What's the Connection? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Laura

The song "Tell Laura I Love Her" spent 3 weeks at number one in the autumn of 1960. The similarity of one hit wonder Ricky Valance's name to the more famous Ritchie Valens seems more than mere coincidence. His real name was David Spencer, and he hailed from Ynysddu in the Sirhowy Valley in south east Wales.

Answer: Bonnie Tyler

Born Gaynor Hopkins in Swansea in 1953, gravel voiced singer Bonnie holds the distinction of being the first Welsh singer to top the US charts with "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983.

Answer: Manic Street Preachers

Born in Blackwood in South Wales, Richey Edwards formed the Manic Street Preachers with his friends from school, Nicky Wire, James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore. Following his disappearance the band took a break for a while from the public stage, but returned to even greater success in the late nineties with "Design for Life" and the acclaimed album "Everything Must Go".

Answer: Badfinger

Badfinger were formed in Swansea and took their name from the working title of the Beatles song "With a Little Help from my Friends" which was known as Bad Finger Boogie. After a promising start, the group's finances suffered massive mismanagement and the turmoil that this produced ultimately led to lead singer Pete Ham's suicide in 1975.

Answer: Mary Hopkin

Mary Hopkin was only 17 when she won Opportunity Knocks and the song was "Those Were the Days". The young girl from Pontardawe, South Wales went on to further chart success with songs such as "Goodbye" and "Tema Harbour". Lena Zavaroni and Bonnie Langford were Opportunity Knocks winners also, but Su Pollard, who went on to find fame as Peggy in "Hi de Hi" sadly lost out to a singing dog in her heat.

Answer: Shakin' Stevens

Shakin' Stevens was born the youngest of 11 children in Ely in Cardiff and was hugely successful in the 1980's. He retired from the music business in 1995.

Answer: Mulder and Scully

Cerys Matthews' distinctive voice gave Catatonia an unusual and individual sound which people predicted would be around for a long time. Sadly, relations within the group deteriorated due to long periods of time spent touring and the band split in September 2001.

Answer: Aled

Aled's version of "Walking in the Air", which was sung originally in the film "The Snowman" by Peter Auty, a choirboy at St. Paul's cathedral, reached the top 5 in 1985. Aled Jones was born in Llandegfan, Anglesey, and became famous worldwide following the success of the record.

However he failed to have any more chart successes, and now presents "Songs of Praise" on BBC 1, as well as programmes on BBC Wales. He can currently be seen (October 2004) on "Strictly Come Dancing".

Answer: Goldie Lookin' Chain

Goldie Lookin' Chain, a spoof rapper group reached number 2 in the UK charts in September 2004 with their record "Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do". Based in Newport which they refer to as "The Port", they have built up a cult following in Britain with their irreverent style. They recently released their first album entitled, not surprisingly, "Greatest Hits".

Answer: Welsh

All these artistes with vastly differing styles of music were born and bred in the Principality of Wales. And I didn't even mention the other greats - Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and Charlotte Church! No wonder Wales is known as the "Land of Song"!