THIS IS THE END, BEAUTIFUL FRIEND, THIS IS THE END

Those opening lyrics from The Doors song “The End” lead us into our first quiz of 2014.  And in coming weeks, we’re going to be expanding our question field – instead of focusing only on music, we’re going to be branching out into more pop culture areas as TV programs and movies.  But this time, we’ll stick with our music theme and this week, we’re asking questions about famous musicians who passed away in 2013 and the first few days of 2014.  Last year, we lost country legend George Jones, singer/songwriter J. J. Cale (he wrote “Cocaine” and “After Midnight”), Alan O’Day (Alan wrote and recorded “Undercover Angel”), Canadian singer/songwriter Rita MacNeil, legendary record producer Phil Ramone (Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Julian Lennon were among his clients), Alvin  Lee of Ten Years After, Jewel Akens (“The Birds And The Bees”), Cleotha Staples of The Staples Singers, country star Mindy McCready, Tony Sheridan (who played and recorded with The Beatles in Hamburg, Germany), Patty Andrews of The Andrews Sisters and sadly, many more.  So shed a tear for those who’ve gone and raise a glass to life.  Here’s the quiz.  Good luck.  

        

QUESTIONS

1.  The harmonies this brother act made during the 1950’s and ‘60’s are legendary.  This duo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, the very first year of the Hall.  Their # 1 hits include “Wake Up Little Susie” (1957), “All I Have To Do Is Dream” (1958), “Bird Dog” (1958) and “Cathy’s Clown” (1960).  In total, the duo charted 38 songs from 1957 until 1984.  The brothers broke up on stage in 1973 and didn’t speak to each other for nearly a decade, although they did get back together in ’83 and continued to perform, separately and together, into the early 2000’s.  What’s the name of this singer who passed away only last week?                  

      

2.  The Doors first hit the singles chart in 1967 with “Light My Fire”.  The band consisted of Jim Morrison on vocals, John Densmore – drums, Robbie Kreiger – guitar and the mystery keyboard player, who was a founding member of The Doors.  He met Jim Morrison in film school.  His innovative organ work on The Doors first # 1 single, “Light My Fire” is legendary.  He passed away in May of last year at the age of 74.  Can you name him?                              

                

3.  This performer only charted one hit single, 1973’s “Walk On The Wild Side”, but his influence was felt for nearly half a century – both with his group The Velvet Underground and as a solo performer.  Two of his influential albums are: “Transformers” and “Berlin”, both of which are included in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “Top 500 Albums of All Time”.  He was a close friend of Andy Warhol’s and in interviews, often referred to Warhol as a mentor.  Who is he?    

                  

4.  When the original Woodstock Festival in August of 1969 began, this performer was the only one ready to go on stage, so he has the distinction of being first.  He adapted the spiritual “Motherless Child” into “Freedom” and played many others songs in his nearly three hour set.  His music incorporates elements of folk, soul and rhythm and blues.  He was also an actor and peace activist.  In 1993, he performed at U. S. President Bill Clinton’s inauguration.  For most of his adult life, he wore a fairly long beard (although not as long as the folks on “Duck Dynasty”.  Can you name this performer? 

    

5.  This performer, who died in February of last year, became famous as the lead singer for the British group The Troggs.  His real name was Reginald Maurice Ball, but he adopted his show biz last name from ‘The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll”.  Rock music critic Lester Bangs called The Troggs the ‘godfathers of punk’.  Their hits included a North American # 1, 1966’s “Wild Thing” along with hits like “With A Girl Like You” and “Love Is All Around” (both of which were written by this performer).  In the last years of his life, he was investigating UFO’s and crop circles.  Who is this guy?                      

             

ANSWERS

1.  Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers passed away on January 3^rd this year.  He and brother Don were true music industry pioneers.  The Everly Brothers harmonies influenced many groups, including The Beatles.  Phil Everly died just a few weeks shy of his 75^th birthday of a combination of emphysema and bronchitis, brought on by a lifetime of smoking.   

2.  Ray Manzarek was the keyboard player for The Doors.  Ray died on May 20^th, 2013.                         

    

3.  Lewis Allan Reed aka Lou Reed passed away on October 27^th last year.  His work in the group Velvet Underground was groundbreaking (no pun intended).  The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.  Lou Reed was 71.                                  

    

4.  Richie Havens was the first performer at the original Woodstock concert back in the summer of ’69.  His only charted single, which reached # 16 on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart in 1971 was his version of the George Harrison song “Here Comes The Sun”.  Richie died on April 22, 2013 at the age of 72.  On August 18^th, which was the 44^th anniversary of the final day of the original Woodstock festival, Richie’s ashes were scattered over the site of the festival from a plane flying overhead.                        

5.  Reg Presley was the gravel voiced lead singer with The Troggs, whose first worldwide hit was “Wild Thing”.  His research into UFO’s, crop circles, alchemy and the like was published in a 2002 book called “Wild Things They Don’t Tell Us”.  In 2012, Reg was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away on February 4^th, 2013 at age 72.