About This Quiz
Rock 'n' roll history is steeped in stories, lore and fantastic music. Take a trip down memory lane, and rock around the clock by taking this quiz!Rock 'n' roll emerged in the United States in the late '40s and early '50s.
Cleveland DJ Alan Freed is credited with first using the words "rock 'n' roll" to describe the rhythm and blues music he played on the radio.
Sam Phillips launched Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, in February 1952.
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Phillips discovered Elvis Presley in 1954, which paved the way for him to record other incredible rock stars, including Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty and Carl Perkins.
In December 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins were at Sun Studios at the same time. The recording became known as the Million Dollar Quartet jam session because it was the only time the four were ever together in studio.
Bill Haley and His Comets recorded the song, which hit No. 1 and stayed there for eight weeks. It sold 25 million copies worldwide and is credited with bringing rock 'n' roll out from the underground.
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Columbia introduced the 12-inch, 33 1/3 revolutions per minute LP vinyl record, essentially creating the "album."
Berry Gordy launched famed Motown in a two-story house on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit in the early 1960s.
"Bad Girl" was initially — and briefly — issued as the first-ever 45 RPM single on Motown. But Berry Gordy wanted national distribution for the record, so he placed the master with Chess Records of Chicago.
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The Rolling Stones first appeared on American television in June 1964 on Dean Martin's "The Hollywood Palace."
The Beatles currently hold the record for the most No. 1 songs in the 57-year history of the Billboard charts, with 20 hits.
The song, which was written by George Harrison and was the last single for the Beatles, features Eric Clapton on lead guitar.
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Neil Young and Stephen Stills were members of Buffalo Springfield, along with Dewey Martin, Bruce Palmer and Richie Furay.
The music of the 1960s shined light on the tensions of the Vietnam War era and played an important role in American culture. Singers like Bob Dylan rose to prominence with songs like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin’."
The Fab Four's debut single in the U.S. was actually "Please Please Me" in 1963.
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The Yardbirds, whose guitarists at one time included Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, were a leader in experimental rock.
"Electric Ladyland" is widely considered the Jimi Hendrix Experience's crowning achievement that focuses attention on Hendrix's abilities as singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer.
The band was initially called the New Yardbirds, until they renamed the band Led Zeppelin.
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The Detours, which included members Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle, became the Who when Keith Moon replaced drummer Doug Sandom.
"L.A. Woman" was the last with Morrison, who died unexpectedly at the age of 27, just three months after the album's release.
"Atom Heart Mother" was the first Pink Floyd album to hit No. 1 on the U.K. chart in 1970.
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Black Sabbath was a quartet during those years that included Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi.
Ziggy Stardust was, of course, the alter ego of late superstar David Bowie.
The album's front cover features a photo of bassist Paul Simonon smashing his Fender Precision Bass against the stage at the Palladium in New York City on Sept. 20, 1979.
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The groundbreaking band, known for its live performances, played "Dark Star" more than 200 times — never the same way twice — with Jerry Garcia's guitar leading the way.
It was actually Bruce Springsteen. The pieces were written in response to the success of his album "Born to Run."
The original album cover image is of a wooden student desk, but the vinyl record inside was wrapped in a pair of panties.
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Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne — the founders of Black Sabbath — are often cited as the pioneers of heavy metal music.
"Every Breath You Take" hit No. 1 in 1983 and spent eight weeks there. It also took the Grammy for song of the year and best pop performance by a duo.
Rolling Stone readers voted Freddie Mercury No. 2, just behind Robert Plant.
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