Are you or someone you know a total oldies music whizz? Get ready to test your brains on music that spans the classical elegance of Mozart to the revolutionary sounds of Chuck Berry!
In this article, we dive into the richness of music history, presenting a symphony of trivia questions designed to challenge and delight our esteemed readers—seniors who have witnessed the evolution of musical genres from classical to rock, pop, and funk!
From Beethoven’s timeless compositions to the foot-tapping rhythms of Elvis Presley, this trivia journey will traverse through the notes that have shaped cultural landscapes and stood the test of time.
Our goal is to help you reminisce about the catchy tunes of The Beatles or swaying to the soulful melodies of Aretha Franklin. Whether you were enchanted by the elegance of classical compositions or found solace in the rebellious beats of rock and funk, our trivia questions cater to the diverse musical tastes that have woven the soundtrack of your life.
Our trivia questions are crafted to jog your memory and celebrate the tunes that have accompanied you through the decades. So, if you’re ready to test your knowledge on everything music, shall we begin??
Before we get started — we invite you to bookmark or save some of these other entertaining trivia quizzes for later!
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Music Trivia Questions For Seniors
What is Aretha Franklin’s title as recognized in the music industry?
Answer: The Queen of Soul.
Which band has a song featuring the lyric “She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah”?
Answer: The Beatles.
What iconic rock band recorded the album “The Dark Side of the Moon”?
Answer: Pink Floyd.
Who is the lead singer of The Rolling Stones?
Answer: Mick Jagger.
What do the initials “CCR” stand for in the context of a popular rock band?
Answer: Creedence Clearwater Revival.
What is the title of Etta James’ signature song that became a symbol of enduring love?
Answer: “At Last”
What is Fats Domino’s famous piano-playing style characterized by its rollicking rhythm?
Answer: Boogie-woogie.
Who were the members of The Everly Brothers?
Answer: Don Everly and Phil Everly.
What is James Brown’s nickname, recognizing his influential role in the development of funk music?
Answer: “Soul Brother Number One, ”The Godfather of Soul,” and “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business”
Who are the founding members of The Rolling Stones?
Answer: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman.
What is the title of The Rolling Stones’ hit song that became an anthem for rebellion and counterculture in the 1960s?
Answer: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
What are two nicknames Frank Sinatra is commonly known by?
Answer: Ol’ Blue Eyes, Chairman of the Board, The Sultan of Swoon, The Voice, Swoonatra.
What iconic title was given to Elvis Presley, emphasizing his impact on popular culture?
Answer: The King of Rock and Roll.
Which Stevie Wonder album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1974?
Answer: “Innervisions”
What were the names of the two members of The Righteous Brothers?
Answer: Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield.
What musical instrument did Elvis Presley receive on his 11th birthday?
Answer: Guitar. Elvis picked up a guitar as an 11-year-old in Tupelo, when his mother, purchased a guitar for him for his birthday from Tupelo Hardware. He used that guitar all through high school, and even in his early career.
What wind instrument is closely associated with Scottish folk music?
Answer: The bagpipe.
In what country was the banjo invented?
Answer: The United States. Along with the fiddle, the banjo is a mainstay of American styles of music, such as bluegrass and old-time music.
What type of music is “muzak”?
Answer: Muzak is a brand name developed in the 1920s, devoted to creating unobtrusive but compelling continuous background music for public spaces like airports, restaurants, and hotels.
Which iconic song by Aretha Franklin became a feminist anthem?
Answer: “Respect”
What iconic song by The Platters was released in 1955 and has become a timeless classic?
Answer: “Only You (And You Alone)”
What genre did Ray Charles masterfully blend with R&B, creating a unique style?
Answer: Soul.
What is Brenda Lee’s nickname?
Answer: Little Miss Dynamite.
Which Brenda Lee song became a holiday classic and is played frequently during the Christmas season?
Answer: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
Which musical instrument is Jerry Lee Lewis renowned for playing with great skill?
Answer: Piano.
What famous music festival did Otis Redding perform at shortly before his tragic death in 1967?
Answer: The Monterey Pop Festival.
What was the original name of the duo before they became known as Simon & Garfunkel?
Answer: Tom & Jerry.
Who was the lead singer of The Temptations on their classic hit “My Girl”?
Answer: David Ruffin.
Which record label did The Temptations sign with in the 1960s?
Answer: Motown Records.
In which language did Connie Francis record several hit songs, showcasing her versatility?
Answer: Italian.
What Broadway musical is based on the music of The Four Seasons?
Answer: “Jersey Boys”
Which member of The Four Seasons wrote many of their biggest hits?
Answer: Bob Gaudio.
What is Chuck Berry’s famous guitar-shaped stage prop?
Answer: His cherry red Gibson guitar.
What Nat King Cole song became a timeless classic and is often associated with the Christmas season?
Answer: “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”
What was the name of Buddy Holly’s backing band?
Answer: The Crickets.
Who was the lead singer of The Supremes?
Answer: Diana Ross.
What was The Supremes’ record label?
Answer: Motown Records.
What was Stevie Wonder’s first hit single, released when he was just 13 years old?
Answer: “Fingertips”
Who was the original lead singer of The Drifters on their hit song “Save the Last Dance for Me”?
Answer: Ben E. King.
What genre of music did Bobby Darin explore in the later years of his career, earning critical acclaim?
Answer: Folk music.
What is the full name of the lead singer of Dion and the Belmonts?
Answer: Dion DiMucci.
Which Otis Redding song became a posthumous hit and is considered one of his signature tunes?
Answer: (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.
What signature song of Dean Martin’s became his first million-selling hit?
Answer: “That’s Amore”
What is the title of The Righteous Brothers’ most famous song, featured prominently in the movie “Ghost”?
Answer: “Unchained Melody”
What genre did Dinah Washington primarily contribute to, earning her the title “Queen of the ___”?
Answer: Blues.
What popular TV show did Ricky Nelson star in during the late 1950s and early 1960s?
Answer: “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”
What nickname was Little Richard often referred to as due to his flamboyant stage presence?
Answer: The Architect of Rock and Roll.
Can you name a Little Richard song that became a rock and roll classic and has been covered by numerous artists?
Answer: “Tutti Frutti”, “Good Golly Miss Molly”, and “Long Tall Sally”
What influential genre did The Isley Brothers contribute to, especially with their hit song “Shout”?
Answer: Rhythm and Blues (R&B) / Soul
What is Jerry Lee Lewis’s famous nickname?
Answer: The Killer.
On which TV show did Elvis Presley make his first appearance on national television?
Answer: On “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956.
What prison did Johnny Cash famously perform at, resulting in an iconic album name?
Answer: Folsom State Prison.
What Bobby Vinton song became his most successful and is often associated with the color blue?
Answer: “Blue Velvet”
Adjusting the pitch of a musical instrument is also known as what?
Answer: Tuning.
What percussion instrument do flamenco dancers play while performing?
Answer: The castanets. Castanets, also known as clackers or palillos, are a percussion instrument (idiophone), used in Spanish, Kalo, Moorish, Ottoman, Italian, Sephardic, Swiss, and Portuguese music.
What opera house in Australia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Answer: Sydney Opera House.
What is the name of The Shirelles’ most famous song, released in 1960?
Answer: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”
In addition to his music career, Dean Martin was a member of what famous entertainment group in Hollywood?
Answer: The Rat Pack.
Who were the founding members of The Isley Brothers?
Answer: O’Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley, and Ronald Isley.
What dance craze did Chuck Berry introduce to the world with his song “School Day”?
Answer: The duck walk.
What famous album by The Beach Boys is often hailed as one of the greatest of all time and one of the best and most influential albums in pop music?
Answer: “Pet Sounds”
What is The Beach Boys’ signature song that celebrates the Californian lifestyle?
Answer: “California Girls”
What is the nickname given to Roy Orbison due to his distinctive appearance?
Answer: The Big O.
Which iconic opera features the famous line “Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!”?
Answer: The Barber of Seville.
Which Austrian composer is famous for his “Eine kleine Nachtmusik”?
Answer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
What Russian composer is known for his ballet scores, including “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker”?
Answer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
What Michael Jackson album featured the hit songs “Beat It” and “Billie Jean”?
Answer: “Thriller.”
What American rock band is known for their hits “Hotel California” and “Take It Easy”?
Answer: Eagles.
Which funk artist is famous for the song “Super Freak”?
Answer: Rick James.
What rock guitarist played on the Michael Jackson song “Beat It”?
Answer: Van Halen
What Beatles album features the iconic cover image of the band crossing a zebra crossing?
Answer: “Abbey Road”
Which classical music composer composed the “Moonlight Sonata”?
Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven.
In what ‘80s movie did Madonna portray a nightclub singer?
Answer: “Vision Quest”
In 1987, what George Michael song was banned by the BBC for being too racy?
Answer: “I Want Your Sex”
What was Paula Abdul’s first Top 40 hit?
Answer: “Straight Up”
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