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Quiz about Whos Behind The Music
Quiz about Whos Behind The Music

Who's Behind The Music? Trivia Quiz


They work behind the scenes in the music industry. Writing music, composing soundtracks, or producing records, they're generally unknown to the masses. Some have become legends though, even acting in films. Can you identify a handful of the best?

A multiple-choice quiz by machineamc. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
machineamc
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
158,893
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
879
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. He wrote the 1971 #1 hit song "Joy To The World" for Three Dog Night, and the 1968 Steppenwolf song "The Pusher", made famous in the movie "Easy Rider", but he might be better remembered as Randall Peltzer, the inventor-father who purchased Gizmo the Mogwai for his son in the 1984 movie "Gremlins". Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. He wrote "We've Only Just Begun" for the Carpenters and "Evergreen" for Barbra Streisand, then showed off his acting abilities by playing Little Enos Burdette in the 1977 movie "Smokey And The Bandit". Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. He composed the music to "Walk On By" for Dionne Warwick and "On My Own" for Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald. He also composed the theme song to the 1981 movie "Arthur" sung by Christopher Cross.
You can see him play a street musician along with Elvis Costello, in the 1999 movie "Austin Powers-The Spy Who Shagged Me".
Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. His first hit was 1971's "Timothy" written for a band called The Buoys. It was a song about cannibalism that made it to #17 on the pop charts. He also wrote material for the Partridge Family and Barry Manilow, but finally hit the big time when he sang his own song, "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)", in 1979. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. He penned the tune "Mama Told Me Not To Come" for the band Three Dog Night, and Joe Cocker had a hit with his song "You Can Leave Your Hat On". Children and their parents may know him best for his song "You've Got A Friend In Me" from the Disney movie "Toy Story". Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Glen Campbell scored big in 1968 with this songwriter's legendary tune, "Wichita Lineman". In 1970 Richard Harris had a hit with his bizzare song "MacArthur Park".
These days he stays busy scoring songs for movies and televison shows, with the T.V. show E/R being one of his later projects.
Who is he?
Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Nowadays, he writes music for movies and television. Some notable film scores include, "Happy Gilmore", "Revenge Of The Nerds II", "Good Boy!" and Nickleodeon's "Rugrats" movies and T.V. shows.
But he might be remembered best for singing "Whip It" while heading up his 80's band, Devo.
Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. He's a Hollywood music legend these days, scoring the music to "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure", "Men In Black" and "Spiderman", just to name a few. Many of us have his "Simpsons" television theme song memorized.
Catch him in his early years, singing with his band Oingo Boingo, in the 1986 Rodney Dangerfield movie "Back To School".
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. He wrote Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way", and Donny Osmond's 1972 hit song "Puppy Love". He also composed the theme song for the "Tonight Show".
His acting abilities can be seen in the 1992 movie "Captain Ron", starring Kurt Russell, where he plays the character, Donaldson.
Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. He co-wrote "Ditty Diego-War Chant" for the Monkees on their 1968 album "Head". But he is probably better remembered for his Oscar winning roles in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", "As Good As It Gets" and "Terms Of Endearment". Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. He wrote the 1971 #1 hit song "Joy To The World" for Three Dog Night, and the 1968 Steppenwolf song "The Pusher", made famous in the movie "Easy Rider", but he might be better remembered as Randall Peltzer, the inventor-father who purchased Gizmo the Mogwai for his son in the 1984 movie "Gremlins".

Answer: Hoyt Axton

Besides being a popular country star, the late Hoyt Axton appeared in many movies including 1979's "The Black Stallion".
His mother, Mae Boren Axton, co-wrote Elvis Presley's hit "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1955 after reading a story about a suicide in a local paper.
2. He wrote "We've Only Just Begun" for the Carpenters and "Evergreen" for Barbra Streisand, then showed off his acting abilities by playing Little Enos Burdette in the 1977 movie "Smokey And The Bandit".

Answer: Paul Williams

It's hard to believe that the same guy that penned the sonic gem "Out In The Country" for Three Dog Night, also played Virgil, the ape elder, in "Battle For The Planet Of The Apes".
3. He composed the music to "Walk On By" for Dionne Warwick and "On My Own" for Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald. He also composed the theme song to the 1981 movie "Arthur" sung by Christopher Cross. You can see him play a street musician along with Elvis Costello, in the 1999 movie "Austin Powers-The Spy Who Shagged Me".

Answer: Burt Bacharach

Bacharach and Hal David also wrote the title song for the 1958 movie "The Blob", sung by The Five Blobs. Which, oddly enough, only had three members.
4. His first hit was 1971's "Timothy" written for a band called The Buoys. It was a song about cannibalism that made it to #17 on the pop charts. He also wrote material for the Partridge Family and Barry Manilow, but finally hit the big time when he sang his own song, "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)", in 1979.

Answer: Rupert Holmes

Holmes turned his attention away from songwriting to become a major playwright and novelist. His Broadway play "The Mystery Of Edwin Drood" has received 5 Tony awards, while "Say Goodnight Gracie" has been nominated for at least 1 more.
His novel "Where The Truth Lies" is critically acclaimed.
5. He penned the tune "Mama Told Me Not To Come" for the band Three Dog Night, and Joe Cocker had a hit with his song "You Can Leave Your Hat On". Children and their parents may know him best for his song "You've Got A Friend In Me" from the Disney movie "Toy Story".

Answer: Randy Newman

Although he sings and records his own songs, few get much airplay. His most familiar song, "Short People", is Randy at his best. It was a major hit in 1977 peaking at #2 on the Billboard charts.
Newman won an Academy Award in 2001 for his song "If I Didn't Have You" from the movie "Monsters, Inc."
6. Glen Campbell scored big in 1968 with this songwriter's legendary tune, "Wichita Lineman". In 1970 Richard Harris had a hit with his bizzare song "MacArthur Park". These days he stays busy scoring songs for movies and televison shows, with the T.V. show E/R being one of his later projects. Who is he?

Answer: Jimmy Webb

The song "Christmas Will Return" from the 1994 Tim Allen movie "The Santa Clause" is one of Webb's own songs with him actually singing.
The late Richard Harris (1970's "MacArthur Park") played Professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies.
7. Nowadays, he writes music for movies and television. Some notable film scores include, "Happy Gilmore", "Revenge Of The Nerds II", "Good Boy!" and Nickleodeon's "Rugrats" movies and T.V. shows. But he might be remembered best for singing "Whip It" while heading up his 80's band, Devo.

Answer: Mark Mothersbaugh

Mothersbaugh started and runs the L.A. commercial music house, "Mutato Muzika", writing jingles for television commercials, T.V. shows, and movie soundtracks. Most of the original members of Devo work there too.
8. He's a Hollywood music legend these days, scoring the music to "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure", "Men In Black" and "Spiderman", just to name a few. Many of us have his "Simpsons" television theme song memorized. Catch him in his early years, singing with his band Oingo Boingo, in the 1986 Rodney Dangerfield movie "Back To School".

Answer: Danny Elfman

Oingo Boingo's most popular tune was the title track song from the 1985 movie "Weird Science"....and yes, Danny Elfman is related to "Darmah & Greg's" Jenna Elfman. She is his nephew, Bodhi's, wife.
9. He wrote Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way", and Donny Osmond's 1972 hit song "Puppy Love". He also composed the theme song for the "Tonight Show". His acting abilities can be seen in the 1992 movie "Captain Ron", starring Kurt Russell, where he plays the character, Donaldson.

Answer: Paul Anka

Paul Anka wrote the soundtrack for the movie "The Longest Day", in which he also acted.
And undeniable proof of an accomplished carreer happened NOT when he was inducted in the "Songwriters Hall Of Fame", but when he appeared as himself on an episode of the "Simpsons".
10. He co-wrote "Ditty Diego-War Chant" for the Monkees on their 1968 album "Head". But he is probably better remembered for his Oscar winning roles in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", "As Good As It Gets" and "Terms Of Endearment".

Answer: Jack Nicholson

In the Bob Rafelson movie "Head", starring the Monkees, Peter Tork is seen wearing a gold football helmet in one scene. Legend has it that this is the same helmet Nicholson wore in "Easy Rider".
It's good that Nicholson gave up on that whole songwriting thing.
Source: Author machineamc

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor PrinceMagus411 before going online.
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