Great American Songbook — Answers

Here are the answer’s to my earlier questions.

Today’s five questions centre on American singers who were all born on May 3rd. The title’s relevance to the content is unharmonious.

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One

Who is this person described by Encyclopædia Britannica as…

• Born in 1919 in New York.
• An iconic American singer-songwriter who honed skills on the five-string banjo.
• Wrote or co-wrote standards like Where Have All the Flowers Gone, If I Had a Hammer, and Turn, Turn, Turn.

Answer: Pete Seeger.

Pete Seeger (1919–2014) was an iconic American singer-songwriter and activist who championed folk music and inspired the 1960s revival. He co-founded the Almanac Singers, wrote folk standards, popularised hootenannies, and remained active in environmental causes despite being blacklisted. He received numerous honours, including the National Medal of Arts.

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Two

These three clues originate from points in the relevant Wikipedia article. Who is this describing?

• Born 3 May 1934 in New Jersey.
• Solo artist and lead singer known for his powerful falsetto voice.
• First number one was Sherry in 1962.

Answer: Frankie Valli.

Frankie Valli, born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio, is an American singer known for his powerful falsetto and lead role in the Four Seasons. He achieved 29 top-40 hits with the group, nine solo, and was inducted into multiple halls of fame. Valli received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.

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Three

Encyclopædia Britannica reveals the following about this artiste, who is it?

• Born on 3 May 1903 in Washington.
• One of the best-selling singers in history with sales numbers varying between: 300 million, 500 million, or even 1 billion, depending on source.
• Oscar winning actor who famously went to Morocco.

Answer: Bing Crosby.

Bing Crosby (1903–1977) was a pioneering American singer and actor, influential in the 20th century. He made over 70 films — including the ‘Road to’ series — recorded 1,600 songs, and won an Oscar for Going My Way. Crosby innovated radio recording, co-owned the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was a global cultural icon, notably associated with Christmas.

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Four

Some points taken from a Wikipedia article, but who being described…

• Born in Texas on 3 May 1951
• Uses a stage name but birth surname is Geppert
• Debut album won five Grammy Awards including Song of the Year for Sailing

Answer: Christopher Cross.

Christopher Cross, an American singer-songwriter, gained fame with his debut album, winning five Grammys, including Record and Album of the Year for Sailing. Though his popularity declined in the 1980s, he continued releasing albums and touring. In 2018, he formed Freedonia, releasing two albums and an EP.

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Five

Identify this person from these points taken from their Encyclopædia Britannica article…

• Born in South Carolina on 3 May 1933.
• Singer who is known for powerful vocals.
• Their innovative album Live at the Apollo (1963) was in the charts for 66 weeks.

Answer: James Brown.

James Brown, known for his ability to “scream” on key and to blend multiple vocal styles together, was one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. Brown also broke new ground with his landmark ‘live and in concert‘ album Live at the Apollo (1963), which stayed on the charts for 66 weeks. 

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The Great American Songbook

The Great American Songbook is a loosely defined canon encompassing significant 20th-century American jazz standards popular songs and show tunes.

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