That's My Backup Band Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tom T. Hall

Kentucky-born Tom T. Hall was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008. "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked his song "Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine" as one of the 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time. Aspiring songwriters would do well to read his excellent book "How I Write Songs--Why You Can".

Answer: Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard's first Top Ten country hit was a song called "(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers". That inspired the name of his backup band. The Strangers recorded five instrumental albums of their own.

Answer: Ernest Tubb

The man known as "ET" and "The Texas Troubadour" was born Ernest Dale Tubb in Crisp, Texas. Two members of his band would go on to successful careers on their own: Jack Greene and Cal Smith.

Answer: The Southern Gentlemen

Sonny James was aptly nicknamed "The Southern Gentleman" for his smooth style and winning stage presence. Best known for his signature song "Young Love" he had a string of number one country hits throughout the late 60s and the 70s.

Answer: Hank Thompson

Hank Thompson's career spanned seven decades. He served in the Navy during World War II, but decided to pursue a music career even though he studied engineering. Billboard Magazine named The Brazos Valley Boys the top country band for 14 years in a row.

Answer: The Texas Playboys

Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys produced some of the most iconic music in history fusing country and big band to produce "Western Swing". His influence on artists to follow cannot be overstated. Their songs have been covered by the likes of Merle Haggard, George Strait, Willie Nelson and even Frank Sinatra among others. Haggard recorded an entire "tribute" album and Asleep At The Wheel has done an entire series of albums celebrating their music.

Answer: The Jones Boys

Revered as one of the greatest country singers of all time, George Jones struggled with alcoholism through most of his adult life. He earned the dubious nickname of "No Show Jones" due to the frequency with which he would miss performances due to his intoxication. Thankfully he survived, became sober and continued to perform until shortly before his death in 2013 at age 72.

Answer: Porter Wagoner

On stage Porter Wagoner wore flashy suits made by legendary designers Nudie and Manuel. The suits were embroidered with wagon wheels and other decorative studs. Porter's last album before his passing in 2007 was called "Wagonmaster" and was produced by Marty Stuart. Ward Bond was the lead actor in the series "Wagon Train". Both the Sons of the Pioneers and Riders in the Sky are self contained groups providing their own music.

Answer: The Rainbow Ranch Boys

Known as "The Singing Ranger", Hank Snow was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. He taught himself to play guitar while listening to Jimmie Rodgers records, using a nail as a capo so he could play along in the same key as Jimmie. His band was named after his home in Tennessee.

Answer: Bill Anderson

One of "Whispering" Bill Anderson's early hits was a self-penned song called "Po' Folks". He initially called his band "The Po' Boys", but changed it to coincide with his restaurant chain of the same name. Before moving to Nashville to pursue his songwriting career, Bill earned a college degree in journalism and worked as a DJ in Georgia.