Q 01/05

Which radio crooner ordered $50,000 of Ampex tape recorders so he could pre-record his shows?

A) Frank Sinatra

B) Bing Crosby

C) Perry Como

D) Nat King Cole

Answer · why

B) Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby wanted to tape his radio show rather than perform it live, and his order let a six-man firm build a commercial recorder based on Germany's...

Q 02/05

Which software gave Cher's hit Believe its robotic vocal and later became the signature sound of T-Pain?

A) Melodyne

B) Vocaloid

C) Auto-Tune

D) Revoice Pro

Answer · why

C) Auto-Tune

Auto-Tune was built to correct off-key singing, but Believe was the first commercial release to use it as an obvious stylistic effect. The trick becam...

Q 03/05

Which Roland drum machine flopped on release, then became the booming bass drum of hip-hop?

A) TR-808

B) TR-909

C) CR-78

D) TR-707

Answer · why

A) TR-808

TR-808 sales stalled below 12,000 units because producers wanted realistic drums. Its deep bass drum later drove hits such as Marvin Gaye's Sexual Hea...

Q 04/05

Which producer, nicknamed the Fifth Beatle, made comedy records with Peter Sellers before signing the band?

A) Brian Epstein

B) Glyn Johns

C) Joe Meek

D) George Martin

Answer · why

D) George Martin

George Martin ran EMI's Parlophone label, where comedy hits staved off corporate pressure. He had studied piano and oboe and once worked in the BBC's ...

Q 05/05

Which producer made Michael Jackson's Thriller after first working with him on Off the Wall?

A) Teddy Riley

B) Quincy Jones

C) Nile Rodgers

D) Jimmy Jam

Answer · why

B) Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones rose in the 1950s as a jazz arranger and conductor, then scored films such as The Italian Job. Thriller went on to become the best-sellin...