Singing in the Rain? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Johnnie Ray

"Just Walking In The Rain" written by Johnny Bragg/Robert Riley peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for Johnnie Ray in 1956. It was number one for seven weeks on the UK singles chart the same year.

Songwriters Johnny Bragg and Robert Wiley were prisoners in the Tennessee State Prison in Nashville, when they wrote the song in 1952. Bragg and his group The Prisonaires recorded the song for Sun records in 1953 and it was a hit on the Billboard R&B chart.

Answer: Buddy Holly

"Raining In My Heart" written by Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant peaked at number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Buddy Holly in 1959. It did not chart in the UK.

"Raining In My heart" was the B-Side of Buddy Holly's postumous hit "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart the same year. It was the first postumous hit on the UK singles chart. The song was written by Paul Anka who donated his royalties to Buddy Holly's widow Maria Elena.

Answer: Fats Domino

"It Keeps Rainin" written by Fats Domino/Dave Bartholomew/Bobby Charles peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Fats Domino in 1961. It peaked at number 49 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Fats Domino never had a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 or the UK singles chart. His biggest hit on both charts was "Blueberry Hill" which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number six on the UK singles chart in 1957. He did have nine number one hits on the Billboard R&B chart between 1952 and 1959.

Answer: The Beatles

"Rain" was written by John Lennon but credited to Lennon/McCartney. "Rain" did not enter the UK singles chart but peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. It was the B-Side of "Paperback Writer" which was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart for The Beatles in 1966. It was also number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

The song was inspired by the poor weather that met The Beatles when they arrived in Sydney, for their Australian tour. It was recorded during the recording of their album "Revolver". It was the first record released by The Beatles that had reversed sounds included which they did more of on "Revolver".

Answer: Elvis Presley

"Kentucky Rain" written by Eddie Rabbitt/Dick Heard peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Elvis Presley in 1970. It peaked at number 21 on the UK singles chart the same year.

"Kentucky Rain" was one of many collaborations by Dick Heard with Eddie Rabbit and other songwriters. Country singer and pianist Ronnie Milsap plays piano on the track. The song was recorded in February 1969 at the American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Answer: Creedence Clearwatwer Revival

"Have You Ever Seen The Rain" written by John Fogerty peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 for Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1971. It peaked at number 36 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Between 1968 and 1971 Creedence Clearwater Revival had ten Top 20 Hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Nine of them were Top 10 hits of which five peaked at number two. They never had a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 but made it to number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart with "Bad Moon Rising" in 1969.

Answer: Electric Light Orchestra

"Standin' In The Rain" written by Jeff Lynne was track one on side three of the double album "Out Of The Blue". It peaked at number four on the UK album chart in 1977. It also peaked at number four on the Billboard album chart the same year.

All of the songs on "Out Of The Blue" were written by Jeff Lynne in three and a half weeks while staying in the Swiss Alps. It has sold in excess of 10,000,000 copies. Side three of the album is subtitled "Concerto for a Rainy Day" and contains the for tracks "Standin' In The Rain", "Big Wheels", "Summer And Lightning" and Mr. Blue Sky".

Answer: Supertramp

"It's Raining Again" written by Rick Davies/Roger Hodgson peaked at number 26 on the UK singles chart for Supertramp on 1982. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Supertramp were formed in England in 1969. They were Rick Davies (vocals, keyboard), John Helliwell (saxophone), Roger Hodgson (vocals, guitar), Dougie Thompson (bass) and Bob Seibenberg (drums). Supertramp only had two Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart with "The Logical Song" at number seven (a number six hit in the US) and " Breakfast In America" at number nine. "It's Raining Again" was their last hit on the UK singles chart.

Answer: Madness

"The Sun And The Rain" written by Mike Barson peaked at number five on the UK singles chart for Madness in 1983. It peaked at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984.

Between 1979 and 1999 Madness had 23 Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart (20 of these were consecutive). This included 17 Top 10 hits, one of which "House Of Fun" was number one for two weeks in 1982. They spent more weeks on the UK singles chart in the '80s than any other group.

Answer: Phil Collins

"I Wish It Would Rain Down" written by Phil Collins peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart for Phil Collins in 1990. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Philip David Charles Collins was born in Chiswick, London, England, in 1951. In 1964 he appeared as a young fan in the crowd at a Beatles' concert in the movie "A Hard Day's Night". (I have watched the movie several times but have failed to spot him but he did have hair then). He left Genesis in 1996 and had a very succesful solo career, having had tree number one hits on the UK singles chart and seven number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.