The Songs and Life of Bobby Darin Quiz

Answer: Walden Robert Cassotto

Bobby Darin was born Walden Robert Cassotto on May 14, 1936. He learned when he was an adult that his older sister, Nina, was in fact his mother. He never knew the identity of his birth father. He credited his grandmother with instilling a love of music in him.

He was an excellent student and had a genius level IQ. Darin graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and attended Hunter College on a scholarship. He dropped out of college to play small nightclubs around the city with a musical combo.

He later worked in the Catskill Mountain resorts as both a busboy and an entertainer. Bobby learned to play guitar, piano, drums, harmonica and xylophone. Barry Alan Pincus is Barry Manilow's birth name. Robert Thomas Velline had several hits during the sixties using the stage name Bobby Vee and Michael Anthony Cassavitis performs as Tony Orlando.

Answer: Splish Splash

In 1956 Bobby's agent negotiated a contract for him with Decca Records. He worked as a songwriter at the Brill Building where he tried to date singer Connie Frances. Her father refused to allow Bobby to date his daughter, even running him off with a gun at one time. Darin left Decca to sign with Atlantic Records (ATCO) where he wrote and arranged music for himself and other artists.

After three mediocre recordings his career took off in 1958 when he wrote and recorded "Splish Splash". The song was instant hit and sold more than a million copies. "Splish Splash" was written with radio DJ Murray "Murray the K" Kaufman on a bet suggested by Murray's mother. Bobby shared writing credits with her. "Dream Lover" is a 1959 ballad by Darin. "Queen of the Hop" reached number nine. Bobby's rendition of "Beyond the Sea" has been used in films and television shows including "Apollo 13", "Austin Powers Goldmember", "Goodfellas", "Black Rain" and "The X-Files".

The song is also used in a commercial for Carnival Cruise Lines.

Answer: Mack the Knife

"Mack the Knife" is from Kurt Weill's "Threepenny Opera". Louis Armstrong recorded a successful version in 1954. Darin gave the tune a jazz interpretation. The song was number one on the charts for nine weeks, selling over a million copies. It won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1960 and Darin was awarded the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the same year. "Mack The Knife" has since been honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Darin followed "Mack the Knife" with the number six "Beyond the Sea," an English version of a French hit song, "La Mer." "Eighteen Yellow Roses" was written by Bobby Darin and released in 1963. "Things" is a 1962 Bobby Darin hit.

Answer: Come September

Bobby joined Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida in the 1960 comedy about housekeepers who turn a villa into a hotel while the owner is away. "Too Late Blues", "State Fair" and "Hell Is for Heroes" ware all movies that Bobby starred in in 1962. "Too Late Blues" stars Bobby with Vince Edwards, Seymour Cassel and Everette Chambers.

It is the story of jazz musician "Ghost" Wakefield played by Darin. "State Fair" features Bobby with Pat Boone and Ann-Margret. "Hell Is for Heroes" is a 1962 World War II film directed by Don Siegel starring Steve McQueen and Fess Parker. Bobby plays one of the men in a squad of American soldiers during the breach of the Siegfried Line in 1944.

Answer: Captain Newman, M.D.

"Captain Newman, M.D." stars Gregory Peck, Tony Curtis, Angie Dickinson, Robert Duvall, Eddie Albert and Bobby Darin. The movie about a short-staffed military psychiatric ward was directed by David Miller. It was filmed on location at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Melvyn Douglas took home the Oscar for his work in "Hud". Nick Adams, Hugh Griffith and John Huston were in the running with Bobby. Darin won the French Film Critics Award for best actor in "Captain Newman, M.D.". "If a Man Answers" was released in 1962 and features a socialite trying to make the perfect husband out of Bobby Darin's character. "That Funny Feeling" is a 1965 movie centering around a maid who falls for a wealthy man about town. "Pressure Point" pairs Bobby with Sidney Poitier who plays an African-American prison psychiatrist who must counsel a disturbed inmate with bigoted Nazi tendencies played by Darin. Bobby won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Male Newcomer for his role in "Pressure Point".

Answer: Sandra Dee

Bobby met his future wife on the set of "Come September". In 1960 Bobby married 18-year-old Sandra Dee. She later co-starred with him in "If a Man Answers" and "That Funny Feeling". They had one son, Dodd Mitchell Darin, in 1961 and divorced in 1967. Sandra Dee made her first film, "Until They Sail", in 1957.

In 1958 she won a Golden Globe Award for "Most Promising Newcomer". She became known for her roles in such films as "Imitation of Life", "Gidget" and "A Summer Place", all before meeting Darin in 1960. Sandra Dee battled several health issues and passed away in 2005. Stella Stevens worked with Bobby Darin in "Too Late Blues". Pamela Tiffin played opposite Bobby in "State Fair" and Angie Dickinson worked with him in "Captain Newman, M.D.". Darin married Andrea Yeager in June of 1973.

Answer: If I Were A Carpenter

Bobby's recording career was impacted by the British Invasion, although he continued to occasionally perform live. "If I Were a Carpenter" was written by folk singer Tim Hardin. Tim Hardin performed it at Woodstock in 1969. Hardin also wrote "Reason To Believe" and other songs that became popular for other artists.

He died in 1980 at age 39. "If I Were a Carpenter" was a number eight hit for Bobby Darin in 1966 and reached number 9 in the UK. Darin wrote the very popular "Simple Song of Freedom" in 1969. "Inside Out" is a 1967 Darin album release. "Mary Don't You Weep" is a Negro spiritual which was first recorded by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1915.

The best known recording is a 1962 rendition by The Swan Silvertones. Bobby occasionally performed the song live in his Las Vegas act.

Answer: Nipsey Russell

Beginning in 1960 Darin set attendance records at the Copacabana nightclub in New York. It was common for fans to line up around the block to get tickets when he performed throughout the sixties. The Copacabana sold so many seats to Bobby Darin's shows that they had to fill the dance floor with seating. Darin also headlined at many major casinos in Las Vegas. Darin had an important role in introducing new talent. Richard Pryor and Flip Wilson opened his nightclub performances when they were still unknown nationally. Early in his night club career Bobby insisted that comic Nipsey Russell be his opening act at the Copacabana.

His request was grudgingly granted by Jules Podell, the manager. Bill Cosby was already an established star in the sixties. Bobby made TV guest appearances and also remained a top draw at Las Vegas. Because of his poor health he frequently required oxygen after his performances.

Answer: Direction Records

In 1969 Bobby Darin started Direction Records, releasing folk and protest music. He said the purpose of Direction Records was to seek out performers who were trying to make a statement in their music. During this time he was billed under the name "Bob Darin," grew a mustache and stopped wearing a hairpiece.

When he returned to performing in night clubs a few years later he returned to using his hairpiece. Colpix released an album of show tunes by various artists. "That's How It Went, All Right" was Bobby Darin's contribution. Clarion Records released a compilation album of Darin's material. Concord/Neon released a live recording of Bobby at The Desert Inn in February, 1971.

Answer: The Bobby Darin Amusement Company

In 1972 Darin starred in his own TV variety show on NBC, "The Bobby Darin Amusement Company". It ran until his untimely death in 1973. In 1990 singer Paul Anka made the speech for Darin's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1999 Darin was voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

He also has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007 Bobby Darin was awarded a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars and inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Actor Kevin Spacey is a lifelong fan of Darin.

He occasionally does concerts performing Darin's material. In 2000 he acquired the film rights to his story. Spacey directed and produced the film as well as playing Bobby Darin. The film is titled "Beyond The Sea". The movie's opening was at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival.