Buddy Holly And The Crickets / Little Richard
A quick quiz to check your knowledge of the features of Buddy Holly and Little Richard's style.
- 1.
Buddy Holly had a distinctive vocal style, almost like a vocal "hiccup". What is this technique called?
- A.
A melisma
- B.
A glottal stop
Correct Answer
B. A glottal stopExplanation
A melisma describes someone singing one syllable using more than one note - like the "Blue" in "Blue Moon". Christina Aguilera does it all the time!
You can hear Buddy Holly doing glottal stops in "That'll Be The Day" and "Peggy Sue".Rate this question:
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- 2.
Holly was responsible for popularizing the ____________ __________________, especially in England.
Correct Answer
Fender Stratocaster
Fender StratExplanation
Holly's 1958 tour was for many fans the first time they had seen a Fender Stratocaster in action.Rate this question:
- 3.
The band experimented with their sound a lot, including how they mixed their songs. Which of the following did they NOT use?
- A.
Double-tracked vocals
- B.
Applied different EQ and reverb FX to each track
- C.
Lead and rhythm guitars closely interlocked to create a fuller sound
- D.
Changes in volume and timbre on guitar
Correct Answer
B. Applied different EQ and reverb FX to each trackExplanation
Double-tracked vocals in "Words of Love", one of the earliest successful examples in rock & roll.
"Peggy Sue" has range of dynamic and timbre on guitar that were usually reserved for instrumental records.
The technology would not have been available for them to use EQ and reverb FX on each track.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Buddy Holly and the Crickets were very popular in England. The young people could identify with their sound because of the heavy use of rhythm guitar which fitted in with skiffle music. Skiffle music was British youth's most common introduction to playing music and also their way into rock & roll. What is skiffle music?
- A.
A mix of country and jazz music
- B.
A style derived mainly from British folk music
- C.
A mix of blues, folk, country and jazz elements
Correct Answer
C. A mix of blues, folk, country and jazz elementsExplanation
Skiffle music is a style of music that is a mix of blues, folk, country, and jazz elements. It was particularly popular among British youth as it served as their introduction to playing music and also their way into rock & roll. Buddy Holly and the Crickets, who were very popular in England, had a sound that resonated with young people because of the heavy use of rhythm guitar, which was a characteristic of skiffle music.Rate this question:
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- 5.
At the time, artists were made to record in their label's own studio in a specific time alloted to them under strict union guidelines. How did Buddy Holly and the Crickets react to this?
- A.
They followed the rules and the more famous they became, the more studio time their label gave them.
- B.
They worked within the union guidelines but had extra hours in the studio.
- C.
They broke the union rules and went to their manager's studio rather than their label's so that they could spend as long as they wanted getting the right sound.
Correct Answer
C. They broke the union rules and went to their manager's studio rather than their label's so that they could spend as long as they wanted getting the right sound.Explanation
Buddy Holly and the Crickets reacted to the strict union guidelines by breaking the rules and going to their manager's studio instead of their label's. This allowed them to have unlimited time to perfect their sound.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Did they write most of their own songs?
- A.
Yes
- B.
No
Correct Answer
A. YesExplanation
The correct answer is "Yes" because it implies that the individuals being referred to did indeed write most of their own songs.Rate this question:
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- 7.
The group had an original sound which influenced the next wave of rock & roll; early British rock & roll and the subsequent British Invasion beat. What were the characteristics of this sound?
- A.
They played their songs at a faster tempo than their contemporaries.
- B.
They used an unusual combination of instruments for a rock & roll band, including trombones and a marimba.
- C.
The lead and rhythm guitars were closely interlocked, giving a fuller, harder timbre.
Correct Answer
C. The lead and rhythm guitars were closely interlocked, giving a fuller, harder timbre.Explanation
The characteristics of the group's sound were that the lead and rhythm guitars were closely interlocked, giving a fuller, harder timbre. This means that the guitars were played in a way that they complemented each other and created a strong, rich tone. This unique approach to guitar playing influenced the next wave of rock & roll, as well as the early British rock & roll and the subsequent British Invasion beat.Rate this question:
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- 8.
What was the "British Invasion" in the 60s?
- A.
A term coined by the media to describe the influx of British performers (mainly rock & roll and pop) who became popular in America and Canada.
- B.
A term coined by the media to describe the popular fashions at the time in America and Canada that came from Britain.
- C.
A term coined by the media when talking about how Austin Powers and other agents came to be working in America.
Correct Answer
A. A term coined by the media to describe the influx of British performers (mainly rock & roll and pop) who became popular in America and Canada.Explanation
The "British Invasion" in the 60s refers to the influx of British performers, particularly in the rock & roll and pop genres, who gained popularity in America and Canada. The media coined this term to describe the phenomenon of British musicians and bands, such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, dominating the music scene and capturing the attention of American and Canadian audiences during this time.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Little Richard merged gospel and....
- A.
Jazz
- B.
Funk
- C.
New Orleans R&B
Correct Answer
C. New Orleans R&BExplanation
Little Richard merged gospel and New Orleans R&B. This combination of musical genres allowed him to create a unique sound that was influential in the development of rock and roll. New Orleans R&B, with its rhythmic and bluesy elements, provided a strong foundation for Little Richard's energetic and dynamic performances. By incorporating gospel music, he added a spiritual and emotional depth to his music. This fusion of styles helped shape the sound of early rock and roll and solidified Little Richard's place as one of its pioneers.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Which of the following is NOT a feature of Little Richard's musical style?
- A.
Exciting piano parts
- B.
Extravagant vocal lines
- C.
Flute riffs
- D.
A heavily accented back-beat
- E.
Funky saxophone grooves
Correct Answer
C. Flute riffsExplanation
Little Richard's musical style is known for its exciting piano parts, extravagant vocal lines, a heavily accented back-beat, and funky saxophone grooves. However, flute riffs are not typically associated with his style.Rate this question:
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- 11.
What was special about his vocal lines?
- A.
He sometimes shouted, delivered his vocal lines at a fast speed and added trills, moans and screams.
- B.
He covered an extremely large range of over four octaves.
- C.
He sang in a very relaxed way, putting in lots of slides between notes.
Correct Answer
A. He sometimes shouted, delivered his vocal lines at a fast speed and added trills, moans and screams.Explanation
The special thing about his vocal lines is that he sometimes shouted, delivered them at a fast speed, and added trills, moans, and screams. This suggests that he had a dynamic and expressive singing style, incorporating various techniques to add intensity and emotion to his performances.Rate this question:
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- 12.
Name a famous Little Richard hit.(By the way, there wasn't enough room in the answers option to add "Keep a Knockin'", "The Girl Can't Help It", "Slippin'" or "Slidin'", so don't put any of those for your answer)!!!!
Correct Answer
Tutti Frutti
Long Tall Sally
Good Golly, Miss Molly
Lucille
Jenny, JennyExplanation
The given correct answer includes the names of Little Richard's famous hits, which are "Tutti Frutti," "Long Tall Sally," "Good Golly, Miss Molly," "Lucille," and "Jenny, Jenny." These songs were all popular hits during Little Richard's career and contributed to his success as a rock and roll pioneer.Rate this question:
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