Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This boxer, born on this date in 1878, was the first African-American to hold the heavyweight title. who was he?

2) Before his success as a solo artist, he was a lead singer for the Commodores. Whao was he?

3) This member of the Singing Cowboys was a WW2 pilot. Who was he?

4) This European nation colonized Florida.

Answers:

1) Jack Johnson

2) Lionel Richie

3) Gene Autry

4) Spain

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was Amerigo Vespucci's vocation?

2) On this date in 1842, Dr. Crawford Long became the first surgeon to do what?

3) On this date in 1964, Jeopardy debuted on NBC. Who was the host?

4) On this date in 1867, Secretary of State, William H. Seward purchased something for $7.2 million, at the time the purchase was considered a boondoggle, nicknamed "Seward's Folly." What was purchased?

Answers:

1) Mapmaker

2) Use anesthesia, specifically, ether, to perform surgery

3) Art Fleming

4) Alaska was purchased from Russia for .02 per acre.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What is the highest achievable rank in the U.S. military?

2) This former movie star served as a member of the U.N. delegation and as ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslavakia.

3) Who is the only person to have been named to the College Basketball Hall of Fame both as a player and a coach?

4) What WW2 fighter pilot was the first to break the sound barrier?

Answers:

1) General of the Armies of the United States - achieved only by George Washington and John J. Pershing.

2) Shirley Temple Black

3) John Wooden

4) Chuck Yeager

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which president purchased Alaska from Russia?

2) This North Carolina university was known as Trinity College up until 1925, when it changed its name. What do we know it as today?

3) How many varieties of apples are there?

4) Who was the only president to enter and complete his term as a bachelor?

Answers:

1) Andrew Johnson

2) Duke University

3) There are more than 7,000 varieties.

4) James Buchanan

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What are four gemstones belong to the "precious" category?

2) The Federal Communications Commission regulates cell phones, but another federal agency regulates cell phones as well. Which agency is it?

3) This act was instituted in the mid-1800s to encourage settlement on undeveloped western federal land.

Answers:

1) Diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires.

2) The Food and Drug Administration monitors cell phone usage to determine the health effects of cell phone use.

3) The Homestead Act

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) Milt Jackson, John Lewis, Percy Heath and Kenny Clarke formed what influential group in 1952?

2) Who was the big man from Texas nicknamed "Big T"?

3) Who was the Belgian-born gypsy who made his reputation as a musician in France, cemented it by performing with Duke Ellington in America, and was regarded as one of the first jazz masters on his instrument?

Answers:

1) The Modern Jazz Quartet; with Lewis on piano, Jackson on vibraphone, Heath on bass, and Clarke on drums. Connie Kay replaced Clarke in 1955, and this newer form of the group remained together until 1974 when they disbanded. They reformed, however, only seven years later in 1981.

2) Jack Teagarden, who was the trombonist with the Louis Armstrong Allstars, Hot Fives and Hot Sevens.

3) Django Reinhardt, the co-leader of the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. He and French violinist Stephane Grappelli led the group to international renown. This group was interrupted by World War II; but afterwards, the pair traveled to the United States together.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1985, a famous piano man married a famous supermodel. Who were they?

2) Amanda Plummer's father is Christopher Plummer. Who is her mother?

3) This state's name is Spanish for snow-covered.

4) On this date in 1965, these two astronauts took off on the Gemini 3. Who were they?

Answers:

1) Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley

2) Tammy Grimes

3) Nevada

4) Gus Grissom and John Young

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Dwight Eisenhower won both of his election campaigns handily - both over the same opponent. Who was he?

2) Which city is known as the "Second City of Jazz"?

3) This state's name is a combination of two French words, meaning green and mountain. What's the state's name?

4) Lester Young played in what big band?

Answers:

1) Adlai Stevenson

2) Chicago

3) Vermont

4) Count Basie's band

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) How is vitamin D different from other essential vitamins?

2) Which presidents had commanded troops during wartime?

3) FNMA was founded in 1938 as part of FDR's New Deal. What is the full name of the program?

4) This substance is found in a number of areas of the body, functioning as a lubricant - it even protects the stomach walls from erosion. What is it?

Answers:

1) Vitamin D can be synthesized in the body and also is the only vitamin that is a hormone.

2) George Washington and James Madison

3) Federal National Mortgage Association

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) According to old English tradition, which part of a chicken is called the "parson's nose"?

2) Which jazz pianist is best known to fusion fans for playing the organ with the group "Return to Forever"?

3) Who was the alto saxophonist behind the landmark 1959 release, "The Shape of Jazz to Come", quite possibly the most foward-looking album of its decade?

4) This incredible percussionist recruited such talents as Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, and Lee Morgan during his tenure as one of the Jazz Messengers. Who was he?

Answers:

1) The rump.

2) Chick Corea

3) Ornette Coleman

4) Art Blakey

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In what year was the hijacking of airplanes officially outlawed?

2) How many bees live in a hive?

3) Which branch of the U.S. military service has the motto Semper Paratus?

4) What is the 20-minute rule for wine?

Answers:

1) 1961.

2) An average bee hive has 30,000 to 60,000 bees living in it. This population is easily maintained by a queen laying 1,000 to 3,000 eggs per day.

3) Semper Paratus (Always Ready) is the motto of the U.S. Coast Guard.

4) To assure full flavor, chill wine appropriately, observing the 20-minute rule. Pull whites out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before serving; put reds in the refrigerator 20 minutes before serving.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What bridge, when completed over The Hudson River in 1931, was the world's longest suspension bridge?

2) "After all, tomorrow is another day" is the last line of what phenomenally popular 1939 film?

Answers:

1) The Geroge Washington Bridge

2) Gone With The Wind

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Billy Crystal attended college thanks to what kind of scholarship?

2) This famous WWII general was known as "Old Blood and Guts." Who was he?

3) In wartime this military branch serves under the U.S. Navy.

4) This elected official is in charge of the National Guard in peacetime.

Answers:

1) Baseball

2) General George Patton

3) The Coast Guard

4) Each state's governor commands the National Guard stationed in their particular state.

Alan Rock's Trivia! (for 3/4/11)

Questions:

Many jazz players are better known by their nicknames. What were the nicknames of the following players?

a) Roland Berrigan

b) William Cole

c) Joseph Oliver

d) Julian Adderly

Answers:

a) Bunny

b) Cozy

c) King

d) Cannonball

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Who was the only president to have been head of a labor union?

2) Which fictional character is the most frequently portrayed in film?

3) On this date in 1931, what record became the first jazz recording to sell a million copies?

4) Kellogg's is the largest cereal maker in terms of revenue. Which company is the second largest?

Answers:

1) Ronald Reagan

2) Sherlock Holmes

3) "Minnie the Moocher" by Cab Calloway

4) General Mills

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This great jazz vocalist got her start by winning a talent contest, which gained the attention of bandleader, Chick Webb. Who was she?

2) Who was the only person to have ever been elected governor of two states?

3) This state didn't ratify the U.S. Bill of Rights until March 2, 1939. Which state was it that was so late to the party?

Answers:

1) Ella Fitzgerald

2) Sam Houston - Texas and Tennessee

3) Massachusetts

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What city hosted the first session of the United Nations General Assembly?

2) Jeff Hunter and Jack Lord were the original choices for this iconic role. (see February 17)

3) There are no nations or principalities whose names begin with this letter.

4) This state is the only one without any caves.

Answers:

1) London - January 1946

2) Captain James T. Kirk

3) "X"

4) Delaware