Friday night I took part in the annual M-T Bowl, a charity trivia event staged by Rich Appel, whose "Hz So Good" newsletter is a favorite of mine (and Mike's, when the graphics finally load). (This year's recipient was World Hunger Year.) Impossibly difficult trivia questions tossed out to six teams of longtime radio listeners and trivia fanatics. I usually know but a fraction of them and typically score a couple surprises, leaving the night with a fair amount of schwag.
This time, though, was a disappointment; I was off my game, answered more incorrectly than I usually do, and went home empty-handed. Here's a sampling of some of the questions thrown at us - have at 'em:
1. Smokey Robinson is mentioned in which two '80s hits? (I knew only one.)
2. Which '50s recording star was instrumental in creating USA for Africa?
3. What dance was inspired by TV's Ed Sullivan? (I incorrectly guessed "The Freddie.")
4. What football team's fans did Charlie Daniels advise against messing with?
5. What Led Zeppelin song did Robert Plant refer to as their "wedding song"?
6. Who once recorded as "Moidonna"?
7. How old were the Everly Brothers when they began touring?
8. Who won the CMA's male vocalist of the year award each year from 1991 through 1995?
9. Who penned for a Leonard Bernstein piece in 1970: "Half of the people are stoned and the other half are waiting for the next election."? (I incorrectly thought, but did not guess, Janis Ian.)
10. In "Jesus Walks," Kanye West declared that he needs Jesus like __________ needs __________.
11. What was Count Basie's real first name? (I incorrectly replied, "Countess. Long story.")
12. Who was the very first performing act on MTV Unplugged? (I incorrectly guessed the Alarm.)
13. What '00s one-hit wonder scored with "Addictive"?
14. "Rainy Day," sort of ironically, was the flip side of what 1968 hit?
15. Who graduated from Columbia after scoring a couple dozen hit singles?
16. What 1968 hit involved someone losing his gal and his job within eight days?
17. Bon Jovi hit the country charts with a singer from what country band?
18. What band had a hit in 1975 by referring to characters from their 1967 and 1972 hits?
19. In "London Bridge," what makes Fergie get loose?
20. Name the #2 hit by each of the following:
a. Sam Cooke
b. the Beach Boys
c. Ray Charles
d. The Fifth Dimension
e. Bryan Adams
