The Amazing Music History Quiz

You may find the 20 questions in this quizAnswers: 1. Herb Allen, age three, the world's
surprising, and the answers more so. Unless, ofyoungest drummer, according to the Seattle
course, you've already read A Song for thePost-Intelligencer. 2. Herb Allen, age four,
World, the remarkable story of the Colwellconducted the Seattle Baby Orchestra. 3. Herb
Brothers and Herb Allen. (See A Song for theAllen, age eighteen, was assistant music director
World's website, link below). The seed of theof The Good Road. 4. Steve, Paul, and Ralph
book was planted in 2003, when with longtimeColwell, ages fourteen, twelve, and ten in 1947,
friends we were discussing our thoughts for thewere labeled "Motor City Bluegrass Legends" by
future. An attorney from California spoke ofEugene Chadbourne in All-Music Guide. 5. The
conflicts facing youth in her city, and theColwell Brothers, ages nineteen, seventeen, and
desperate need for solutions. "There ought to befifteen, were contracted by Columbia Records in
a book about the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen,"1952. 6. The Colwell Brothers sang in the Japanese
she said. It was an idea that everyone in theDiet in 1957. 7. The Colwells first sang in another
room responded to. Then, perhaps because I'm alanguage in Switzerland in 1953 for Robert
writer, several looked at me. Even if they hadn't, ISchuman, a founding father of the European
knew this was a commission I couldn't refuse. IUnion, and eventually performed in thirty-seven
thought it was a story that I knew. But I waslanguages and dialects. 8. The Colwell Brothers, in
wrong. It was a story nobody knew, bigger than Iuncounted thousands of venues worldwide. 9. The
had ever imagined. Writing it was a privilege, andColwell Brothers performed in fifty-four countries.
an adventure. Do you know: 1. Who was the10. The Colwells traveled farther than the Beatles
twentieth century's youngest performingand Elvis Presley combined. 11. Herb Allen in 1964
percussionist? 2. Who was the era's youngestintroduced the Steel Band of Trinidad and Tobago
orchestra conductor? 3. Who was with the firstto the U.S. in a national tour. 12. Bob Quesnel,
musical production to tour post-World War IIoriginal drummer for Sing Out 65, played
Germany? 4. Who were in the first big-citycontinuously for one hundred hours and twenty
bluegrass band? 5. Who were the youngest triominutes in 1964 and made the Guinness Book of
contracted by a major record label? 6. Who wereWorld Records. 13. Up with People's
the first Western musicians invited to sing in anthirty-five-year run was second only to The
Asian parliament? 7. Who was in the firstFantasticks, which closed in 2002. 14. In 1976, Up
American musical group to have awith People played in 771 U.S. cities to a total
thirty-seven-language repertoire? 8. Who played inlive-audience of 3.9 million. 15. The Colwells
the most venues internationally of theirperformed 412 programs on Radio Congo in 1960
generation? 9. Who performed in the mostand toured the country with Up with People in
countries of anyone in their generation? 10. Who1968. 16. Up with People toured in Yugoslavia in
traveled the most miles of any musicians of their1974 and Poland in 1976 and 1977. 17. Up with
generation? 11. Who introduced Caribbean steelPeople toured in China in 1978 and 1985. 18. Up
bands to North America? 12. Who set thewith People toured in the Soviet Union in 1988,'89,
Guinness World Record for continuous drumming?'90, and '91. 19. Up with People casts performed in
13. Who created with others the second-longestSuper Bowls X, XIV, XVI, and XX. 20. The
running musical of the Twentieth century? 14.Colwells and Allen, with others. Symphonies: Up
What show set the all-time record for U.S. citieswith People performed with Dallas, Denver, and
toured in a single year? 15. Who were the firstthe Boston Pops (twice each); Winnipeg; Belgian
"outside" performers to tour Africa extensively inNational Symphony; and the National Symphony,
the 1950s and 60s? 16. Who took the firstWashington, D.C. World's Fairs: Expo '67, Montreal;
international musical show to Eastern Europe inExpo '74, Spokane; World Expo '68, Brisbane;
the 1970s? 17. Who took the first multinationalExpo '82, Knoxville; Expo '92, Seville, Spain; Expo
musical group to China after the Cultural2005, Aichi, Japan. Although only one of the above
Revolution? 18. Who took the first internationalclaims ever made the Guinness Book of World
musical group to the Soviet Union in the 1980s?Records, all the answers are believed to be true.
19. Who invented, with others, the non-marchingFrank McGee's career as writer and journalist
band format of the Super Bowl halftime show?began in the 1960s in Brazil, Indonesia and Viet
20. Who wrote shows performed nine times withNam.
major symphonies and at six World Fairs?