50 Music Trivia Questions and Answers
Music trivia from the Trivia Cafe pub-quiz archive: rock and pop, Motown, country, opera and the classical composers. The questions lean toward the records and performers of the 1950s through the 1990s, with a few older ones for the classical fans. Every answer is printed under its question.
There are 50 questions on this page. They are free to use for quiz nights, classrooms and pub quizzes, and each one links to its own page.
Related lists: Beatles trivia questions, 60s trivia questions, 70s trivia questions, 80s trivia questions, Oscars trivia questions.
1.This operatic tenor who died in 1921 was the first singer ever to sell over one million records. What was his name?
Answer: ENRICO CARUSO
Open this question2.After the stabbing death of two teenagers by another teenager in 1959, some radio stations banned this Bobby Darin hit record from "The Threepenny Opera." What was the song title?
Answer: "MACK THE KNIFE"
Open this question3.The largest selling song of 1972 dealt with a tragic event that occurred on February 3, 1959, resulting in the death of three famous people. What was the song title, and who wrote and recorded it?
Answer: AMERICAN PIE / DON McLEAN people were BUDDY HOLLY / RICHIE VALENS / BIG BOPPER
Open this question4.By 1984, this singer/entertainer had sold around 100 million record albums and given over 2,000 live concerts, yet he was relatively unknown in the United States. Who is he?
Answer: JULIO IGLESIAS
Open this question5.This film premiered in December 1977, and its soundtrack album became, for a time, the biggest selling album ever. Which film?
Answer: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
Open this question6.This 1993 music album featured cover art designed by the recording artist's wife, a model. Name the singer, album, and artist.
Answer: BILLY JOEL / RIVER OF DREAMS / CHRISTIE BRINKLEY
Open this question7.What song, written by Mildred and Patty Hill, is considered the most commonly sung song in the English language?
Answer: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Open this question8.What song, written by Paul Anka, was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Sid Vicious, among others?
Answer: MY WAY
Open this question9.What was the name of the 1991 film about an Irish soul-music band?
Answer: THE COMMITMENTS
Open this question10.The Scottish folk song, “You'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road, and I'll be in Scotland before you" is titled after what body of water?
Answer: LOCH LOMOND ..."But me and my true love will never meet again, On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond."
Open this question11.As a result of patriotism during the Gulf War, in 1991 Whitney Houston had an unlikely musical hit when she recorded what song?
Answer: STAR SPANGLED BANNER
Open this question12.Name the composer of each of these famous works of classical music: a. Moonlight Sonata b. Pictures at an Exhibition c. Pomp and Circumstance
Answer: a. BEETHOVEN b. MUSSORGSKY c. ELGAR
Open this question13.Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote three ballets. What were they?
Answer: THE NUTCRACKER, SWAN LAKE, and SLEEPING BEAUTY
Open this question14.A certain major league baseball team owner recorded one of the largest selling records of all time. Who is it and what is the song title?
Answer: GENE AUTRY / RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER
Open this question15.Can you name the two musicians with evil-sounding names who were members of the late 70's British punk-rock group, The Sex Pistols?
Answer: SID VICIOUS / JOHNNY ROTTEN
Open this question16.This folk singer recorded songs written by Bob Dylan and became his lover. At one time she and Dylan were called the King and Queen of folk music. Who was she?
Answer: JOAN BAEZ
Open this question17.Which actress played the role of which country singer known as the first lady of country music in the 1980 film, Coal Miner's Daughter?
Answer: SISSY SPACEK / LORETTA LYNN
Open this question18.Released October, 1991 was a retrospective musical album, called Two Rooms , with performances by Rod Stewart, Sting, George Michael, Jon Bon Jovi, and others, featuring songs written by which talented songwriting team?
Answer: ELTON JOHN / BERNIE TAUPIN
Open this question19.He was the composer of Rhapsody in Blue, American in Paris, and Porgy and Bess: George Gerschwin died in 1937, at which age? Was it 38, 58, 78, or 98 years old?
Answer: 38
Open this question20.Around the late 1800's, if a cowboy was having a really bad day, he might take out his frustration on the saloon musician. In 1972, Elton John released an album whose title reflected that sentiment. What was it?
Answer: DON'T SHOOT ME, I'M ONLY THE PIANO PLAYER
Open this question21.Believe it or not, Michael Jackson's first #1 solo record was the title song from a 1972 film about a trained rat. What was the title?
Answer: "BEN"
Open this question22.What TV sit-com used a Frank Sinatra musical hit as its theme song, and what was that song title?
Answer: MARRIED... WITH CHILDREN / LOVE AND MARRIAGE
Open this question23.The name for the text of an opera comes from the Italian phrase meaning little book. What is this word?
Answer: LIBRETTO
Open this question24.What was the one-word name of the album released in 1986 by Huey Lewis and the News, in which five members of the San Francisco 49-ers sang along on the recording?
Answer: FORE - people will say "Sports" but that's a different album by the same group
Open this question25.This Hungarian musician, who lived from 1811 to 1886, was a romantic composer and perhaps the greatest pianist of all time. During his lifetime he was considered a public idol. His most famous works include his 20 Hungarian Rhapsodies. Who was he?
Answer: FRANZ LISZT
Open this question26.This new-wave/punk musician was a former beautician and Playboy bunny. In the late 1970's she was lead singer of a successful rock act with a colorful group name. Name the group and lead singer?
Answer: BLONDIE / DEBORAH HARRY
Open this question27.Between 1975 and 1980, this female singer had ten Top Ten Hits, including four #1 hits, and some people called her the "Queen of Disco". Who was she?
Answer: DONNA SUMMER
Open this question28.In November, 1991, at his home in London, this lead singer of the music group Queen died of complications from AIDS. Who was he?
Answer: FREDDY MERCURY
Open this question29.Which musical instrument, found in most symphony orchestras, is named after a country?
Answer: FRENCH HORN
Open this question30.The lyrics of which 1965 folk-rock hit came from the Book of Ecclesiastes and who recording it?
Answer: TURN, TURN, TURN - THE BYRDS
Open this question31.Celine Dion recorded two songs that won the Academy Award as Best Song from what two films?
Answer: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST / TITANIC
Open this question32.On Feb. 26, '97 the Grammy Award for Best New Artist went to what 14 year-old country singer born in Mississippi, raised in Texas, whose album -- Blue -- sold more than seven million copies?
Answer: LEANN RIMES
Open this question33.After this singer recorded the song, Pata Pata in 1967, she became the first African singer to have a hit on the American charts. Who is she?
Answer: MIRIAM MAKEBA
Open this question34.Which musician improvised a guitar arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the 1969 Woodstock Festival?
Answer: JIMI HENDRIX
Open this question35.This pop-rock music singer and songwriter had his first hit in his own country in 1964, and worldwide hits since the early 70's. His songs often contained political or social commentary, and he has been called the "first third world superstar." What is his name?
Answer: BOB MARLEY
Open this question36.This song was written by John Denver and recorded by Peter, Paul, and Mary. It became #1 on the music charts on November 8, 1969 - Peter, Paul, and Mary's only #1 hit. What was the title?
Answer: LEAVING ON A JET PLANE
Open this question37.Which Italian composer wrote The Barber of Seville, and who is the title character?
Answer: GIOACHINO ROSSINI / FIGARO
Open this question38.Four of the children of which composer of classical music also became noted musicians?
Answer: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Open this question39.Name the 1980's techno-rock band from Montreal called "Men Without .. " what?
Answer: HATS
Open this question40.This Motown recording artist was born in Detroit in 1943. She released her first song in 1961, and eventually went on to become one of the leading female singing stars of the early 1960's, with 10 top forty hits. She died of cancer in Los Angeles in July, 1992. Who was she?
Answer: Mary Wells
Open this question41.What was the title of the first album released by The Grateful Dead, in 1967?
Answer: THE GRATEFUL DEAD
Open this question42.Name the Elton John songs: a. This song is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. B. A song about a blind Viet Nam veteran. C. A musical tribute to Billie Jean King's tennis team.
Answer: a. CANDLE IN THE WIND b. DANIEL c. PHILIDELPHIA FREEDOM
Open this question43.Which song begins with the line, "It was the third of June ..."?
Answer: ODE TO BILLY JOE
Open this question44.Which baroque musician is considered the greatest composer for the organ?
Answer: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Open this question45.TV evangelist Jimmy Swaggert and country singer Mickey Gilley are both cousins of a rock and roll singer nicknamed "The Killer," considered to be one of the greatest rock and roll singers ever. Who is it?
Answer: JERRY LEE LEWIS
Open this question46.In 1943, French underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau helped create an invention designed for underwater breathing, and 60's British rock group Jethro Tull named an album after it. What is it?
Answer: AQUALUNG
Open this question47.In the fall of 1992, which singer tore up a photo of the pope as a protest during her performance on Saturday Night Live?
Answer: SINEAD O'CONNOR
Open this question48.Which Canadian singer/songwriter wrote, among other works, the song "My Way" and the theme to "The Tonight Show"?
Answer: PAUL ANKA
Open this question49.In the summer of 1992, Time-Warner, Inc. became the focus of many complaints because of the lyrics of a particular song by a particularly controversial rap music artist in an album called Body Count. What was the name of the song, and the name of the rapper?
Answer: COP KILLER / ICE-T
Open this question50.Born in India in 1936, he studied at the Vienna Academy of Music, and later became director of the Montreal Symphony, Los Angeles Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and Israel Philharmonic. Who is he?
Answer: ZUBIN MEHTA
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