1. In the 1956 song released by Ritchie Valens, who was "Donna"?

2. How many recorded songs did Elvis Presley write?

3. Why is Feb. 3, 1959, known as "The Day the Music Died"?

4. Name the song about a love interest of Tom Higginson, front man of the "Plain White T's."

5. Who was "Elise" in Ludwig van Beethoven's "Fur Elise"?

6. This 1993 Grammy Award winning song was composed by a grieving father. Name the song and the writer.

7. In 1982, Tommy Tutone recorded a song about "Jenny" and provided a telephone number. Can you recall the number? HINT: It's also the title of the song.

8. Name the top three best-selling music artists of all time.

9. Name the musical interest shared by presidents Harry Truman and Richard Nixon.

10. Set to the tune of a popular British drinking song, this song was derived from a poem written in 1814. For bragging rights, name the poem, too.

Answers

1. Donna Ludwig was Ritchie's girlfriend. They both attended San Fernando High School.

2. None. All of Elvis Presley's hits were written by other artists.

3. It was the day that Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a small-plane crash in Iowa.

4. Plain White T's recorded "Hey There Delilah" in 2006. The song was written for Delilah DiCrescenzo, Tom Higginson's friend.

5. Historians believe that this song, originally entitled "Bagatelle in A Minor," may have been written for Therese Malfatti, a woman who turned down a marriage proposal from Beethoven.

6. Eric Clapton wrote "Tears in Heaven" for his young son, Conor, who died in a tragic accident in 1991.

7. The number and song title is "867-5309/Jenny."

8. According to Wikipedia, these are the three best-selling artists (based on total certified sales): The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

9. Our 33rd and 37th presidents both played the piano.

10. It is the national anthem of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The poem was originally called "Defence of Fort McHenry."

Take "The Answer Man" to work or to school. Challenge your friends for "Bragging Rights." Send your questions and answers to: The Answer Man, Andy Seamans, 10503 Providence Way, Fairfax, VA 22030.