This week is the induction ceremony for the 2014 Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame. Artists become
eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the
release of their first record and need to be nominated by members of the voting
committee.
No Canadians will be honoured this time. In fact, there are only a handful of Canadian
performers who have been inducted into the hallowed halls of rock and
rolldom.
Montreal native Leonard Cohen was inducted in 2008, but he
was by no means the first. This quiz is about those lucky Canucks who ARE in
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Should
be a snap, so give it your best shot.
QUESTIONS
1. Although he was
actually born in Toronto, Winnipeg is the Canadian city most people associate
with this singer/songwriter. His father
was a nationally known sports writer, who later wrote a book about his famous
son. In the 1960’s, this performer
decided to head to Los Angeles to try to make it. He and a couple of pals drove out in a big
black hearse and he did make it big. In
fact, he’s been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame TWICE. Who is this “Harvest Moon” singer?
2. For many years,
fans of this rock trio wrote petition after petition to have them inducted into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, all to no avail…until last year when it finally
happened. The group is legendary in
Canada as well as major parts of the U.S. where they toured extensively. Their chart hits include “Tom Sawyer”, “Closer
To The Heart” and “New World Man”. Who
is this group? (Take your time to think
about it now, don’t rush).
3. This
singer/songwriter/painter started her folk singing career in Saskatchewan
(although she was born in Alberta) before moving to Toronto and later, Los
Angeles where she really made her mark in the music world. She’s known for her unique style in
songwriting, singing and guitar playing.
Her songs have been covered by artists such as Judy Collins, Amy Grant, Crosby,
Stills, Nash & Young, James Taylor, Mandy Moore, Sarah McLachlan and Ian
Matthews among many others. She
experimented with a jazz album and worked with jazz legend Charles Mingus. She’s won eight Grammy Awards and in 2000, received a star on Canada’s Walk
of Fame. Who is this extremely talented
Canadian?
4. This group formed
in New York City. It featured lead
singer and primary songwriter John Sebastian¸ with Steve Boone on bass, Joe
Butler on drums and this Toronto born guitar player. He was known for jumping around on stage and
keeping the excitement and energy flowing.
If you remember The Mamas and Papas song “Creeque Alley”, his first name
is mentioned in the lyric, “__ and Denny workin’ for a penny, tryin’ to get a
fish on the line.” He left the group in
1967 for a solo career and later moved to Kingston, Ontario where he opened a
successful restaurant. What is his name?
5. This singer was
born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
He started out in a folk group, called The Halifax Three, then moved to
New York where he formed a trio with a fellow Canadian and a female singer
named Cass Elliot. Then he and Cass
joined with a singer/songwriter and his girlfriend (and later wife) to create a
group that went on to have six Top Ten songs and were known for their haunting
harmonies. They were inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Can
you name the group and the Canadian singer who was one of its members?
ANSWERS
1. Neil Young was the
first Canadian artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Neil received his second induction two years
later (1997) when Buffalo Springfield went into the Hall. Driving around Los Angeles in the hearse, he
ran into Stephen Stills on Sunset Boulevard.
They subsequently formed Buffalo Springfield. Later, when Stills became one third of
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young was occasionally added to the line- up,
but never became a full time member. Neil’s
biggest hit single was “Heart of Gold”, which went to # 1 for one week in March
of 1972 and featured Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor on backing vocals.
2. Yes, it’s Rush and
2013 was the year the Toronto based trio was finally inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame. Geddy Lee, Alex
Lifeson and Neil Peart are Rush. The
group was inducted along with Heart, Albert King, Randy Newman, Public Enemy
and the late Donna Summer. The band was formed
by Lifeson in 1968 in the Toronto suburb of Willowdale. Geddy Lee quickly replaced original singer
Jeff Jones. Neil Peart replaced original
drummer John Rutsey in July ’75. Rush has released 19 albums featuring this classic Rush line-up, including
“Fly By Night” (1975); “Caress of Steel“ (1975); “2012” (1976); “A Farewell To
Kings” (1977); “Hemispheres” (1978); “Permanent Waves” (1980); “Roll The Bones”
(1991) and their latest, Clockwork Angels” (2012). Rush tours often make the Top Ten list of
highest grossing events and they’re loved and revered by fans on both sides of
the Canada/U.S. border.
3. In 1997, Joni
Mitchell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Joni’s first album was 1968’s “Song To A
Seagull” and her last one, 2007’s “Shine” was her 19th release. Janet Jackson used a sample from Joni’s “Big
Yellow Taxi” in her 1997 song, “Got ‘Til It’s Gone”. In 2002, Joni was appointed a Companion of
the Order of Canada. Time Magazine
listed Joni’s album “Blue” as among the ‘All Time 100 Albums’ in November of
2006. Canada Post issued a Joni Mitchell
stamp in June 2007.
4. John Sebastian,
Steve Boone, Joe Butler and Canadian Zal Yanovsky of The Lovin’ Spoonful were
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, along with Earth, Wind
and Fire, Eric Clapton, The Moonglows, Bonnie Raitt and James Taylor. The first seven singles The Lovin’ Spoonful
release all made Billboards’ Top Ten.
They were (in chronological order) “Do You Believe In Magic” (# 9); “You
Didn’t Have To Be So Nice” (# 10);
“Daydream” (# 2); “Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?” (# 2); “Summer In
The City” (# 1); “Rain On The Roof” (# 10) and “Nashville Cats” (# 8). Zal left the group in 1967. In 1979 he opened the restaurant, Chez Piggy
in Kingston, then in ’94, launched the
Pan Chancho Bakery. Zal Yanovsky
died of a heart attack in Kingston on December 13, 2002.
5. Halifax native Denny
Doherty was the lead singer on several of The Mamas and The Papas hits, including
“California Dreamin’” and “Monday, Monday”.
The Mamas and Papas were one of the 1998 inductees into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, along with early rocker Gene Vincent, Santana, Lloyd Price,
the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Denny left
Canada for New York and quickly formed a trio called The Mugwumps with Cass
Elliot and fellow Canadian Zal Yanovsky, who later co-founded The Lovin’
Spoonful. He subsequently met John
Phillips and with John’s girlfriend (later wife) Michelle and Cass, The Mamas
and The Papas was born. Denny staged a
delightful play called “Dream A Little Dream” that he performed all over North
America. Denny was also an actor and
starred in the CBC television show “Theodore Tugboat”. Denny Doherty passed away on January 19th,
2007 at the age of 66.
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