The 1950s had some of the greatest musicians who baked the best-tasting biscuits we ever had. This decade had three different phases and provided us with music that still influences us today. From the death of big bands to the explosion of rock and roll to the beginnings of pop standards, there was something for everyone.
Are you a square or a cool cat? Take this 50’s music quiz to find out! Even with the rise of rock and roll, the 50s were still owned by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, so your jazz obsession will pay off here. These 50’s music trivia questions and answers are sure to razz your berries!
Are you looking for more music trivia? Check out our 60’s music, 70’s music, and 80’s music trivia.
What nickname was given to Roy Orbison?
The Big O
The Big R
The Big R O
O Biggles
Sonny Till was the lead singer of which group?
The Five Keys
The Orioles
The Flamingos
The Moonglows
That’ll Be The Day’ was a 1958 album by whom?
Little Richard
Bobby Darin
Buddy Holly
Bill Haley
Old Leather Lungs was a nickname given to which artist?
Frank Sinatra
Frankie Lane
Dean Martin
Perry Como
Which singer played Catwoman in the Batman TV series?
Toni Arden
Pearl Bailey
Rosemary Clooney
Eartha Kitt
My True Love was the first top 10 hit for whom?
Jackie Wilson
Otis Williams
Jack Scott
Lloyd Price
John Marshall Alexander was better known by what name?
Ricky Nelson
Hank Ballad
Johnny Ace
Johnny Otis
Rock Around the Clock was a hit for whom?
Bobby Darin
Buddy Holly
Little Richard
Bill Haley
Who began his career as a songwriter for Connie Francis?
Elvis Presley
Bobby Darin
Duane Eddy
Buddy Holly
Percy Faith hailed from which country?
Canada
England
Australia
USA
Which group had a hit with Courtroom Blues?
The Robins
The Five Satins
The Spaniels
The Harp Tones
Complete the title of the Hank Ballad hit ‘Work With Me…’?
Annie
Susie
Daisy
Mary
What is the real surname of Little Richard?
Perriman
Pennington
Penniman
Perry
Cry Cry Cry was the first single released by whom?
Johnny Cash
Eddie Cochran
Billy Ward
Jerry Lee Lewis
Which of these singers passed away in 2013?
Frankie Lane
Patti Page
June Valli
Peggy Lee
Who hit No.1 in 1950 with Teardrops From My Eyes?
Ruth Brown
Patti Page
Dolly Parton
Big Mama Thornton
Which group’s first two hits were ‘Maybe’ and ‘He’s Gone’?
The Belmonts
The Clowns
The Chantels
The Cadillacs
Tony Williams was the lead Tenor in which 1950s band?
The Dominoes
The Platters
The Clovers
The Cadillacs
Complete the title of a 1955 Al Martino hit ‘The Man From…?’
Baramie
Caramie
Daramie
Laramie
Who had a 1957 hit with ‘The Big Band’?
Fats Domino
Little Richard
Ray Charles
Chuck Berry
Serendae of the Bells is a notable album by which 1950s act?
Nat King Cole
Perry Como
Dean Martin
Sammy Kaye
Who had a smash hit in 1958 with ‘Rumble’?
Jay Hawkins
Sonny Till
Larry Williams
Link Wray
Harry was the real first name of which 1950s star?
Frank Sinatra
Dean Martin
Perry Como
Bing Crosby
Reet Petite was a famous hit for whom in the 1950s?
Frankie Lymon
Little Willie John
Ivory Joe Hunter
Jackie Wilson
What was the first name of Chuck Willis?
Harold
Edward
George
Henry
Jerry Lee Lewis was often found playing what instrument?
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums
Who did ‘The Teenagers’ back?
Frankie Lymon
Ricky Nelson
Chuck Willis
Johnny Ace
High School Confidential was a hit penned by whom?
Bill Haley
Billy Ward
Jerry Lee Lewis
Buddy Holly
Who scored a 1957 hit with CC Rider?
Ricky Nelson
Chuck Willis
Johnny Ace
Johnny Otis
Who had a 1956 smash hit with Jim Dandy?
Big Mama Thornton
Patti Page
Ruth Brown
LeVern Baker
What was the name of Billy Haleys backing group?
The Stars
The Moons
The Comets
The Suns
Which of these was the name of a successful 1950s group?
The Del Hans
The Del Normans
The Del Vikings
The Del Romans
Who had a hit in the 1950s with ‘See You Later Alligator’?
Buddy Holly
Little Richard
Bobby Darin
Bill Haley
Which singer was born Antoinette Ardizzone?
Pearl Bailey
Toni Arden
Rosemary Clooney
Eartha Kitt
Jesse Belvin died at what tragic age?
47
27
37
57
Sam Cooke is often referred to as The King of, what?
The Blue
Soul
Country
Jazz
Which girls name featured in several hits for Hank Ballad?
Susie
Annie
Daisy
Mary
Which band backed Billy Ward?
The Cadillacs
The Platters
The Clovers
The Dominoes
What nickname was given to Patti Page?
The Singing Rage
The Screaming Rage
The Loving Rage
The Famous Rage
Harvey Fuqua and Bobby Lester were members of which group?
The Flamingos
The Coasters
The Moonglows
The Drifters
Miss Rhythm was a 1959 album release by which 1950s artist?
Patti Page
Ruth Brown
Dolly Parton
Big Mama Thornton
Crazy Arms was a breakthrough hit for whom?
Bill Haley
Buddy Holly
Jerry Lee Lewis
Billy Ward
Tommy Gaither and Johnny Reed were members of which group?
The Moonglows
The Orioles
The Flamingos
The Five Keys
Ivory Joe Hunter was often called ‘The Baron of…’?
Jive
Boogie
Dance
Rock and Roll
The Big O was the nickname given to which star?
Huey Smith
Bobby Darin
Ritchie Valens
Roy Orbison
Who married dancer Delores Mohawk in the 1950s?
Gene Vincent
Sam Cooke
Bo Diddley
Carl Perkins
Who was often billed as Mr Excitement?
Jackie Wilson
Chuck Willis
Frankie Lymon
Little Willie John
Who backed Huey ‘Piano’ Smith?
The Chantels
The Belmonts
The Cadillacs
The Clowns
Songs Our Daddy Taught us was a 1950s album by whom?
The Everly Brothers
Little Richard
Bobby Darin
Buddy Holly
How old was Eddie Cochran when he died?
31
41
21
51
How was Lloyd Price better known?
Mr Personality
Mr Danger
Mr Fun
Mr Happy Times
Richard Penniman was better known as…?
Ray Charles
Little Richard
Chuck Berry
Richard Little
Whose first hit was ‘Money Honey’?
The Platters
The Dominoes
The Cadillacs
The Drifters
What was the name of Link Wrays backing band?
The Linkettes
The Link Men
The Rayettes
The Ray Men
Les Paul was a 1950s pioneer of which instrument?
Guitar
Piano
Drum
Keyboard
Mae was the middle name of which singer?
Toni Arden
Pearl Bailey
Eartha Kitt
Rosemary Clooney
Which of these songs was the signature tune of Patti Page?
Las Vega Waltz
Nashville Waltz
Tennessee Waltz
California Waltz
Which of these is the name of a 1950s chart topping act?
Johnny Ray and the Three Lads
Johnny Ray and The Four Lads
Johnny Ray and the Five Lads
Johnny Ray and the Two Lads
Little Richard released Tutti Frutti in which year?
1959
1955
1950
1952
The Big Beat film featured which group?
The Del Vikings
The Cadillacs
The Clowns
The Belmonts
Who had a hit 1959 album with ‘What I’d Say’?
Bill Haley
Ray Charles
Bobby Darin
Little Richard
Eric Hillard were the first real names of which act?
Sam Cooke
Ricky Nelson
Hank Ballad
Johnny Otis
Rockin’ At The Hops was a late 1950s album by whom?
Little Richard
Chuck Berry
Buddy Holly
Bobby Darin
Move it/Schoolboy Crush’ was the first single by…?
Ritchie Valens
Bobby Darin
Roy Orbison
Cliff Richard
Fats Domino was noted for playing which instrument?
Basson
Piano
Guitar
Trumpet
Yes Indeed was a hit 1950s album by whom?
Little Richard
Ray Charles
Bill Haley
Bobby Darin
Terry ‘Buzzy’ Johnson was a member of which group?
The Flamingos
The Drifters
The Platters
The Coasters
Kay Starr had a massive 1950s hit with ‘The Rock and Roll…’?
Rhythm
Waltz
Blues
Time
Who had hits with Short Fat Fannie and Bony Moronie?
Duane Eddy
Jay Hawkins
Larry Williams
Sonny Till
Chuck Willis was often billed as ‘The King of….’?
The Hill
Running
Mountains
Stroll
The Originator is a nickname often given to whom?
Johnny Cash
Bo Diddley
Gene Vincent
Carl Perkins
Mambo Boogie was a breakthrough record for whom?
Johnny Otis
Hank Ballad
Bo Diddley
Sam Cooke
Which of these was a number 1 hit for Lloyd Price?
Stagger Fee
Stagger Gee
Stagger Lee
Stagger Gee
What name was often given to Jackie Wilson?
Mr Happy Times
Mr Excitement
Mr Fun
Mr Jive
Which of these was a charting song for Vera Lynn?
My Dad My Dad
My Brother My Brother
My Sister My Sister
My Son My Son
Which of these was a nickname often given to Etta James?
Miss Apples
Miss Peaches
Miss Pears
Miss Fruits
Henry Byrd was better known by which name?
Professor Short Hair
Professor Danger
Professor Longhair
Professor Short Back and Sides
Antoine was the first name of which singer?
Chuck Berry
Ray Charles
Little Richard
Fats Domino
What was Frank Sinatra’s middle name?
Edward
Julian
Albert
David
What were the names of the Everley Brothers?
Ed and Don
Don and Wayne
Phil and Drew
Don and Phil
Who had a hit in 1956 with ‘Roll over Beethoven’?
Buddy Holly
Chuck Berry
Ray Charles
Bobby Darin
Fever was originally a 1956 hit for whom?
Frankie Lymon
Johnny Ace
Little Willie John
Chuck Willis
In what year did ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ reach Number 1?
1959
1956
1962
1965
Complete the title of The Platters Number 1 ‘The Great…’?
Lover
Magician
Pretender
Man
Who is often called The King of Soul?
Carl Perkins
Bo Diddley
Gene Vincent
Sam Cooke
Which of these is a nickname often given to Frankie Lane?
Mr Rock Tonsils
Mr Grey Tonsils
Mr Metal Tonsils
Mr Steel Tonsils
Which act had a 1955 smash hit with ‘Tutti Frutti’?
Little Richard
Buddy Holly
Bobby Darin
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry was most noted for playing which instrument?
Trumpet
Drums
Guitar
Piano
The King of Rockabilly was a nickname given to whom?
Johnny Cash
Eddie Cochran
Jerry Lee Lewis
Carl Perkins
Please Send Me Someone To Love was a major hit for…?
Huey Smith
Bobby Darin
Ritchie Valens
Percy Mayfield
What country musician sang the song ‘Waterloo’ in the 1950s?
Stonewall Jackson
Train
Kid Rock
DMX
Which act had a No.1 hit with ‘Cry’?
Mario Lanza
Patti Page
Les Paul
Johnny Ray and The Four Lads
Who had a major hit with ‘The Shrine of St Cecilia’?
The Penguins
The Clowns
The Harp Tones
The Del Vikings
Which band were originally known as The Sentimental Four?
The Moonglows
The Coasters
The Flamingos
The Five Keys
Which singer had a hit in 1953 with ‘C ‘est Si Bon’?
Eartha Kitt
Rosemary Clooney
Toni Arden
Pearl Bailey
Eddy Howard topped the charts in 1951 with which song?
Sin
Crying
Mercy
Pain
Ivory Tower’ was a major hit for which act?
Otis Williams
Jackie Wilson
Ivory Joe Hunter
Lloyd Price
Who had a 1950s hit with ”Kiss of Fire?
Pearl Bailey
Toni Arden
Eartha Kitt
Rosemary Clooney
Dixied Fried and Boppin the Blues were hits for which act?
Eddie Cochran
Johnny Cash
Carl Perkins
Jerry Lee Lewis
Thomas Threat and Ripley Ingram were members of which group?
The Moonglows
The Coasters
The Flamingos
The Five Keys
Duane Eddy was noted for playing which instrument?
Keyboard
Piano
Saxophone
Guitar
You can do better
Not bad
Great!