Most of us here live and die hunkered over our record collections, learning strange licks and weird tunes, and complaining about how the music we like is not popular--But most don't realize that today's obscure ballad was yesterdays smash hit--I know that you have boxes full of the vinyl--and I know, in my heart, that, in addition to asking questions, you are also able to answer a few of them.

I am not asking about anything but records and recording artists here--no "who was the first guitarist to appear on sound film" or "who made flat picking an overnight sensation?" No questions about lipstick tube pickups-- No questions about the Light Crust Doughboys' bus--it's all record questions--

And no, I didn't have to look any of it up--(though it took a while to make the questions sound interesting)

Hear they are, Rick--Have Fun! (But don't hurt anyone!)

1. Name the three biggest selling recordings of "Folksongs" of the pre-rock era--(We need the song and the artist!!)

2. Name the first banjo picker to have a number 1 hit record, and name the tune (extra points for the year)--

3)Merle Travis had two songs that surpassed being merely No 1, million sellers, and are among the biggest selling records of all time--curiously, both mention St. Peter--

4) What was the first "traditional" song to be a number one hit record?

5) Erik Darling, Bob Carey, and Alan Arkin collect the royalties for this song, which is tied with 'Danny Boy" for being "Folksong with the Most Charted Versions"

6) This important, pioneer blues guitarist had a million selling hit record in 1947--it may have been the biggest hit a pioneer blues guitarist ever had (too bad it wasn't exactly blues) name the artist and tune--

7)Why could it be said. with some authority, that Camden, New Jersey is the home of country music?

8) Frank Ferrera and his wife, Helen Louise--who, what, why?

9) What was Jimmie Rodgers' first hit record? How about his biggest hit?

11) In 50's and 60's blues singer and guitarist had 12 hits on the pop charts, more than any other blues dude(unless you count Chuck Berry), yet you can teach your students to play them all in just one lesson--

12) Except for a stop-time break where the word "NO!" is repeated thirteen times, play this this Fontane Sisters hit from 1955 and you are playing "This Land is Your Land"-

13. Soap Opera Superstar Bill Hayes had a monster hit with this "fakesong" about a mountain man from Tennessee, making it one of the biggest hits of the great "Folk Scare" of the 1950's.

Good Luck--a couple of these are tough--