We Need Backup Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Zodiacs

They had a #1 Billboard hit with "Stay" in 1960. The Charioteers were a group from 1930 to 1950, Billy Williams was the lead singer. The Gladiolas were the group, with Maurice Williams as the singer, who in 1959 became the Zodiacs. They hit the Billboard Charts in 1957 with a rendition of "Little Darlin'".

The Romantics are part of Ruby & The Romantics who scored big with "Our Day Will Come" in 1963.

Answer: The Dakotas

Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas had a string of hits in 1964 & 1965, including "Little Children". Union Station is the backing band for Alison Krauss who had a very minor hit with "When You Say Nothing at All" in 1995. The Rhythm Orchids were the backup band for Buddy Knox. They topped the Billboard Charts in 1957 with "Party Doll".
The Pips are, of course, the other members and relatives of Gladys Knight's group, who were named after their manager and another relative James "Pip" Woods.

Answer: The Mindbenders

They were a short lived group who topped the Billboard Charts in 1965 with "The Game of Love". Fontana left in October 1965 but the group went on to score a #2 hit with "A Groovy Kind of Love" in 1966. The Shadows were the backup band for Cliff Richard, they disbanded in 1969 but he kept on going.

The Mechanics were Mike & the Mechanics an English group consisting of Mike Rutherford and Paul Carrack among others, their biggest hit being "The Living Years" in 1989. The Casual Teens aka The Casuals were Brenda Lee's backup band.

Answer: The Daytonas

Ronny is John "Bucky" Wilkin, they scored a major hit with "G.T.O." in 1964. There were actually two sets of Daytonas, a session group including Bobby Russell and a touring band who later recorded under the name The Hombres. The Expressions were part of Chad Allan & The Expressions who later would become The Guess Who.

The Specters (not to be confused with The Spectres) was a band I played in during high school.

Answer: The Imperials

The group,known as The Chesters until 1958, was led by Anthony Gourdine. They had 19 top 100 hits according to Billboard Magazine, the two biggest being "Tears on My Pillow" in 1958 and "Goin' Out of My Head" in 1964. The Impressions, which included Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield, had 39 top 100 hits between 1958 and 1975.

As far as I know there are no groups named The Improvs or The Impersonators.

Answer: The News

Hugh Cregg III & the News just would not have cut it. They had many hits including three Billboard #1's between 1982 and 1994. The Hilltoppers were a vocal group that flourished in the 1950's. One of the members was Billy Vaughn who left to become a successful orchestra conductor.

The Heartbreakers are Tom Petty's band and had many hits between 1977 and 1996. The Highwaymen were a folk group from Middletown, Connecticut who were popular in the early 1960's.

Answer: His Comets

One of the pioneers of rock and roll Bill and the band had 28 top 100 Billboard hits from 1954 to 1960, including "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll". The Jordanaires were the backup vocalists for Elvis Presley on the majority of his recordings.

The Crickets were with Buddy Holly and remained with him until the infamous plane crash in 1959. And his Orchestra, lots of conductors had this group as musicians so take your pick.

Answer: The Tabulations

Brenda was Brenda Payton and with her group The Tabulations had two top thirty songs on The Billboard Charts between 1967 and 1971. Brenda died in June of 1992. Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans were a trio formed by Phil Spector and had a top ten hit in 1962 with "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah". Billy Butler and The Chanters had one charted single in 1965, "I Can't Work No Longer". Billy is Jerry Butler's brother. Ellie Greenwich of the famed songwriting team Greenwich & Barry scored a minor hit with "Good Night Baby" in 1964 under the name The Butterflys.

Answer: Sly and the Family Stone

Sylvester Stewart and his "Family" were a major force on the music scene between 1968 and 1975. They charted three #1 Billboard hits including "Everyday People" (1968) and "Family Affair" (1971). The Clowns were the backup group for Huey (Piano) Smith an R&B and comic rock band leader from the late 1950's to the early 1960's. Siouxsie and the Banshees were an avant punk group who scored a top thirty hit with "Kiss Them for Me' in 1991.

The Smashing Pumpkins are a rock group from Chicago. They were a very popular band in the mid to late 1990's with songs such as "1979" and "Bullet With Butterfly Wings"

Answer: The Beat Brothers

"My Bonnie" and the flip side "The Saints" were originally released in the U.S. in 1962 by Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers. They were re-released in 1964 with a slight change. The artists were The Beatles with Tony Sheridan. All the incorrect answers were names the Fab Four had before they became famous.