Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - The First Ten Quiz

Answer: Chuck Berry

"Maybellene" was written by Chuck Berry/Russ Fratto/Alan Freed. It was Chuck Berry's first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Top 100 when it peaked at number five in 1955. It did not chart on the UK Singles Chart.

Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on October 18 1926. Between 1955 and 1972 he had 27 entries on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100, nine of those made the Top 20 of which seven made the Top Ten. His only number one hit on the pop charts was "My Ding-A-Ling", which was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. It was also his only number one hit on the UK Singles Chart where it stayed for four weeks the same year.

Chuck Berry died of cardiac arrest at his home near Wentzville, Missouri, USA, on March 18 2017 aged 90.

Answer: James Brown

"Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (Part 1)" was written by James Brown. It was his first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when it peaked at number eight in 1965. It peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

James Joseph Brown was born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on May 2 1933. Between 1958 and 1986 he had 99 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, 16 of those made the Top 20 of which seven made the Top Ten. He never had a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 or the UK Singles Chart.

James Brown died of congestive heart failure, resulting from complications of pneumonia in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on December 25 2006 aged 73.

Answer: Ray Charles

"What'd I Say (Part 1)" was written by Ray Charles, It was his first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when it peaked at number six in 1959. It did not enter the UK Singles Chart.

Ray Charles Robinson Sr. was born in Albany, Georgia, USA, on September 23 1930. Between 1957 and 2002 Ray Charles had 77 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, 18 of those were Top 20 hits of which 15 made the Top Ten. He had three number one hits, "Georgia On My Mind" (number one for one week in 1960), "Hit The Road Jack" (number one for two weeks in 1961) and "I Can't Stop Loving You" (number one for five weeks in 1963). He had one number one on the UK Singles Chart when "I Can't Stop Loving You" was number one for two weeks in 1962.

Ray Charles died of complications from liver failure, at home in Beverly Hills, California, USA, on June 10 2004 aged 73.

Answer: Sam Cooke

"You Send Me" was written by Sam Cooke, it was his first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Top 100, where it was number one for three weeks in 1957. It peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart in 1958.

Samuel Cook was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA, on January 22 1931. Between 1957 and 1966 he had 43 entries on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100, 17 of those were Top 20 hits of which four made the Top Ten. "You Send Me" was his only number one hit on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100. He never achieved that feat on the UK Singles Chart.

Sam Cooke died of a gunshot wound to the chest, at the Hacienda Motel, Los Angeles, California, USA, on December 11 1964 aged 33.

Answer: Fats Domino

"Ain't It A Shame" (aka. "Ain't That A Shame") was written by Antoine Domino/Dave Bartholomew. It was Fats Domino's first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Top 100, where it peaked at number ten in 1955. It peaked at number 23 on the UK Singles chart in 1957.

Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, on February 26 1928. From 1955 to 1968 Fats Domino had 66 entries on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100, 18 of those were Top 20 hits, of which 12 were Top Ten hits. He never achieved a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 or the UK Singles Chart.

Fats Domino died of natural causes at home in Harvey, Louisiana, USA, on October 24 2017 aged 89.

Answer: The Everly Brothers

"Bye Bye Love" was written by Boudleaux Bryant/Felice Bryant. It was The Everly Brothers' first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Top 100, where it peaked at number two in 1957. It peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Isaac Donald Everly was born in Brownie, Kentucky, USA, on February 1 1937, Phillip Everly was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on January 19 1939. Between 1957 and 1984 The Everly Brothers has 38 hits on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100, 17 of those were Top 20 hits, of which 15 were Top Ten hits. They had four number one hits: "Wake Up Little Susie" (number one for four weeks in 1957), "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (number one for five weeks in 1958), "Bird Dog" (number one for one week in 1958) and "Cathy's Clown" (number one for five weeks in 1960).

Phil Everly died of lung disease in Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, USA, on January 3 2014 aged 74.

Don Everly died at home in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, on August 21 2021 aged 84. No cause of death was given.

Answer: Buddy Holly

"Peggy Sue" was written by Jerry Allison/Norman Petty. It was the first Top Ten hit under the name of Buddy Holly on the Billboard Top 100 when it peaked at number three in 1957. It peaked at number six on the UK Singles chart the same year.

Between 1957 and 1959 Buddy Holly and/or The Crickets had 12 entries on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100, five of them were Top 20 hits, of which three were Top Ten hits. Buddy Holly as part of The Crickets had one number one hit on the Billboard Top 100 when "That'll Be The Day" spent one week at the top in 1957. It was number one on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks the same year.

Although Buddy Holly released records under his own name, The Crickets played on most of them. Buddy Holly records were released on the Coral record label and The Crickets' records were released on the Brunswick record label because of recording contract arrangements.

Buddy Holly died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, USA, on February 3 1959 aged 22.

Answer: Jerry Lee Lewis

"Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On", (aka. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On") was written by Dave "Curlee" Williams/James Faye "Roy" Hall. It was Jerry Lee Lewis' first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Top 100, where it peaked at number three in 1957. It peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Between 1957 and 1973 Jerry Lee Lewis had 18 entries on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100, three of those were Top Ten hits. His biggest hit was "Great Balls Of Fire" which peaked at number two in 1958. It was number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Jerry Lee Lewis died of natural causes (after recovering from a minor stroke in 2019) in Nesbit, Mississippi, USA, on October 28 2022 aged 87.

Answer: Little Richard

"Long Tall Sally" was written by Penniman/Blackwell/Johnson. It was Little Richard's first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Top 100 where it peaked at number six in 1956. It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart in 1957

Between 1955 and 1986 Little Richard had 21 entries on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100, six of those were Top 20 hits, of which four were Top Ten hits. His biggest hit was "Long Tall Sally" but he never had a number one hit on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100 or the UK Singles Chart.

Little Richard died of a cause related to bone cancer at his home, in Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA, on May 9 2020 aged 87.

Answer: Elvis Presley

"Heartbreak Hotel" was written by Axton/Durden/Presley. It was Elvis Presley's first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Top 100, where it was number one for eight weeks in 1956. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Between 1956 and 1982 Elvis Presley had 150 entries on the Billboard Top 100/Hot 100, 69 of those were Top 20 hits of which 39 were Top Ten hits. He had 18 number one hits between 1956 and 1969.

Elvis Presley died of a heart attack at his home, in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, on August 16 1977 aged 42.