50+ Fun 50s Music Quiz Questions and Answers

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The fifties were an important decade when it comes to music. Elvis, Gainsbourg, West Side Story… there are so many singers and bands who came to fame at that time.

In this ultimate 50s music quiz, we will test your knowledge of all things related to music and the 1950s. This includes trivia, multiple choice and true or false.

Each correct answer is worth 1 point which means you can score up to 50 points.

Round 1: Easy 50s Music Trivia Questions

1. Which 1950s singer released Jailhouse Rock and Hound Dog?
2. Complete the song title by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers: Why Do Fools …
3. Once Upon a Dream comes from which 1950s Disney movie?
4. What was the name of Bill Haley’s band?
5. Which singer released Fly Me To The Moon?
6. Louis Armstrong is most famous for playing which instrument?
7. Which Chuck Berry song begins with the line ‘Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans’?
8. What language did Serge Gainsbourg primarily sing in?
9. Which 50s song was the UK’s first million-selling single?
10. Complete the line from the famous Dean Martin song: ‘When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s…’
11. Harry Belafonte’s Banana Boat found a new audience in the 1980s when it featured in which comedy-horror film?

Round 1: Easy 50s Music Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Which 1950s singer released Jailhouse Rock and Hound Dog? Elvis Presley
2. Complete the song title by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers: Why Do Fools … Fall in Love
3. Once Upon a Dream comes from which 1950s Disney movie? Sleeping Beauty
4. What was the name of Bill Haley’s band? Bill Haley & His Comets
5. Which singer released Fly Me To The Moon? Frank Sinatra
6. Louis Armstrong is most famous for playing which instrument? Trumpet
7. Which Chuck Berry song begins with the line ‘Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans’? Johnny B Goode
8. What language did Serge Gainsbourg primarily sing in? French
9. Which 50s song was the UK’s first million-selling single? Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley
10. Complete the line from the famous Dean Martin song: ‘When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s…’ Amore
11. Harry Belafonte’s Banana Boat found a new audience in the 1980s when it featured in which comedy-horror film? Beetlejuice

Round 2: 50s Music Multiple-Choice Questions

1. What colour were Elvis Presley’s famous suede shoes?
   1. Red
   2. Black
   3. Gold
   4. Blue
2. Which of the following Christmas songs was first recorded during the 1950s?
   1. Baby, It’s Cold Outside
   2. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
   3. Frosty the Snowman
   4. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
3. Which of these  instruments was not played in the Glenn Miller Orchestra?
   1. Clarinet
   2. Saxophone
   3. Trombone 
   4. Guitar
4. Which 1950s actor and singer won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award?
   1. Brenda Lee
   2. Nat King Cole
   3. Harry Belafonte
   4. Ella Fitzgerald
5. Which band originally recorded A Teenager in Love?
   1. Dion and the Belmonts
   2. The Del-Vikings
   3. The Monotones
   4. The Cadillacs
6. What was the peak chart position of Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti in the United States?
   1. 1
   2. 2
   3. 7
   4. 15
7. Which of the following recording artists did not release a version of Mr Sandman in the 1950s?
   1. The Cordettes
   2. The Four Aces
   3. The Supremes 
   4. Chet Atkins
8. Patsy Cline was one of the most important artists in which genre?
   1. Gospel
   2. Doo-wop
   3. Rockabilly 
   4. Country
9. I Get A Kick Out of You was originally performed in which Broadway musical?
   1. Anything Goes
   2. Finian’s Rainbow
   3. Carousel
   4. On the Town
10. Complete the line from Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine): I’m just a fool, a fool….
    1. In love with you
    2. Who fell in love
    3. Who wants to hold you
    4. A fool for you, my angel

Round 2: 50s Music Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

1. What colour were Elvis Presley’s famous suede shoes? D. Blue
2. Which of the following Christmas songs was first recorded during the 1950s? B. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
3. Which of these  instruments was not played in the Glenn Miller Orchestra? D. Guitar
4. Which 1950s actor and singer won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award? C. Harry Belafonte
5. Which band originally recorded A Teenager in Love? A. Dion and the Belmonts
6. What was the peak chart position of Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti in the United States? B. 2
7. Which of the following recording artists did not release a version of Mr Sandman in the 1950s? c. The Supremes
8. Patsy Cline was one of the most important artists in which genre? D. Country
9. I Get A Kick Out of You was originally performed in which Broadway musical? A. Anything Goes
10. Complete the line from Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine): I’m just a fool, a fool….a. In love with you

Round 3: 50s Music Quiz – True or False

1. Richie Valens did not speak Spanish and learned the lyrics to La Bamba phonetically.
2. Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr first performed together in 1957, but they would not become The Beatles until 1960.
3. Bobby Day wrote Rockin’ Robin himself.
4. In Splish Splash Bobby Darin specifies that he was taking a bath on a Friday night.
5. The first line of All I Have To Do Is Dream is ‘Dream, dream, dream, dream.’
6. So What, Freebie Freeloader and Flamenco Sketches are all tracks on Miles Davis’ studio album Kind of Blue.
7. Wake Up Little Susie was written by the Everly Brothers for their little sister Susan.
8. Pat Boone’s real name was Charles Eugene Boon.
9. Reet Petite, which was made famous by Jackie Wilson, was co-written by Chuck Berry.
10. Bob Dylan started writing Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right in 1957, but wasn’t happy enough with it to record the song until 1963.

Round 3: 50s Music Quiz Answers – True or False

1. Richie Valens did not speak Spanish and learned the lyrics to La Bamba phonetically. True
2. Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr first performed together in 1957, but they would not become The Beatles until 1960.True
3. Bobby Day wrote Rockin’ Robin himself. False
4. In Splish Splash Bobby Darin specifies that he was taking a bath on a Friday night. False, it’s a Saturday night
5. The first line of All I Have To Do Is Dream is ‘Dream, dream, dream, dream.’ True
6. So What, Freebie Freeloader and Flamenco Sketches are all tracks on Miles Davis’ studio album Kind of Blue. True
7. Wake Up Little Susie was written by the Everly Brothers for their little sister Susan. False
8. Pat Boone’s real name was Charles Eugene Boon. True
9. Reet Petite, which was made famous by Jackie Wilson, was co-written by Chuck Berry. False
10. Bob Dylan started writing Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right in 1957, but wasn’t happy enough with it to record the song until 1963. False

Round 4: Medium 50s Music Trivia Questions

1. What was the title of Elvis’ debut album?
2. Which French singer rose to prominence in the USA in the 1950s when her most famous song was rerecorded by several American singers including Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong and Dean Martin?
3. What is the first thing that Frank Sanatra says he ‘gets no kick from’ in I Get a Kick Out of You?
4. In 1958, The Champs rose to number 1 in the charts with a song named after which alcoholic beverage?
5. Who composed Take Five?
6. Which singer recorded The Homing Waltz, Forget-Me-Not and My Son, My Son during the 1950s?
7. Which Bernstein Broadway production which debuted in 1957 would go on to have one of the most celebrated stage and movie soundtracks of all time?
8. Which Frank Sinatra record features the songs Mood Indigo, Glad to Be Happy, This Love of Mine and Dancing on the Ceiling?
9. Who recorded Let the Good Times Roll in 1956?
10. What was the title of Buddy Holly’s last studio album, recorded in 1958?
11. The Billboard Hot 100 in the USA was launched in 1958. What was the first song to ever be number 1? “Poor Little Fool” by Ricky Nelson

Round 4: Medium 50s Music Trivia Questions and Answers

1. What was the title of Elvis’ debut album? Rock N’ Rock
2. Which French singer rose to prominence in the USA in the 1950s when her most famous song was rerecorded by several American singers including Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong and Dean Martin? Édith Piaf
3. What is the first thing that Frank Sanatra says he ‘gets no kick from’ in I Get a Kick Out of You? Champagne 
4. In 1958, The Champs rose to number 1 in the charts with a song named after which alcoholic beverage? Tequila
5. Who composed Take Five? Paul Desmond
6. Which singer recorded The Homing Waltz, Forget-Me-Not and My Son, My Son during the 1950s? Vera Lynn
7. Which Bernstein Broadway production which debuted in 1957 would go on to have one of the most celebrated stage and movie soundtracks of all time? West Side Story
8. Which Frank Sinatra record features the songs Mood Indigo, Glad to Be Happy, This Love of Mine and Dancing on the Ceiling? In the Wee Small Hours
9. Who recorded Let the Good Times Roll in 1956? Shirley and Lee
10. What was the title of Buddy Holly’s last studio album, recorded in 1958? That’ll Be the Day

Round 5: Hard 50s Music Trivia Questions

1. What was the first rock ‘n’ roll record to top the Billboard singles chart?
2. Which record label did Elvis Presley sign to in 1954?
3. What was the title of the first studio album by Cliff Richards?
4. Which 1950s composer and songwriter was born Juilus Frank Antony Kuczynski?
5. Which Irving Berlin song did Maralyn Monroe release as a cover in 1954?
6. Which actress and singer sang So This Is Love in Disney’s Cinderella?
7. Which artist rose from the band The Famous Flames to have a successful solo career and become a pioneer of Funk?
8. Complete the line from The Coaster’s Yakety Yak: ‘If you don’t scrub that…’
9. In which year did The Cordettes release Lollipop?
10. I’m Just a Dancing Partner was the B-side to which song by The Platters?

Round 5: Hard 50s Music Trivia Questions and Answers

1. What was the first rock ‘n’ roll record to top the Billboard singles chart? Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & His Comets
2. Which record label did Elvis Presley sign to in 1954? Sun Records
3. What was the title of the first studio album by Cliff Richards? Cliff Sings
4. Which 1950s composer and songwriter was born Juilus Frank Antony Kuczynski? Pee Wee King
5. Which Irving Berlin song did Maralyn Monroe release as a cover in 1954? You’d Be Surprised
6. Which actress and singer sang So This Is Love in Disney’s Cinderella? Ilene Woods
7. Which artist rose from the band The Famous Flames to have a successful solo career and become a pioneer of Funk? James Brown
8. Complete the line from The Coaster’s Yakety Yak: ‘If you don’t scrub that…’ Kitchen Floor
9. In which year did The Cordettes release Lollipop? 1958
10. I’m Just a Dancing Partner was the B-side to which song by The Platters? The Great Pretender

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