The Versatile Tommy Steele Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bermondsey

Tommy was born Thomas William Hicks on 17th December 1936 in Mason Street, Bermondsey, London.

Answer: 2i's Coffee Bar

The 2i's has achieved legendary status among rock and roll fans because of the number of people who performed there in the 50s who went on to become famous. It became a magnet for talent scouts looking for the next new rock and roll star, and Adam Faith, Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Marty Wilde, Billy Fury and Joe Brown all performed there before becoming big stars.

Ronnie Scott's is a famous London jazz club.
Dirty Dick's is a well known pub in the City of London opposite Liverpool Street Station.
The Cavern is in Liverpool and is where The Beatles were discovered.

Answer: Rock With The Caveman

"Rock With The Caveman" reached number 13 in the charts in 1956. "Elevator Rock" failed to chart, "Butterfingers" and "Knee Deep In The Blues" both charted at numbers 8 and 15 respectively in 1957.

It should be noted that between 1952 and 1969 the United Kingdom had at least three and sometimes four versions of the singles chart, each one compiled by a different magazine. The BBC programmes "Pick of The Pops" and "Top of The Pops" used an average of the charts compiled by "New Musical Express", "Melody Maker" and "Record Retailer" to achieve their "Top 20"

In 1969, following an alliance between the BBC and "Record Retailer", BRMB were commissioned to produce the "Official Top 50".

I have used the New Musical Express chart as, in November 1952, it was the first one ever published, and it remained the most used and referred to for a number of years.

Answer: Guy Mitchell

Guy Mitchell's record was released in Britain just before Tommy's, and went to number one on 4th January 1957. Tommy's version achieved the number one spot just one week later on 11th January.

Answer: The Duke Wore Jeans

"The Duke Wore Jeans" is a fairly old fashioned, low budget, black and white, musical comedy in which Tommy plays both the Duke, and his Cockney double who takes his place in order to woo and win the girl. The songs in the film are by Lionel Bart and Michael Pratt, and one, "Happy Guitar", made the top ten.

The other films are all Tommy Steele films, and "Tommy The Toreador" is noteable for containing the novelty song "Little White Bull"

Answer: Singing In The Rain

This was a faithful re-enactment of the film. In the famous "Singing In The Rain" sequence Tommy actually got soaked to the skin, thankfully in warm water, then dashed off stage and was back on, completely dry and changed,under ten minutes later.

Answer: Stanley Street, Liverpool

Tommy gave this sculpture to the City of Liverpool as a tribute to The Beatles. It stood in Stanley Street, not far from The Cavern Club before it was stolen

Another of his major works, "Bermondsey Boy", can be seen at Rotherhithe Civic Centre.

Answer: Bermondsey Boy: Memories of a Forgotten World

As well as documenting his long and interesting career, the book also gives details of growing up in Bermondsey in the late 1930s and 1940s, and is truly a glimpse into a world that has gone forever.

Answer: Yes

Tommy was in the Merchant Navy for a while, and a ship he was on docked in the USA. It was at this time he first heard Buddy Holly and rock and roll. Prior to this he had always played skiffle, both as a solo performer and with Wally Whyton's Vipers Skiffle Group.

Answer: The Final Run

Yet another skill developed by this highly talented and versatile man. He has also written "Quincy", a tale of rejected toys in a toy store basement trying to save themselves from the furnace after Christmas. This was later made into a film starring Tommy and Mel Martin.