USA groups of 50s & 60s starting with "The" Quiz

Answer: The Kingston Trio

The Kingston Trio were formed in 1957 in San Francisco and were a folk and pop music group. The hit song "Tom Dooley" is an old North Carolina ballad that dates back to the period just after the American Civil War, in 1866.

The Teddy Bears were an American pop music group and their biggest hit was "To Know Him Is to Love Him" which spent three weeks at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1958. The Elegants were a doo-wop vocal group out of Staten Island, New York. Their number one hit on the US charts was "Little Star" that spent one week at the top in August 1958. The Chipmunks and David Seville were an animated virtual band and their Christmas novelty song "The Chipmunk Song" spent four weeks as a chart topper during December/ January 1958-59.

Answer: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" spent three weeks at the top in January/February for The Platters.

"Come Softly to Me" spent four weeks at the top for The Fleetwoods in April/May 1959 and in November for one week they had their second chart topper for the year with "Mr. Blue". "The Three Bells" was a chart topper for four weeks in August/September 1959 for The Browns.

Answer: The Marvelettes

The Marvelettes were an American girl group and their song "Please Mr. Postman" spent one week at the top of the chart in December 1961.

The Marcels were an American doo-wop group who recorded "Blue Moon" that spent three weeks on top of the charts in April 1961. The Highwaymen had a number one hit for two weeks in September 1961 with "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore". The Shirelles were an all girl group who had two number one hits with "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (1961) and "Soldier Boy" (1962).

Answer: The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys' last number one hit in December 1966 on the US chart was "Good Vibrations", however, just 22 years later in November 1988 they topped the US chart again with "Kokomo".

The Temptations were a Motown group who had four number one hits between 1964-1972. The Byrds were a rock band of Los Angeles formed in 1964. They had two number one hits in 1965 with "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn! Turn! Turn!". The Monkees were formed in 1966 and had three number one hits during 1966-67.

Answer: The Primettes

The Primettes were founded in Detroit in 1959 and was formed as a sister act to The Primes. However, when the all girl group signed with the label Motown in 1961, the founder of Motown, Berry Gordy, gave them some other alternative names; they eventually decided on The Supremes.

The Crystals was formed in 1960 and their number one hit on the US charts was "He's a Rebel" (1962) which was written by Gene Pitney. The Dixie Cups were formed in 1964 and their debut single "Chapel of Love" spent three weeks at the top of the US chart in June 1964. The Chiffons were formed out of New York City in 1960 and their hit "He's So Fine" peaked at number one for four weeks in March 1963.

Answer: The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons were known as The Four Lovers (1956-1960) but as The Four Seasons their number one hits on the US chart in the 1960s were "Sherry" (1962), "Big Girls Don't Cry" (1962), "Walk Like a Man" (1963) and "Rag Doll" (1964).

The Mamas and the Papas were formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965 and their only chart topper was "Monday, Monday" (1966). The 5th Dimension began in Los Angeles, California and they had two number one hits in 1969 in the US with "Aquarius" and "Wedding Bell Blues". The Rascals were originally known as The Young Rascals and were formed in New Jersey in 1965. They had three number one hits being "Good Lovin'" (1967), "Groovin'" (1967) and "People Got To Be Free" (1968).

Answer: The Shangri-Las

The The Shangri-Las were formed out of a high school in Cambria Heights, New York City. The group was made up of sisters Mary and Elizabeth Weiss and identical twins, Marguerite and Mary Ann Ganser.

The Essex was an American R&B group that had a number one chart topper with "Easier Said Than Done" for two weeks in June 1963. The Angels were an all girl group who had a chart topper for three weeks in 1963 with "My Boyfriend's Back". The Rooftop Singers came together in 1962 and their song "Walk Right In" spent two weeks at the top in early 1963.

Answer: The Lion Sleeps Tonight

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was the only chart topper for The Tokens who were previously known as The Linc-Tones and were formed out of Brooklyn, New York in 1955.

"Big Bad John" was a number one hit for Jimmy Dean and spent five weeks at the top of the US chart in November/December 1961. "Peppermint Twist" was a chart topper in the US charts for three weeks in January/February 1962 for Joey Dee and the Starliters. "Monster Mash" was a number one hit for two weeks in October 1962 for Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers.

Answer: The Archies

The Archies were formed in 1968 and were cartoon characters; their music was recorded by session musicians. They became part of the bubblegum genre that was from 1968-1973.

The Association was formed in California in 1965 and they had two number one hits being "Cherish" (1966) and "Windy" (1967. The Lemon Pipers were founded in Oxford, Ohio in 1966. Their only chart topper was "Green Tambourine" for one week in February 1968. The Lovin' Spoonful were a group from New York City in 1965 and their number one hit "Summer in the City" stayed at the top for three weeks in August 1966.

Answer: The Doors

The Doors were formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California with Jim Morrison (1943-1971) as the lead vocal singer. Besides their hit in 1967 mentioned in the question they had another number one hit in 1968 with "Hello, I Love You".

The Box Tops were a rock band out of Memphis in 1967. Their number one hit single was "The Letter" which topped the chart for four weeks in September/October 1967. The Turtles were a rock band from Los Angeles, California in 1965 and their number one hit was "Happy Together" which stayed at the top for three weeks in March/April 1967. The McCoys were a rock group from Union City, Indiana in 1965. Their only chart topper was "Hang on Sloopy" for one week in October 1965.