Seniors on the US Charts Trivia Quiz

Answer: New York, New York

Frank Sinatra was born in December, 1915. "New York, New York" peaked at Number 30 in the US in June, 1980. "New York, New York" was the theme from the 1977 Martin Scorsese film of the same name. The music was composed by John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote the lyrics. Liza Minelli sang the song in the film and in the 1984 Olympics. Frank Sinatra recorded a version on his 1979 "Trilogy: Past Present Future" album and the "New York, New York" single was released the following year. "Send in the Clowns" was a 1976 Sinatra release. Frank's "My Way" reached Number 27 in the US in 1969.

A Disco version of "Night and Day" was released by Ol' Blue Eyes in 1977. "Strangers in the Night" made it to Number One in the US for Frank in 1966.

Answer: Old Rivers

"Old Rivers" was Walter Brennan's 1962 Number Five hit. "Dutchman's Gold", a Number 30 duet with Billy Vaughn, was his first chart hit. "Mama Sang A Song" was a Number 38 release for Walter Brennan in 1962. Stan Kenton had a Number 32 hit with "Mama Sang A Song" same year.
Walter Brennan was born in Massachusetts on July 25, 1894. His film career began in the mid-twenties with some uncredited roles. He went on to win three Best Supporting Actor Oscars. He also was cast in various television series including "The Real McCoys" from 1957 to 1963.
"Cotton Fields" went to Number 13 in the US for The Highwaymen. "Pocketful of Miracles" was a 1962 Number 34 song by Frank Sinatra.

Answer: Burl Ives

"A Little Bitty Tear" was written and originally recorded by Country music songwriter Hank Cochran. In 1961 Burl Ives recorded a version on his "The Versatile Burl Ives!" album. The single release was issued later the same year and in February, 1962, it peaked at Number Nine in the US. It fared better on the Country charts, nudging the top slot for two weeks.
Ives was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country and Western Recording as well as Best Male Solo Vocal Performance but failed to take home the award. "Call Me Mr. In-Between" was a Number 19 hit for Ives the same year.
Ives' recording career began in the forties, and he continued to release albums and singles through the eighties.
"Close to Cathy" was a Number 12 US hit for Mike Clifford in 1962. Larry Finnegan had a Number 11 hit with "Dear One" in 1962 and "Don't Go Near the Indians" was a Number 17 release by 41-year-old Rex Allen.

Answer: Perry Como

"And I Love You So" was Perry Como's final Top Forty hit. It was written by Don Mclean and was also the title of Perry Como's 1973 album that contained the hit single. In 1949 Perry Como released the first 45 rpm record to reach the Billboard charts. The title was "You're Adorable".

He was a television pioneer in the Variety genre and a prolific recording artist. He was 88 when he passed away in 2001 at his Florida home. Bing Crosby placed 383 of the over 1700 songs he recorded in the Top Thirty and 41 were Number One hits. Crosby passed away in 1977. Dean Martin was releasing singles into the sixties and passed away in 1995. Singer Jerry Vale was born Gennaro Luigi Vitaliano in 1932.

Answer: Nathan Birnbaum

In various interviews Nathan Birnbaum claimed he took the stage name of George Burns from the names of two baseball players. He quit school in the fourth grade because he wanted to be in show business. He entertained people any way he could and learned that he garnered a larger audience when he had a female partner.

He met Gracie in 1923 and formed a partnership that lasted until her death in 1964. He included an occasional song in their routine but did not consider himself a singer. Vito Rocco Farinola was the birth name of singer Vic Damone. Jack Benny was the stage name of Benjamin Kubelsky. Louis Francis Cristillo was Lou Costello's name at birth.

Answer: Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves

In 1971 "Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves" was the first Number One hit for Cher as a solo artist. Other chart toppers for Cher were "Half-Breed" in 1974 and "Dark Lady" the following year. Cher's first solo record was "Ringo, I Love You" in 1964. She recorded the song under the name of Bonnie Jo Mason for Annette Records.

The song was produced by Phil Spector but never charted. Her first successful solo recording as Cher was the US 1965 Top Twenty hit, "All I Really Want to Do". "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" reached Number Two in 1966. "You Better Sit Down Kids" was a 1967 Top Ten, reaching Number Nine. "If I Could Turn Back Time" made it to Number Three in 1989.

Answer: True

Reginald Kenneth Dwight came into the world on March 25, 1947. "Candle in the Wind 1997" was also called "Goodbye England's Rose" when it was released as a single on September 23, 1997, a month after her death. He was 50 years and six months old when the song was released. Elton John has vowed that he wouldn't perform the song live except at the request of William or Harry Windsor.

Answer: Calcutta

"Calcutta" was written in 1958 by composer Heino Gaze under the title of "Tivoli Melody" and underwent four name changes before Lawrence Welk recorded the song for Dot Records as "Calcutta". The recording process was not as technically sophisticated in the early sixties as it is today. The main instrument was a harpsichord, played by Frank Scott while wearing headphones. He was unable to hear the orchestra and they could not hear him. Even with the acoustic challenges the song was recorded in one take.
Lawrence Welk's first charted song was "Don't Sweetheart Me" in 1944.
"Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet" was done by Henry Mancini And His Orchestra. "Sail Along Silvery Moon" was released by Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra. "Theme From A Summer Place" was a 1960 Number One for Percy Faith.

Answer: James Brown

James Brown was born on May 3, 1933, and released "Living in America" in 1985. He took it to Number Four on the US Billboard chart. "Living in America" was featured in "Rocky 4". Brown included the song on his 1986 album, "Gravity". "Living in America" earned James Brown a Grammy Award for Best Male R and B Vocal Performance in 1986. In 1971 "Fire and Water" was Wilson Pickett's last US Top Forty single.

In 1988 Al Green and Annie Lennox had a Number Nine hit in the US with "Put a Little Love in Your Heart". Solomon Burke's recording career began in the early sixties with a cover of "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)".

Answer: Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)

"Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)" was a Top Twenty song by Gladys Knight and The Pips in 1973. The Staple Singers were grounded in Gospel music so a song about Pops swearing would not have been in context with the group.
The Staple Singers began their professional career singing Gospel music in the late forties in the Chicago area. Their first record, "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)", was released in 1967 but only made it to Number 95. Their first Top Forty hit was in 1970 with "Heavy Makes You Happy(Sha-Na-Boom Boom)".
"I'll Take You There" was a Number One hit in the US for the group in 1972. "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)" reached Number Nine in 1973 and "Let's Do It Again" topped the US Billboard chart in December, 1975.