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Who Wrote This Ditty No. 2 Trivia Quiz

For those of you who enjoyed the first quiz, this is more of the same but has a few fun trivial facts about some of music's most interesting people.

A multiple-choice quiz by malizma. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
malizma

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
50,848

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
567

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. This songwriter was best known for songs like 'Dang Me' and 'King of the Road' but his greatest honor came when he won 5 Tony Awards for his musical 'Big River' which is a musical adaptation of Mark Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn.' Hint

Don Schlitz

Jim Stafford

Sheb Wooley

Roger Miller

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Question 2 of 15

2. Speaking of Broadway songwriters or make that Pop Musicians becoming Broadway songwriters. This prolific songwriter did not get fantastic reviews for his first Broadway effort which introduced the world to the now popular Latino singer Marc Anthony. Name the writer and the musical? Hint

Paul Simon: 'The Capeman'

Paul Anka: 'Do You Remember'

Harry Chapin: 'My Life and Times'

Dan Fogelberg: 'Face The Fire'

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Question 3 of 15

3. One more pop songwriter to Broadway question. This man wrote a hauntingly beautiful ballad about a tired worker for a musical featuring songs by various songwriters about common working people in all walks of life. The musical was simply called 'Working' and was very short lived on Broadway. Who was the songwriter and what was the name of the song? Hint

Paul Simon: 'The Boxer'

James Taylor: 'Millworker'

Paul McCartney: 'Put It There'

John Denver: 'The Miner'

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Question 4 of 15

4. The Gordon Lightfoot song 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' tells of a maritime disaster on what Great Lake? Hint

Lake Eerie

Lake Superior

Lake Michigan

Lake Ontario

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Question 5 of 15

5. This jazz arranger, composer and performer was American but had a love for Latin music. His most popular works included 'Malaguena' and 'Cuban Fire Dance,' who was he? Hint

Stan Kenton

Miles Davis

Glenn Miller

Dave Brubeck

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Question 6 of 15

6. This great jazz trumpet player also made a cameo in the 1988 Bill Murray film 'Scrooged.' He also holds the record for the shortest Grammy Speech in telecast history at 1.5 seconds. Who is this person ? Hint

Wynton Marsalis

Chuck Mangione

Miles Davis

Maynard Ferguson

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Question 7 of 15

7. She wrote the beautiful ballad 'Both Sides Now' which was covered by the likes of Judy Collins, Natalie Cole, Liza Minelli, and many others, who is she? Hint

Joan Baez

Joni Mitchell

Carole King

Carly Simon

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Question 8 of 15

8. This performer wrote the songs to the Disney movie 'Tarzan'? Hint

Phil Collins

Peter Gabriel

Randy Newman

Alan Menken

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Question 9 of 15

9. The performer who wrote the score to the Disney movie 'Tarzan' had received an Oscar nomination before for a popular song from a movie. What was the name of the song ? Hint

In the Air Tonight

Against All Odds

On The Way To Heaven

Take Me Home

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Question 10 of 15

10. B.A. Robertson penned the music to the 'Living Years' which is a haunting ballad about a relationship between a father and son. The lyrics were written based on this performer's true story about his torn and tempestuous relationship with his father. Who was the lyricist? Hint

Mike Rutherford

Phil Collins

Tony Banks

Eric Clapton

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Question 11 of 15

11. She wrote the ballad 'At Seventeen' about the pains of adolescence? Hint

Janis Joplin

Jewel

Carole King

Janis Ian

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Question 12 of 15

12. A rumor of a suicide was spread after his 1988 hit 'Don't Worry Be Happy' came out. People who believed the rumor were shocked to see him alive and well when he received his Record of the Year Grammy. Hint

Freedom Williams

Miles Davis

Bobby McFerrin

Al Jarreau

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Question 13 of 15

13. Classical Music question for all you altar bound people or all of you who've been married a long time. Who wrote the traditional 'Wedding March' you know the one 'Here Comes The Bride'? Hint

Hector Berlioz

Richard Wagner

Felix Mendehlssohn

Johannes Brahms

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Question 14 of 15

14. Which of the Monkees went on to win the first Video of the Year-Short Form Grammy Award as well as write hit songs for Kim Carnes and Linda Ronstadt? Hint

Mike Nesmith

Davey Jones

Peter Tork

Mickey Dolenz

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Question 15 of 15

15. Who wrote songs that became hits for artist's Sinead O'Connor and The Bangles and then later went on to win an Oscar for his work on the Batman Returns Soundtrack? Hint

Seal

Michael Jackson

Prince

Quincy Jones

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Roger Miller

It was 'King of the Road' Roger Miller who wrote the lyrics to 1985's best musical honoree 'Big River.' Miller had several songs in the musical that showcased his humorous style besides his more serious works including 'Hand for the Hog' about how a Hog makes a better pet than a dog and the beautiful play on words, 'Leavin's Not the Only Way to Go.'

Answer: Paul Simon: 'The Capeman'

It was Paul Simon of 'Kodachrome,' 'Me and Julio Down By the School yard', 'Still Crazy After all these Years' fame who wrote both the score and lyrics for the musical 'The Capeman.' It starred a then almost unknown Marc Anthony who went on to huge success. the musical also starred Ruben Blades.

It received very mixed reviews in its relatively short run but garnered him 4 Tony Nominations including one for best score. It lost to 'The Lion King.'

Answer: James Taylor: 'Millworker'

It was James Taylor who wrote the hauntingly beautiful ballad 'Millworker' about a tired shoe factory worker in Massachusettes. He still performs this song frequently in concert.

4. The Gordon Lightfoot song 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' tells of a maritime disaster on what Great Lake?

Answer: Lake Superior

It is a story of a terrible incident that occurred on Lake Superior when 29 men perished in a storm. The lyrics say that 'Superior never gives up her dead when the gales of November come early.' Interesting note, this was a real incident that occurred in 1975 when a storm tossed the ship and crew to its fatal end.

5. This jazz arranger, composer and performer was American but had a love for Latin music. His most popular works included 'Malaguena' and 'Cuban Fire Dance,' who was he?

Answer: Stan Kenton

It was bandleader and writer Stan Kenton who loved Latin flavored music and translated it into powerhouse jazz numbers like 'Los Suerte De Los Tontos,' 'Cuban Fire Dance,' and 'Malaguena.'

Answer: Miles Davis

It was cool man Miles Davis who appeared in a cameo in the film 'Scrooged' along with David Sanborn, Paul Schaeffer, and Larry Carlton. In fact Larry Carlton was asked about the experience. He stated that when he was told that Miles had agreed to do the cameo, he volunteered and stated that he would do it for free. Miles also holds the record for the shortest Grammy acceptance speech.

He said 'Thank you' and walked off after receiving his 1989 Lifetime Achievement Award and left host Garry Shandling fumbling to stretch dead air time.

He died in 1991.

7. She wrote the beautiful ballad 'Both Sides Now' which was covered by the likes of Judy Collins, Natalie Cole, Liza Minelli, and many others, who is she?

Answer: Joni Mitchell

It was folk singer Joni Mitchell who wrote the beautiful 'Both Sides Now.' She had the original hot with the song but it was actually Judy Collins who took the song to Number 1.

8. This performer wrote the songs to the Disney movie 'Tarzan'?

Answer: Phil Collins

It was ex-Genesis drummer turned frontman Phil Collins who wrote the songs to the Disney movie 'Tarzan.' Mark Mancina wrote the score. He won an Oscar for this beating out friend Randy Newman for Toy Story 2.

9. The performer who wrote the score to the Disney movie 'Tarzan' had received an Oscar nomination before for a popular song from a movie. What was the name of the song ?

Answer: Against All Odds

Phil Collins was nominated fo the song 'Against All Odds' from the movie of the same name. This was his first nomination. He later received another Oscar nod for his song 'Separate Lives' from the movie 'White Nights.'

Answer: Mike Rutherford

Mike Rutherford, the Genesis guitarist and co-founder wrote the lyrics to Mike and the Mechanics' 'The Living Years.' It is stated that the words are the true story of the often strained relationship that he had with his Army Captain father. He stated that they clashed over everything especially his hair and playing music for a living.

11. She wrote the ballad 'At Seventeen' about the pains of adolescence?

Answer: Janis Ian

It was Janis Ian who wrote the song about the pains of adolescence 'At Seventeen.' It garnered her two Grammys including Song of the Year.

Answer: Bobby McFerrin

It was bobby McFerrin who wrote and performed 'Don't Worry Be Happy.' It was rumored that the jazz performer committed suicide because of the popularity of this piece. However, McFerrin stated that he took all this in stride and chose to continue what he does best, 'sing and create music with my voice.' He then took a wonderful job change in the last 5 years, becoming the conductor of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

He still sings and records and reportedly is writing his first opera.

13. Classical Music question for all you altar bound people or all of you who've been married a long time. Who wrote the traditional 'Wedding March' you know the one 'Here Comes The Bride'?

Answer: Richard Wagner

It was Richard Wagner who is best known for writing very long operas. Felix Mendehlssohn wrote the popular recessional piece.

14. Which of the Monkees went on to win the first Video of the Year-Short Form Grammy Award as well as write hit songs for Kim Carnes and Linda Ronstadt?

Answer: Mike Nesmith

It was Mike Nesmith. He recieved the first Video Grammy for 'Elephants Walk.' He also wrote hit songs for Kim Carnes ('The Draw of the Cards,') and Linda Ronstadt ('Different Drum').

15. Who wrote songs that became hits for artist's Sinead O'Connor and The Bangles and then later went on to win an Oscar for his work on the Batman Returns Soundtrack?

Answer: Prince

It was his royal purpleness, Prince who wrote 'Nothing Compares 2 U' which was a 1990 hit for Sinead O'Connor and 'Manic Monday' which was a hit for the Bangles. He received an Oscar for his score work on the film 'Batman Returns.'

Source: Author malizma

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