1950s Trivia

140+ Best 1950s Trivia Questions & Answers

Mike Oberman

Updated: July 6th, 2023

Step back in time to the fabulous 1950s and discover the iconic music and stars of the era with over 140 trivia questions that will have you singing along and reminiscing about rock 'n' roll, doo-wop, and so much more!

General 1950s Trivia

Question: Who married dancer Delores Mohawk in the 1950s?

Answer: Sam Cooke

Question: Bertha Franklin shot and killed which 1950s star?

Answer: Sam Cooke

Question: Which singer played Catwoman in the Batman TV series?

Answer: Eartha Kitt

Question: The Big O was the nickname given to which star?

Answer: Roy Orbison

Question: Sam Cooke is often referred to as The King of, what?

Answer: Soul

Question: Jasper Cini was the real name of which 1950s star?

Answer: Al Martino

Question: Walden Robert Cassato is better known as whom?

Answer: Bobby Darin

Question: Mambo Boogie was a breakthrough record for whom?

Answer: Johnny Otis

Question: Who had hits with Short Fat Fannie and Bony Moronie?

Answer: Larry Williams

Question: Who had a major hit with 'The Shrine of St Cecilia'?

Answer: The Harp Tones

Question: My True Love was the first top 10 hit for whom?

Answer: Jack Scott

Question: Who had a top 10 hit in 1957 with 'Keep A Knockin'?

Answer: Little Richard

Question: Kismet and Delicado are 1950s albums by which singer?

Answer: Percy Faith

Question: Who had a huge hit in 1958 with 'Summertime Blues'?

Answer: Eddie Cochran

Question: What year did the First Grammy Awards take place?

Answer: 1959

Question: Carlo Mastrangelo was a member of which 1950s band?

Answer: The Belmonts

Question: Which acts real surname at birth was LoVechhio?

Answer: Frankie Lane

Question: Which singer played Johnny Fontane in The Godfather?

Answer: Al Martino

Question: Which band were originally known as The Silvertones?

Answer: The Cleftones

Question: Which group had a hit with 'Cry Cry Cry'?

Answer: Johnny Cash

Question: Who hit No.1 in 1950 with Teardrops From My Eyes?

Answer: Ruth Brown

Question: Which of these was a number 1 hit for Lloyd Price?

Answer: Stagger Lee

Question: Tony Williams was the lead Tenor in which 1950s band?

Answer: The Platters

Artists & Instruments Trivia

Question: Les Paul was a 1950s pioneer of which instrument?

Answer: Guitar

Question: Duane Eddy was noted for playing which instrument?

Answer: Guitar

Question: Fats Domino was noted for playing which instrument?

Answer: Piano

Question: Songs Our Daddy Taught us was a 1950s album by whom?

Answer: The Everly Brothers

Question: What was the name of Billy Haley's backing group?

Answer: The Comets

Question: The King of Rockabilly was a nickname given to whom?

Answer: Carl Perkins

Question: Lester William Polsfuss was better known by what name?

Answer: Les Paul

Question: Which act's debut album was entitled Bluejean Bop?

Answer: Gene Vincent

Question: Who originally had a hit with Blue Suede Shoes?

Answer: Carl Perkins

Question: The song 'Donna' was the first major hit for...?

Answer: Ritchie Valens

1950s Hit Chart Trivia

Question: Which of these was a charting song for Vera Lynn?

Answer: My Son My Son

Question: Little Richard released Tutti Frutti in which year?

Answer: 1955

Question: Eddy Howard topped the charts in 1951 with which song?

Answer: Sin

Question: In what year did 'Heartbreak Hotel' reach Number 1?

Answer: 1956

Question: Please Send Me Someone To Love was a major hit for...?

Answer: Percy Mayfield

Question: Harry was the real first name of which 1950s star?

Answer: Bing Crosby

Question: Who had a hit in 1956 with 'Roll over Beethoven'?

Answer: Chuck Berry

Question: High School Confidential was a hit penned by whom?

Answer: Jerry Lee Lewis

Question: Reet Petite was a famous hit for whom in the 1950s?

Answer: Jackie Wilson

Question: Which of these was a number 1 hit for Lloyd Price?

Answer: Stagger Lee

Band Members & Nicknames Trivia

Question: Terry 'Buzzy' Johnson was a member of which group?

Answer: The Flamingos

Question: Tony Williams was the lead Tenor in which 1950s band?

Answer: The Platters

Question: Sonny Till was the lead singer of which group?

Answer: The Orioles

Question: Herbie Cox was the lead singer with which band?

Answer: The Cleftones

Question: Which group could be found backing Otis Williams?

Answer: The Charms

1950s Artists Trivia

Question: What was the first name of Chuck Willis?

Answer: Harold

Question: Who scored a 1957 hit with CC Rider?

Answer: Chuck Willis

Question: Fever was originally a 1956 hit for whom?

Answer: Little Willie John

Question: Which group had a hit with Courtroom Blues?

Answer: The Robins

Question: Percy Faith hailed from which country?

Answer: Canada

Question: Who backed Huey 'Piano' Smith?

Answer: The Clowns

Question: How old was Eddie Cochran when he died?

Answer: 21

Question: Richard Penniman was better known as…?

Answer: Little Richard

Question: Which singer was born Antoinette Ardizzone?

Answer: Toni Arden

Question: Who had a 1950s hit with ''Kiss of Fire?

Answer: Toni Arden

Question: Which of these singers passed away in 2013?

Answer: Patti Page

Question: Who was often billed as Mr Excitement?

Answer: Jackie Wilson

Question: How was Lloyd Price better known?

Answer: Mr Personality

Question: Yes Indeed was a hit 1950s album by whom?

Answer: Ray Charles

Question: What nickname was given to Roy Orbison?

Answer: The Big O

1950s Artist Nicknames Trivia

Question: What were the names of the Everley Brothers?

Answer: Don and Phil

Question: Which act had a No.1 hit with 'Cry'?

Answer: Johnny Ray and The Four Lads

Question: Mae was the middle name of which singer?

Answer: Eartha Kitt

Question: Antoine was the first name of which singer?

Answer: Fats Domino

Question: What was the name of Link Wray's backing band?

Answer: The Ray Men

Question: Who had a hit 1959 album with 'What I'd Say'?

Answer: Ray Charles

Question: Jesse Belvin died at what tragic age?

Answer: 27

Question: What was Frank Sinatra's middle name?

Answer: Albert

Question: What is the real surname of Little Richard?

Answer: Penniman

Question: Ivory Tower' was a major hit for which act?

Answer: Otis Williams

Question: What name was often given to Jackie Wilson?

Answer: Mr Excitement

Question: What nickname was given to Patti Page?

Answer: The Singing Rage

Question: Who did 'The Teenagers' back?

Answer: Frankie Lymon

Question: The Big Beat film featured which group?

Answer: The Del Vikings

Question: Who is often called The King of Soul?

Answer: Sam Cooke

Question: Huey Smith had what 'middle' name?

Answer: Piano

Question: Rave On' was a hit for which act in 1958?

Answer: Buddy Holly

Question: What was the real first name of Jay Hawkins?

Answer: Jalacy

Question: What was the first name of LeVern Baker?

Answer: Delores

Question: What year saw the death of Buddy Holly?

Answer: 1959

Question: Which group had the major hit with 'Speedoo'?

Answer: The Cadillacs

Question: Whose major hit was 'The Glory of Love'?

Answer: The Five Keys

Question: How was Jay Hawkins better known?

Answer: Screamin'

Question: Frankie Lymon was backed by which group?

Answer: The Teenagers

Question: Harry Webb is the real name of whom?

Answer: Cliff Richard

Question: Joseph Vernon Turner was better known as…?

Answer: Big Joe Turner

Question: Which group had the No.1 hit 'Twilight Time'?

Answer: The Platters

Question: What was the middle name of Carl Perkins?

Answer: Lee

Question: Who had a No.1 hit in 1950 with 'Mona Lisa'?

Answer: Nat King Cole

Question: What is the real surname of Ray Charles?

Answer: Robinson

Hit Songs & Artists Trivia

Question: That'll Be The Day' was a 1958 album by whom?

Answer: Buddy Holly

Question: Rock Around the Clock was a hit for whom?

Answer: Bill Haley

Question: What nickname was given to Patti Page?

Answer: The Singing Rage

Question: Who had a 1956 smash hit with Jim Dandy?

Answer: LeVern Baker

Question: Who had a major hit with 'White Christmas'?

Answer: Bing Crosby

Question: Whose signature song was 'Tennessee Waltz'?

Answer: Patti Page

Question: How was Levern Baker often billed?

Answer: Little Miss Sharecropper

Question: Who gained fame as a member of the Dominoes?

Answer: Jackie Wilson

Question: Who was known as Mr Personality?

Answer: Lloyd Price

Question: Diddy Wah Diddy was a 1956 hit for whom?

Answer: Bo Diddley

Question: What was the first Number 1 for The Platters?

Answer: The Great Pretender

Question: Which group backed Sonny Til?

Answer: The Orioles

Question: What was the real first name of Buddy Holly?

Answer: Charles

Question: Which singer's nickname was 'The Singing Rage'?

Answer: Patti Page

Question: Who was known as The King of Stroll?

Answer: Chuck Willis

Miscellaneous 1950s Trivia

Question: Forty Miles of Bad Road was a hit by whom?

Answer: Duane Eddy

Question: Who had a major hit with 'Love Potion No.9'?

Answer: The Clovers

Question: Who had a 1950 Number 1 hit with 'The Thing'?

Answer: Phil Harris

Question: What was the middle name of Elvis?

Answer: Aaron

Question: Giovanni Domincoe Scafone found fame under what name?

Answer: Jack Scott

Question: Eric Hillard were the first real names of which act?

Answer: Ricky Nelson

Question: Chuck Willis was often billed as 'The King of….'?

Answer: Stroll

Question: Which singer had a hit in 1953 with 'C'est Si Bon'?

Answer: Eartha Kitt

Question: What nickname was often given to Jerry Lee Lewis?

Answer: The Killer

Question: The film Beyond The Sea was about which 1950s singer?

Answer: Bobby Darin

Question: What was the real middle name of Nat King Cole?

Answer: Adams

Question: Kelton is the middle name of which 1950s star?

Answer: Roy Orbison

Question: What was the real middle name of Nat King Cole?

Answer: Adams

Question: What was the title of the major hit for The Cadillacs?

Answer: Speedoo

Question: Rock N Roll Gumbo was the debut album of whom?

Answer: Professor Longhair

Question: Who had a hit with 'Yakety Yak' in the '50s?

Answer: The Coasters

Question: Ivory Joe Hunter was often called 'The Baron of...'?

Answer: Boogie

Question: What color 'Shoes' gave Carl Perkins his major hit?

Answer: Blue

Question: The Killer was the nickname of which 1950s star?

Answer: Jerry Lee Lewis

Question: What year did the First Grammy Awards take place?

Answer: 1959

Question: Gene Autry had a 1950 Number 1 with which Xmas song?

Answer: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Question: Splish Splash was the first million-seller for whom?

Answer: Bobby Darin

Question: Walden Robert Cassato is better known as whom?

Answer: Bobby Darin

Question: Who had a hit in 1953 with 'Cry Cry Cry'?

Answer: Johnny Cash

Question: Which of these was a hit in 1953 for The Harp Tones?

Answer: Sunday Kind

Question: Which group had a hit with 'Yakety Yak' in the '50s?

Answer: The Coasters