Trivia questions about popular music and musical instruments.

Which metal-keyed electric percussion instrument resembles a xylophone?
A: Vibraphone.

Which record producer created the 'wall of sound' for the Crystals and the Ronettes?
A: Phil Specter.

How many reeds does an oboe have?
A: Two.

Who was bass guitarist in the Beatles?
A: Paul McCartney.

For which rock group was Charlie Watts the drummer?
A: The Rolling Stones.

What was the first free rock festival, held in New York state in 1969?
A: Woodstock.

What is the name of the metal discs set in the rim of a tambourine?
A: Jingles.

Which US pioneer of rock and roll played with the Comets?
A: Bill Haley.

Which popular singer was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and died in Memphis, Tennessee?
A: Elvis Presley.

Which guitarist burned his guitar at the Monterey festival in 1967?
A: Jimi Hendrix.

Which group was fronted by guitarists Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir for three decades?
A: Grateful Dead.

Who collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber to write Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat?
A: Tim Rice.

What was the electric tone-wheel organ invented in 1934?
A: Hammond Organ.

What was the name of the hard-rock group formed by David Bowie in the late 1980s?
A: Tin Machine.

Which song was a number 1 hit for Esther and Abi Ofarim?
A: Cinderella Rockerfella.

Which rock group's original pianist Ian Stewart died in 1985?
A: Rolling Stones.

In which American state were both Buddy Holly and Janis Joplin born?
A: Texas.

Who created the character of Ziggy Stardust in his glam-rock period of the 1970s?
A: David Bowie.

What is a bass xylophone called?
A: Marimba.

Which singer won an Oscar for acting in Form Here to "Eternity?
A: Frank Sinatra.

Who was the 'Forces' Sweetheart' of World War II?
A: Vera Lynn.

Which Canadian singer / songwriter recorded the albums Blue and Hejira?
A: Joni Mitchell.

Which guitarist formed the rock group whose album, Brothers in Arms, has sold over 20 million copies?
A: Mark Knopfler.

What was the title of Brecht's adaptation of the Beggar's Opera, which included the song 'Mac the Knife'?
A: The Threepenny Opera / Die Dreigroschenoper.

Alto, tenor, bass, and contra-bass are all sizes of which brass instrument?
A: Trombone.

Which 1965 Beatles song was covered by 1,186 performers in ten years?
A: Yesterday.

What was Bing Crosby's real first name?
A: Harry.

Who collaborated with /'Elvis Costello on his recording of 'Back on My Feet', and with  Michael Jackson on 'Say, Say, Say?
A: Paul McCartney.

Which type of music developed from the folk music of English, Irish and Scottish settlers in the USA?
A: Country and western / country music.

What was the title of the theme song used for the film The Blackboard Jungle?
A: Rock Around The Clock.

Which country singer recorded an album at Folsom Prison in 1968?
A: Johnny Cash.

Which group of brothers had their first US hit with 'I Want You Back' in 1969?
A: The Jackson Five.

Who founded Motown 'Records?
A: Berry Gordy Jr.

Which pop group once consisted of Sarah Dallin, Keren Woodward and Jackie O'Sullivan?
A: Bananarama.

What is the syncopated music in 2/4 time, usually played on the piano?
A: Ragtime.

Which modern instrument was developed from the sackbut?
A: Trombone.

Who released the album Natty Dread in 1975?
A: Bob Marley.

What is the better-known name of  the drummer Richard Starkey?
A: Ringo Star.

What stage name was taken by the rapper Stanley Kirk Burrell?
A: M C Hammer.

Which coarse-voiced Texan was the lead singer with the San Francisco group Big Brother and the Holding Company?
A: Janis Joplin.

Who wrote the atmospheric scores for such films as A Fistful of Dollars and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly?
A: Ennio Morricone.

What is the name for a record label that is completely separate from the large conglomerate companies?
A: Indie / Independent.

Which Memphis label recorded both Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash?
A: Sun.

Which group had Keith Moon on drums?
A: The Who.

Which is the only straight member of the saxophone family in common use?
A: Soprano saxophone.