Vintage 1950s Rock and Roll Groups Quiz

Answer: His Comets

Bill Haley and His Comets ushered in the Rock and Roll Era with "Rock Around the Clock," which was a Number One hit for eight weeks on the Billboard Top 40 Hits list in 1955. The song was also featured that year in the film "The Blackboard Jungle." From 1954-1958, the group had 13 Top 40 hits, including "See You Later, Alligator" (Number Six in 1956) and "Burn That Candle" (Number Nine in 1955).
[Halley's Comet is named after its 1705 discoverer, Edmond Halley. Wonder if that helped Bill Haley to name his group?]

Answer: Dominoes

Billy Ward and His Dominoes had three Billboard Top Forty hits in 1956-1957. "Star Dust" (Number 12 in 1957), "St. Therese Of The Roses" (Number 13 in 1956), and "Deep Purple" (Number 20 in 1957). ["Fats" Domino had an amazing 37 Top 40 hits between 1955 and 1963.]

Answer: The Crickets

From 1957-1958, Buddy Holly and The Crickets had four Billboard Top 40 hits: "That'll Be The Day" (Number One in 1957), "Oh, Boy!" (Number Ten in 1957), "Maybe Baby" (Number 17 in 1958), and "Think It Over" (Number 27 in 1958). All were on the Brunswick label. Holly split with the Crickets in the autumn of 1958. By contract, their songs on the Coral label (including "Peggy Sue" and "Rave On") were released as by Buddy Holly only.

Answer: Buddy Knox

Buddy Knox and the Rhythm Orchids had three Billboard Top 40 hits in 1957: "Party Doll" (Number One for 15 weeks); "Hula Love" (Number Nine for 15 weeks); and "Rock Your Little Baby To Sleep" (Number 17 for seven weeks).

Answer: The Juniors

"At The Hop" was Number One for seven weeks. The group had three other Top 40 hits: "Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay" (Number 19 in 1958); ""Twistin' U.S.A." (Number 27 in 1960); and "Dottie" (Number 39 in 1958).

Answer: Don'ts

Gerry Granahan named the group after Dick Clark's son, Dicky Doo! That did not seem to help, for their only two Top 40 hits were "Click Clack" (Number 28) and "Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu" (Number 40).

Answer: The Teenagers

Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers had three Billboard Top 40 hits: "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" (Number Six in 1956); "I Want You To Be My Girl" (Number 13 in 1956); and "Goody Goody" (Number 20 in 1957). [Pat Boone had a Number 17 hit in 1959 with "Twixt Twelve and Twenty," the teenage years.]

Answer: His Blue Caps

Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps had three Billboard Top 40 hits in 1956-1958: "Be-Bop-A-Lula" (Number Seven in 1956); "Lotta Lovin'" (Number 13 in 1957); and "Dance To the Bop" (Number 23 in 1958). [In 1961, The Marcels had a Number One hit, "Blue Moon"]

Answer: Hurricanes

The four hits were "Crossfire" (Number 23 in 1959), "Red River Rock" (Number Five in 1959), "Reveille Rock" (Number 25 in 1959), and "Beatnik Fly" (Number 15 in 1960). [Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005.]

Answer: Hearts

Lee Andrews and the Hearts' two Top 40 hits were "Tear Drops" (Number 20 in 1957) and "Try The Impossible" (Number 33 in 1958). [In 1955, "Hearts of Stone" was a Number One hit for the Fontaine Sisters and a Number 15 hit for the Charms.]