Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, boys and girls, a toughie this morning: Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, this dramatic tenor was the first Puerto Rican to gain international fame in the musical arts. He was also the first singer to record an entire opera - "Pagliacci" in 1912. He was dubbed "The King of Tenors and The Tenor of Kings". He was "black-balled" from the Metropolitan Opera House by Enrico Caruso, a major shareholder and influential figure at The Met, because of professional jealousy and fear of competition. This, along with WWI, caused him to lose his fortune. He returned to Puerto Rico, where he taught singing and ran a music school with his sister. He also did some professional boxing on the side! Tenor? Answer: Antonio Paoli (1871-1946). He was also very influential in the creation of the prestigious Conservatory of Music in San Juan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnFXJOg9Xxg&list=RDqnFXJOg9Xxg&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 30s: This classic 1935 "arrabalero" tango was penned by its singer with lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera. A compulsive gambler compares his penchant for horse-racing with his attraction to women. The melody is based on Mozart's Rondo in C Major for Violin and Orcherstra K. 373. Al Pacino danced to it on "Scent of a Woman" and Schwarzenegger in "True Lies". Answer: "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel. The tango scene in "Scent of a Woman", when Pacino dances with Gabrielle Anwar, is one of my favorite movie clips ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2zTd_YwTvo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ1aTPM-dyE&list=RDSJ1aTPM-dyE&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPlv1QKiUwg

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: This instrumental band's only hit peaked at #3 in February of 1966. It was "lifted" off a popular Alka-Seltzer commercial. In the 70s, the band "evolved" into Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds (as in "Don't Pull Your Love" and "Fallin' In Love"). Hit? Group? Answer: "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" by The T-Bones. The Ventures also did a wonderful cover version (dang, those Mosrites sound so sweet!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfdL62ss-vQ&list=RDxfdL62ss-vQ&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: John Paul Jones set out to write "a song that people couldn't 'groove' or dance to". Inspired by Muddy Waters' "Electric Mud" and by the call-and-response between the singer and the band in Fleetwood Mac's "Oh, Well" ('69) this heavy-metal classic peaked at #15 in '71 and is #294 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All time. The title comes from a Labrador Retriever roaming around the recording studio and has nothing to do with the rest of the song. Jimmy Page's guitar work consists of 4 overdubbed Gibson Les Paul tracks. The high A towards the end is Robert Plant's highest note ever recorded (ouch!). Song? Group? Answer: "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin. In my book, Zeppelin DEFINES Heavy Metal - that's where the genre was born and ended - no other metal act can touch them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tlSx0jkuLM&list=RD6tlSx0jkuLM&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the back to the 50s: This 1958 Hoffman/Manning/Peretti/Creatore composition reached #3 in the pop charts and #5 in the country charts in '58, Certified Gold. A romantic ballad about two lovers having to hide their relationship. The singer was born in 1933 - coincidentally, his namesake, a very influential country star (no relation) died that same year. It was covered by The Lettermen in '65, reaching #64 in the pop charts. Song? Singer? Answer: "Secretly" by Jimmie Rodgers. Other hits included "Honeycomb", "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" and "Oh-oh, I'm Falling in Love Again". The "other" Jimmie Rodgers was born in 1897 and died in 1933. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsf5Zek4IWs&list=RDVsf5Zek4IWs&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This 84-year-old Canadian singer/songwriter is THE only artist ever to have hit songs on the Billboard charts for SEVEN straight decades! He wrote and released his first smash single in 1957 at age 15. He composed "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" for Buddy Holly - it became a poshumous hit for Holly in early 1959, shortly after his tragic death. The composer donated his royalties to Holly's widow, Peggy Sue, as a tribute to his departed friend. He was only 24 when he wrote "My Way" for Frank Sinatra. Singer/sonwriter? First smash single? Answer: Paul Anka. First smash single: "Diana". He still looks and sounds great! About to release a new album and an HBO documentary. ...and he's STILL NOT in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (don't get me started!)!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPw5WiABUOA&list=RDwPw5WiABUOA&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQzdAsjWGPg&list=RDqQzdAsjW...