covered it in 1976 on the album "Breezin", winning record of the year and making it the first triple number one song in the process. Interestingly, it was a B-side to "Tightrope" for Leon.

7. Which was the first song by a black act to go number one on the Cash Box charts?

Answer: Crying in The Chapel

Written by Artie Glenn for his high school son Darrell to sing in 1953 it went to number one on Cash Box for Darrell thanks to combined sales of different versions he had recorded. Later that same year it was covered by The Orioles and charted again, this time number one on Cash Box charts while June Valli's version went to number four on Billboard. Later some guy named Elvis covered it again.

8. Flutes are not usually seen in rock music but which song had a flute solo first?

Answer: Rockin Robin

Bobby Day in 1958 accomplished this first. It was seven more years before the Mamas and Papas added a flute solo to "California Dreaming".

9. Who was the first all female act to go to Billboard number one?

Answer: The Shirelles

"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" hit number one in January of 1961. It was eleven months ahead of "Please Mr. Postman" by the Marvelettes.

10. Going national in 1957 after a run on local TV, having acts lip sync songs, an ageless host, going from black and white to color and back again did not slow down which early rock show?

Answer: American Bandstand

A cultural Icon for baby boomers and referenced in movies and TV for years after its demise, "Bandstand" was an original. Begun in Philadelphia in 1952 Dick Clark came aboard in 1956 and was instrumental in taking the show national on Aug. 5, 1957.

Source: Author tncvols

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