This one
worked well last time, so we’re doing it again – guessing the real names of # 1
recording artists. Every one of the artists
featured in these questions had number one hits during September (not that that
will help you much). So here we go, into
the breach...one more time.
QUESTIONS:
1. He’s not related to Mitt Romney (at least as
far as we know), but he is part of a large Mormon family. He achieved great chart success by covering
previous hits from Steve Lawrence, Roy Orbison, Freddie Scott, Paul Anka,
Conway Twitty, Doris Day and Elvis Presley among others. His biggest hit happened in 1971 with his
first solo # 1 which stayed at the top of the single chart for 3 weeks. He was a member of the family singing group
made up of his brothers, then became a super successful duo with his younger
sister which included their own network TV show. He’s acted in plays, performed in Las Vegas
and was one of the biggest ‘teen idols’ of the 1970’s. Who is he?
2. Ernest Evans is one of the few performers
who’s seen one their same hit make it to # 1 not once, but TWICE. The first time was in September of 1960. A year and a half later, in January of ’62,
it was back on top again. This two time
# 1 artist started a dance craze during the 1960’s that swept the world. Of course, Ernest Evans didn’t use his real
name on the record. His stage name was
given to him by the wife of “American Bandstand” TV host Dick Clark. He had many more hits, but only one
additional # 1. His last chart
appearance came in 1988 with a variation of his two time # 1. So who is Ernest Evans anyway?
3. This groups’ # 1 song in September of 1986
was sandwiched between Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” and Janet Jackson’s “When
I Think Of You”. The group had three #
1’s, three years in a row – 1985, ’86 and ’87, then they took ‘a couple days
off’. The lead singer had a small part
as a talent contest judge in the original “Back To The Future” movie in 1985. His real name is Hugh Clegg III, but he used
a somewhat different name during his hit making years with his San Francisco
based group. Who is Hugh?
4. In September 1965, The Beatles were back at
the top of the singles chart with their 9th number one. “Help” was the title track from their second
motion picture and the plot revolved around Ringo Starr who’d been given a
sacred ring by a fan and the religious cult it came from wanted it back...at
any cost. Of all four Beatles, John
Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney all used their real names throughout
their career...only Ringo Starr was born under a different one. What’s Ringo’s real name? Is it:
a. Richie Rich b. Richard Starker c. Richard Starkey.
5. This British singer/songwriter/producer/actor
changed his name so as not to be confused with another British singer/actor
who’d already had world wide success in the mid 1960’s. He chose a rather famous American last name
and kept his own first one. His ‘fame’
was such that he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame. From 1964 to ’66, he recorded with
British bands the King Bees, the Manish Boys and the Lower Third. He changed his name around this time and finally
hit the North American singles chart in 1972 with the song “Changes”. During his career, he’s had two # 1 singles. He’s enjoying his ‘golden years’ at the age
of 65 with his actress/supermodel wife of 20 years. So who is this ‘Space Oddity’? (boy, oh boy,
there are more clues in this question than in the entire rest of the quiz)
ANSWERS
1. Donny Osmond is the answer we needed. Donny was born on September 12, 1957 in Ogden, Utah. In September of 1971, his re-make of “Go Away Little Girl” was # 1 on the singles chart for 3 weeks. It had previously been a # 1 hit for Steve Lawrence in 1963. Donny & Marie had a successful touring show as well as an ABC TV variety show “Donny & Marie” from 1976 to 1979. From 1998 to 2000, Donny & Marie also hosted their own syndicated TV talk show. The duo still perform in Las Vegas and around the world.
2. Ernest Evans reminded Dick Clark’s first wife
Bobbie of a teenage Fats Domino. That’s
when she came up with the variation of Fats’ name and called Ernest Evans,
Chubby Checker. Checker recorded “The
Twist” (written by Hank Ballard) for Cameo/Parkway Records in Philadelphia. Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” national TV
show helped make the song, and dance craze that came with it, a huge hit. Chubby went on to chart 35 songs on
Billboards’ Hot 100, including “Let’s Twist Again” in 1961, “Limbo Rock” and
“Slow Twistin’” in ’63. Chubby’s only
other # 1 other than “The Twist” was “Pony Time” in ’61. His last chart entry was “The Twist (Yo
Twist)” with the Fat Boys in 1988.
3. Here’s a bit of ‘News’ for you all. Hugh Anthony Cregg III was much better known
as Huey Lewis and Huey Lewis & The News first hit the charts in 1982 with
their Top Ten hit, “Do You Believe In Love”.
Their three # 1 singles were: “The Power Of Love” in 1985 (from “Back To
The Future”), “Stuck With You” in September of ’86 and “Jacob’s Ladder” in
March of ’87.
4. c. Is the correct answer. Richard Starkey was born in Liverpool on July
7th, 1940. He joined The
Beatles in 1962 replacing Pete Best. His
got his nickname, Ringo Starr, as a member of Rory Storm and The Hurricanes
because he liked to wear a lot of rings on his fingers and his solo spot,ight
during the groups’ set was known as ‘Starrtime’. Ringo’s 13th All Starr Band
recently completed their latest tour.
Ringo ‘gets by with a little help from his friends’ at ringostarr.com.
5. David Robert Jones became David Bowie in the
mid 1960’s to avoid confusion with fellow Brit Davy Jones of The Monkees. The last name was ‘borrowed’ from Jim Bowie,
who popularized the Bowie knife and who was one of the doomed American heroes
at the Alamo. Bowie’s two # 1 hits are:
“Fame” in 1975 (John Lennon co-wrote the song and also supplied backing vocals)
and 1983’s “Let’s Dance”. Bowie was one
of the first white artists to appear on the TV show, “Soul Train”. David Bowie’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star is
on the sidewalk in front of 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.
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