The Singer, Not the Song Trivia Quiz

Answer: Adam Faith

"Have A Drink On Me" was written by Ledbetter/Lomax, additional lyrics Buchanan/Donegan. It peaked at number eight on the UK singles chart in 1961. it did not chart in the US.

The lyrics containing the name of the singer are:

"Well sell your shovel and your old long johns
You can make a fortune writing Adam Faith songs"

Lonnie Donegan was born Anthony James Donegan in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1931. He died aged 71 after suffering a heart attack in Market Deeping, England, in 2002. At the time he was half way through a UK tour and was due to perform at a memorial concert for George Harrison. Between 1956 and 1962 he had 24 UK Top 20 hits which included the three number one hits, "Cumberland Gap" (1957), "Gamblin' Man"/"Putting On The Style" (1957) and "My Old Man's A Dustman" (1960).

He became known as the "King of Skiffle" and was the UK's most successful and influential recording artist before The Beatles. How ironic that his chart career, like many others, would be eclipsed by the very generation of British performers that he had influenced and who became famous in the '60s and beyond.

Answer: Eddie Cochran

"Just Like Eddie" was written by Geoff Goddard. It peaked at number five on the UK singles chart for Heinz in 1963. It did not chart in the US.

Heinz was influenced by Eddie Cochran and this song was a tribute to him rather than opportunistic, as Eddie Cochran had died three years earlier.

Heinz Burt was born Heinz Henry George Schwarz in Detmold, Germany, in 1942. He died in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, in 2000 aged 57 from a heart attack after suffering from motor neuron disease; apparently he only had £18 to his name at the end. Heinz came under the influence of record producer Joe Meek who created his image, which involved him peroxiding his hair. After the original Tornados disbanded Joe Meek was struggling to stay afloat. This was made worse trying to launch a solo career for his protege Heinz who lived in his apartment for a period. Heinz, his wife and his family always denied there was any relationship between the two of them.

After "Just Like Eddie", Heinz only had four more minor hits from 1963 to 1965. When Heinz moved out of Joe Meek's apartment, he left a shotgun behind. In 1967 Joe Meek used it to murder his landlady and commit suicide. After Joe Meek's death, Heinz left music for a time and worked on a local newspaper, The Dagenham Post.

Answer: Cass Elliot

"Creeque Alley" was written by John Phillips/Michelle Phillips. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Mamas & The Papas in 1967. It peaked at number nine on the UK singles chart the same year.

The lyrics containing the name of the singer are:

"In L.A., you know where that's at
And everybody's gettin' fat except Mama Cass"

The Mamas & The Papas were Denny Doherty, born Dennis Gerrard Stephen Doherty in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1940. He died in of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, in 2007 aged 66. Cass Elliot, born Ellen Naomi Cohen in Baltimore, Maryland. USA, in 1941. She died of a heart attack (possibly brought on by extreme weight loss) in Mayfair, London, England, in 1974 aged 32. Four years later Keith Moon the drummer for The Who died in the same apartment at the same age.

John Phillips, born John Edmund Andrew Phillips in Parris Island, South Carolina, USA, in 1935. He died of heart failure in Los Angeles, California, USA, in 2001 aged 65. Michelle Phillips, born Holly Michelle Gilliam in Long Beach, California, USA, in 1941, has been married five times. She divorced her second husband, actor Dennis Hopper, after eight days.

Answer: Mott The Hoople

"All The Young Dudes" was written by David Bowie. It peaked at number three on the UK singles chart for Mott The Hoople in 1972. It peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

The lyrics containing the names of the groups are:

"Television man is crazy
Saying we're juvenile delinquent wrecks
Oh, man, I need TV when I got T-Rex"

"And my brother's back at home with his Beatles and his Stones
We never got it off on that revolution stuff"

Mott The Hoople owe a lot to Guy Stevens, a key figure in the music industry at the time even though they sacked him twice. He gave them their name after reading the Willard Manus novel "Mott The Hoople" while in prison on a drugs charge. He recruited singer Ian Hunter to join Verden Allen (keyboards), Dale Griffin (drums), Mick Ralphs (lead guitar) and Overend Watts (Bass). Hunter replaced Stan Tippins who then became their road manager.

Stevens was involved with Island records and Sue records. He was influential with the release of Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry records on the Pye International record label. He also paid Chuck Berry's bail to bring him to the UK for his first tour. He gave Procol Harum their name and produced The Clash's album "London Calling".

Answer: The Everly Brothers

"Let 'Em In" was written by Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart for Wings in 1976. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

The lyrics including The Everly Brothers are:

"Sister Suzie, brother John
Martin Luther, Phil and Don
Brother Michael, auntie Gin
Open the door and let 'em in"

"Let 'Em In" was Paul McCartney's tenth UK Top Ten single between 1971 and 1976, either solo or with Linda McCartney or Wings. He had not yet scored a number one hit in his home country although he had topped the Billboard Hot 100 five times in the same period.

Answer: Gene Vincent

"Sweet Gene Vincent" was written by Ian Dury/Chas Jankel. It did not enter the UK singles chart or the Billboard Hot 100. The album that it was taken from, "New Boots And Panties!", peaked at number five on the UK album chart in 1977. It did not chart in the US.

Ian Dury was born Ian Robbins Dury, in London, England, in 1942. He contracted polio at the age of seven during the polio epidemic of 1949. He spent six weeks in a full plaster cast then 18 months in hospital. He died of metastatic colorectal cancer in 2000 aged 57.

Ian Dury and The Blockheads had three Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart including the number one hit "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" which was number one for one week in 1979.

Answer: Kirsty MacColl

"There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis"? peaked at number 14 on the UK singles chart for Kirsty MacColl in 1981. It did not chart in the US.

Kirsty MacColl was born Kirsty Anna MacColl in London, England, in 1959. She died in Cozumel, Mexico, aged 41. She had taken a holiday in Cozumel and went diving at the Chankanaab reef in the National Marine Park of Cozumel. As Kirsty and her family surfaced she saw a powerboat bearing down on them. She managed to push her son out of the path of the boat but she was hit and killed instantly.

Kirsty MacColl had two Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart between 1985 and 1987. "A New England" which peaked at number seven in 1985 and "Fairytale Of New York" with The Pogues which peaked at number two in 1987.

Answer: Johnnie Ray

"Come On Eileen" was written by Kevin Roland/Jimmy Patterson/Kevin Adams. It was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart for Dexy's Midnight Runners in 1982. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. It was the top selling UK single of 1982.

The lyrics containing the name of the singer are:

"Poor old Johnnie Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio
But he moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers cried"

Dexy's Midnight Runners a post punk pop/rock group, were Kevin Rowland (vocals), Billy Adams (guitar), Micky Billingham (piano), Giorgio Kilkenny (bass), Brian Maurice (sax), Jimmy Patterson (trombone), Seb Shelton (drums) and Paul Speare (flute).

Dexy's Midnight Runners had eight UK Top 20 entries between 1980 and 1986. This included their first number one hit, "Geno", which was number one for two weeks in 1980. This song references American singer Geno Washington who had four minor hits on the UK singles chart between 1966 and 1967, not to be confused with another US singer Gino Washington.

Answer: The Commodores

"Nightshift" was written by Walter Orange/Dennis Lambert/Franne Golde. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Commodores in 1985. It also peaked at number three on the UK singles chart the same year.

"Nightshift" was the first Billboard Top 40 single for The Commodores after the former lead singer Lionel Richie left the group to go solo in 1982. The song references singers Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson who both died in 1984.

Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father one day before his 45th birthday. He was shot with the gun that he had given his father as a Christmas present. Jackie Wilson collapsed on stage in 1975 after suffering a heart attack. He fell into a coma and briefly emerged from it in 1976 but soon fell back into a semi-comatose state. He needed care for the rest of his life and died from complications of pneumonia aged 49.

Answer: Del Shannon

"Runnin' Down A Dream" was written by Tom Petty/Jeff Lynne/Mike Campbell. It peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Tom Petty in 1989. It peaked at number 55 on the UK singles chart the same year.

The lyrics referencing Del Shannon are:

"It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was drivin'
The trees went by, me and Del were singin'
Little runaway, I was flyin'"

"Runnin' Down A Dream" was the second single taken from Tom Petty's first solo album "Fool Moon Fever". The album peaked at number three on the Billboard album chart in 1989 and number eight on the UK album chart the same year. Tom Petty collaborated with Del Shannon and produced his album "Drop Down And Get Me" with The Heartbreakers as backing group which was released in 1981. The single "Sea Of Love" taken from the album was Del Shannon's last hit on the Billboard Hot 100; it peaked at number 33 in 1982.