Question 1
In the period before rock music, the music business divided music into three categories. These
were:
mainstream pop, jump blues, and country & western
boogie woogie, doo wop, and rhythm & blues
mainstream pop, rhythm & blues, and country & western
mainstream pop, boogie woogie, and gospel
Question 2
Which statement best describes the music business during the first half of the 20th century?
Recorded performances were the focus of music sales.
Sheet music sales were a minor consideration, meant only for musicians.
The song is the important thing and the more variant performances, the better.
Songwriters were often also well-known performers.
Question 3
True or False? At the beginning of the twentieth century, American musical culture was mostly
regional.
True
False
Question 4
Which statement best describes the growth of radio in the US during the first half of the
twentieth century:
The development of radio, and especially the development of radio networks, helped to
form a national audience for music.
Radio remained largely local until the development of television, creating many
opportunities for local musicians.
During the first 20 years of radio, most people could not afford to own a radio and this
greatly impacted the influence of radio on musical culture in the US.
During the first 20 years of radio the programming consisted mostly of news shows.
Question 5
This performer had an image that made him seem like America’s favorite uncle. Choose the
best combination of artist and representative song, based on the discussion in the video:
Bing Crosby, “White Christmas”
Bing Crosby, “All of Me”
Glenn Miller, “String of Pearls”
Frank Sinatra, “I’ve Got a Crush on You”
Question 6
This singer famously made the young girls swoon in the 1940s. Choose the best combination of
artist and representative song, based on the discussion in the video:
Eddie Fisher, “Oh! My Papa”
Frank Sinatra, “In the Mood”
Frank Sinatra, “All of Me”
Tony Bennett, “Rags to Riches”
Question 7
True or False? Les Paul was a successful performer who also developed an early version of the
solid-body electric guitar as well as sound-on-sound recording.
False
True
Question 8
This singer is often called the first star of country music.
Gene Autry
Hank Williams
Roy Acuff
Jimmie Rodgers
Question 9
This radio show was an important element in the development of Nashville as the center of
Country &Western music after 1945.
WLW Barndance
Amos and Andy
The Grand Ol’ Opry
The Louisiana Hayride
Question 10
First signed to Acuff-Rose as a songwriter, he became one of the most influential performers in
country &western music after WW II. Name him.
Hank Williams
Roy Acuff
Jimmie Rodgers
Tex Ritter
Question 11
This act represents the “country” side of country & western music before WW II. Choose the
best combination of artist and representative song, based on the discussion in the video:
The Carter Family, “Can the Circle Be Unbroken”
Bob Wills, “All of Me”
Roy Acuff, “Back in the Saddle Again”
The Carter Family, “New San Antonio Rose”
Question 12
This act represents the “western” side of country & western music before WW II. Choose the
best combination of artist and representative song, based on the discussion in the video:
The Carter Family, “New San Antonio Rose”
Roy Acuff, “Great Speckled Bird”
Bob Wills, “Blue Yodel”
Gene Autry, “Back in the Saddle Again”
Question 13
Which were important independent (indie) labels in the 1950s?
Decca, Columbia, and RCA
Imperial, Specialty, and Columbia
Chess, Atlantic, and RCA
Chess, Atlantic, and Sun
Question 14
Which statement best reflects the discussion in the video?
Because of the migration of the national audience from radio to television immediately after
WW II, local and regional radio almost disappeared and played very little role in the
development of popular styles.
Because of the migration of the national audience from radio to television immediately after
WW II, opportunities for programming directed at a black urban audience arose on local and
regional radio.
Because of the migration of the national audience from radio to television immediately after
WW II, several important television shows featuring rhythm & blues music enjoyed significant
success.
Question 15
Doo wop played an important role in rhythm & blues in the 1950s. Choose the best combination
of artist and representative song, based on the discussion in the video:
Gene Nobles, “Radio Radio”
The Chords, “Sh’Boom”
Big Joe Turner, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll”
Ray Charles, “I Got a Woman”
Question 16
The “hokum blues” played an important role in rhythm & blues in the 1950s. Choose the best
combination of artist and representative song, based on the discussion in the video:
Big Joe Turner, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll”
Johnnie Ray, “Cry”
Elvis Presley, “Love Me Tender”
The Five Satins, “In the Still of the Night”
Question 17
These two artists were important in the development of blues in the years before WW II.
Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith
Robert Johnson, Ray Charles
Sam Cooke, Bessie Smith
Big Joe Turner, Louie Jordan
Question 18
Which statement best reflects the discussion in the video?
In many ways the idea of the “teenager” was developed in the 1950s, leading to particular
fashions, slang, and music that were neither “child” nor “adult.”
In many ways the idea of the “teenager” was developed in the 1950s, though this idea did
not really take hold until the late 1960s.
In many ways the idea of the “teenager” was developed in the 1950s, leading to particular
fashions and slang that were neither “child” nor “adult,” though the music didn’t change much.
Question 19
Which of these are 1950s films dealing with youth rebellion and are thus important to the birth of
rock and roll, as discussed in the video?
Wild Strawberries, The Searchers, Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot, North By Northwest, Sunset Boulevard
The Wild One, Blackboard Jungle, Rebel Without a Cause
The Wild One, Some Like It Hot, Rebel Without a Cause
Question 20
Which statement best reflects the discussion in the video?
Disk jockey Alan Freed began playing rhythm and blues records late at night on a station in
Cleveland. Though his program was directed at black listeners, white teens began tuning in.
Disk jockey Alan Freed began playing rhythm and blues records late at night on a station in
Cleveland. Though his program was directed at black listeners, these listeners soon lost interest
because Freed sounded so “white” on the air.
Disk jockey Alan Freed began playing rhythm and blues records late at night on a station in
Cleveland. From the start, his show was directed at a young teenage audience.
Question 21
_________________ means a record or song appears first on one chart and then on another. A
__________________ is when the song is re-recorded by another artist. Choose the best
ordered pair to fill in the blanks, based on discussion in the video.
hit, tribute
hit, cover
cover, crossover
crossover, cover
Question 22
Originally a traditional fiddle tune called “Ida Red,” ___________________ was a rhythm &
blues and pop hit for ________________________ in 1955. Choose the best ordered pair to fill
in the blanks, based on discussion in the video.
“Rock Around The Clock,” Bill Haley and the Comets
“Blueberry Hill,” Fats Domino
“That’s All Right Mama,” Elvis Presley
“Maybellene,” Chuck Berry
Question 23
___________________ cultivated the image of being the first “wild man” of rock & roll. One of
his hits is ____________________. Choose the best ordered pair to fill in the blanks, based on
the discussion in the video.
Elvis Presley, “Hound Dog”
Little Richard, “Tutti Frutti”
Chuck Berry, “Roll Over Beethoven”
Big Joe Turner, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll”
Question 24
_______________________ originally recorded for Sun Records in Memphis, which was owned
by ________________________. In November 1955, his contract was sold to
________________________(label) for what was thought to be an enormous sum. Choose the
best ordered trio to fill in the blanks, based on the discussion in the video.
Johnny Cash, Dewey Phillips, Columbia
Rufus Thomas, Sam Phillips, RCA
Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, RCA
Elvis Presley, Sam Phillips, RCA
Question 25
Originally from ___________________, ______________________ recorded most of his hits in
Norm Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico. Choose the best ordered pair to fill in the blanks,
based on the discussion in the video.
Tulsa, Oklahoma; Roy Orbison
Phoenix, Arizona; Gene Vincent
Lubbock, Texas; Buddy Holly
Ft. Worth, Texas; Roy Orbison
Question 26
Originally from New Orleans, _____________________ was thought of among his close
musical associates as a country-influenced singer. One of his hits was
______________________. Choose the best ordered pair to fill in the blanks, based on the
discussion in the video.
Eddie Cochran, “Summertime Blues”
Gene Vincent, “Be-Bop-A-Lula”
Jerry Lee Lewis, “Great Balls of Fire”
Fats Domino, “Ain’t It A Shame”
Question 27
___________________ had been a diskjockey who also played in a country swing band before
hitting it big in rock and roll with the song ________________. Choose the best ordered pair to
fill in the blanks, based on the discussion in the video.
Fats Domino, “The Fat Man”
Bill Haley, “Rock Around the Clock”
Alan Freed, “Rock Rock Rock!”
Les Paul, “How High the Moon”
Question 28
____________________ was scandalized when the press learned that he had married his 14year-old cousin, _________________ was drafted into the armed forces at the height of his
fame, ________________ quit rock & roll to preach to be a preacher, and
__________________ died in a plane crash in February 1959. Choose the best-ordered
response to fill in the blanks, based on the discussion in the video.
Fats Domino, Pat Boone, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins
Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Ritchie Valens
Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly
Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, The Big Bopper
Question 29
Which statement best reflects the discussion of the “payola scandal” in the video?
The “payola scandal” of the late 1950s involved a practice in which diskjockeys received
some form of payment for playing particular records on the air. While such forms of “song
plugging” had long been part of the popular-music business, these particular payola charges
were part of a backlash against rock & roll.
The “payola scandal” of the late 1950s involved the practice of publishers owning the
copyright to songs written by the artists who recorded them and in many cases made them
famous. Artists often signed away their copyright on these songs, unaware of the potential
revenue they were losing in the process.
The "payola scandal" of the late 50s involved artists, usually white, who recorded cover
versions of songs that had already been recorded by black R & B bands. These covers often
quickly became more popular than the original versions.
Question 30
Which statement best reflects the discussion in the video?
By the end of the 1950s, the first wave of rock & roll seemed to be in serious danger of
dying out, with many important figures off the scene and Congress investigating the music
business.
By the end of the 1950s, the first wave of rock & roll seemed to be in good health, with
many original figures still on the scene and the music business as strong as ever.
By the end of the 1950s, the first wave of rock & roll seemed relatively unchanged from
1955, when it first emerged.