Get Down With This Quiz on 1960s Music

After his stint with the Monkees ended in 1971, Micky Dolenz embarked upon a successful voiceover career in animated series and commercials. In 2006, Dolenz revealed that he had once provided the voice for Snuggle Bear, the fabric softener mascot introduced in 1983. Dolenz also worked on cartoons including "The Funky Phantom," "Partridge Family 2200 A.D.," and "The Scooby-Doo Show."

“You Really Got Me” was released by the British Invasion group the Kinks in 1964 and made its way to No. 1 in the U.K. and into the U.S. Top 10. It was their breakthrough hit, written by band member Ray Davies about a girl (whom he never met) in the audience at one of their shows. In 1978, hard rock band Van Halen made the song their own when they released a cover as their debut single.

In July 1968, the Yardbirds went through some changes and began calling themselves the New Yardbirds to differentiate themselves from the previous group. A few months later, the band changed their name yet again to their now-famous moniker: Led Zeppelin. According to rock 'n' roll legend, the name Led Zeppelin was the brainchild of The Who’s Keith Moon, who felt that the group needed a whole new identity.

The Rolling Stones have underscored some of the most iconic scenes in Martin Scorsese’s films, such as the introduction of Robert De Niro’s character, Johnny Boy, in “Mean Streets” (1973). But the song Scorsese has used the most is 1969's “Gimme Shelter,” which appears in his films four times. It’s heard in “Goodfellas” (1990), “The Departed” (2006), and in two different scenes in “Casino” (1995).

Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition,” according to the Nobel Foundation. Hailing from a Minnesota mining town, Dylan moved to New York in 1961 and started his career by playing in coffeehouses around Greenwich Village. His songs, such as “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” defined the transformative decade.

Singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder still holds the record for the youngest solo artist to score a No. 1 U.S. hit. The record came in 1963 with “Fingertips (Part 2)” when he was just 13 years old. Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins, he was signed to Motown Records at the age of 11 and quickly became one of America’s most beloved entertainers with such legendary songs as “Superstition” and “For Once in My Life.”

Many key players in the 1960s folk rock scene lived in the idyllic mountainous neighborhood of Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles. Joni Mitchell was one such resident, and her third album “Ladies of the Canyon” (1970) was inspired by the area. Other Laurel Canyon residents included Neil Young, "Mama" Cass Elliot, Frank Zappa, Jim Morrison, and Jackson Browne.

In 1985, Michigan Department of Natural Resources declared Aretha Franklin’s voice a “natural resource” in recognition of her incredible talent. But that was not the only accolade showered on the Queen of Soul. Franklin also had 20 Top 10 albums, won 18 Grammy awards, and became the first woman to ever be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

On November 1, 1968, George Harrison released “Wonderwall Music,” the first solo record by one of the Fab Four. The album is an instrumental soundtrack to the movie “Wonderwall,” starring Jane Birkin, and is notable for its experimental fusion of Indian classical and Western rock music. It was the first record to be released on the Apple label, preceding The Beatles’ “White Album” by three weeks.

Motown Records launched in 1959 and became famous for its pop and soul records, which brought African American musical stylings to a broader audience. "Bad Girl" by the Miracles was the first single ever released by the label, but it wasn't until five years later that Motown had its first No. 1 record: "My Guy" by Mary Wells, which was written and produced by “Miracles” frontman Smokey Robinson.

In 1962, two years before throngs of teens screamed at the lads with moptops, British writer-producer Joe Meek and the Tornados topped the American music charts with the instrumental hit “Telstar.” Named for a just-launched AT&T satellite that fittingly facilitated transatlantic communication, the early “space rock” song’s success was helped by its popularity at roller rinks.

In late 1961, 20-year-old Bob Dylan recorded his self-titled debut LP in just six hours. Produced for only $402, the album and its folk music style were distinctly out of step in an era dominated by upbeat pop tunes. Like many other artists of the time, Dylan largely recorded covers for his debut, and the album featured only two originals: "Song to Woody," about his idol Woody Guthrie, and "Talkin' New York."

In 1967, Aretha Franklin transformed “Respect,” originally performed by Otis Redding in 1965 as a husband’s marital plea, into a powerful feminist anthem. Although Franklin had previous hits, including 1961’s “Today I Sing the Blues,” “Respect” delivered her first No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Franklin had one more song hit No. 1 during her career: her 1987 duet with George Michael, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).”

The folk-rock band the Mamas and the Papas had one chart-topper, “Monday, Monday,” which remained at No. 1 for three weeks in 1966 and earned them their only Grammy in 1967, for Best Contemporary Group Performance. The group had five more tracks reach the top five, including 1966’s “California Dreamin’,” “Words of Love,” and “I Saw Her Again,” and 1967’s “Dedicated to the One I Love” and “Creeque Alley.”

Dustin Hoffman played the role of Ben Braddock, a recent college graduate with no direction in life, in the 1967 romantic drama “The Graduate.” Wandering through life, he begins an affair with an older woman, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), but also falls for her daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross). Although “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel became the track most closely associated with the film, it’s one of the duo’s other hits, “The Sound of Silence,” that plays as the film comes to a close.

John Lennon had the honor of being the first person to grace the cover of "Rolling Stone." The magazine, which debuted in 1967, quickly earned a reputation for putting music and entertainment's hottest stars on its covers. Lennon was on the cover several times, but no image was as controversial as his January 22, 1981, cover, which featured the singer naked and curled in the fetal position next to his wife, Yoko On

In 1962, when Rolling Stones guitarist and founder Brian Jones was on the phone to the BBC to secure the band’s first booking, he realized they still didn’t have a name. His eyes fell on the 1950 Muddy Waters record “Rollin’ Stone,” and The Rolling Stones were born. The Stones were heavily influenced by Muddy Waters, and in 1981 they finally got to perform live with the blues legend in Chicago.

Ernest Evans got the nickname “Chubby” while working at a poultry market in Philadelphia. Later, when he was trying to break into the music business, Barbara Clark, the wife of “American Bandstand” host Dick Clark, gave Evans the stage name Chubby Checker. Checker got his big break in 1960 when he re-recorded Hank Ballard’s “The Twist.” The song and style of dancing became a worldwide hit.

The Temptations won Motown’s first Grammy with their song “Cloud Nine,” which picked up the award for Best Rhythm & Blues Performance in 1968. The song was seen as something of a departure for the group, incorporating more of a psychedelic soul and rock sound. The group went on to win three more Grammys, and was given a Lifetime Achievement award in 2013.

British rock band the Animals released their only No. 1 single, “House of the Rising Sun,” in 1964. The folk rock/blues track topped the charts in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. It was inspired by an old folk song, which was first recorded in Appalachia by Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster in 1933. Many covers of the song have since been recorded, but none is as popular as the Animals’ version.

Roger Daltrey is the lead singer of the British rock band The Who. The band was unlike most acts of the ‘60s, choosing to write lyrics that embraced the teenage experience for what it often is: lonely and moody. They were also well known for destroying instruments during performances. Thanks to their prolific contributions — most famously the epic rock opera "Tommy" — the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

One of the most defining events of the 20th century was accompanied by David Bowie’s first major hit, “Space Oddity.” Bowie released the song on July 11, 1969, just nine days before the July 20 lunar landing of NASA’s Apollo 11. The song describes an astronaut, Major Tom, who is lost in space. This wasn’t Bowie’s only space-themed song. He released “Moonage Daydream” a few years later in 1972.

The now-iconic album cover art for the Beach Boys' “Pet Sounds” (1966) was shot at the San Diego Zoo, and features the five band members feeding a group of eager goats. The zoo superintendent later claimed that he subsequently banned the band from the zoo after they “mishandled” the animals. Singer Bruce Johnston refuted the claims, stating that in fact “the goats were horrible!”

“Viva Las Vegas” is the King of Rock ’n’ Roll’s highest-grossing and arguably most popular film. In the musical, Elvis plays a race car driver who’s in a pinch: He needs a new engine. To raise the money for the repairs, he decides to participate in a Vegas talent show. The film includes the memorable theme song “Viva Las Vegas,” which topped the charts for 12 weeks.

The Supremes — Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Diana Ross — first began performing as the Primettes, initially sharing the vocals. In 1961, they were signed by Motown and renamed The Supremes, but didn’t enjoy much success until 1963, when record executive Berry Gordy selected Diana Ross to be lead vocalist. The group went on to have several international hits, becoming one of the jewels in Motown’s crown.

Inspired by The Beatles’ film “A Hard Day's Night,” film producers Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson decided to create a family-friendly TV series focused on a rock band. They put out an advert calling for “four insane boys,” and eventually recruited Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith to be The Monkees. The show ran for two seasons and launched The Monkees to pop stardom.

Jimi Hendrix’s powerful solo guitar version of “The Star Spangled Banner” is one of the most iconic moments of the Woodstock music festival. Scheduling delays meant that instead of closing out the festival on Sunday evening, Hendrix began his set at 9 a.m. Monday morning. Those who stayed witnessed a legendary performance as Hendrix distorted and electrified the national anthem with his Stratocaster.

Following in the footsteps of her famous father, “Fly Me to the Moon” singer Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra topped the charts in 1966 with her hit song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” The tune capitalized on the go-go boots trend of the decade and became an anthem of female empowerment. It reached No. 1 in the U.S. and U.K. and has since been covered by numerous artists.

Anti-war sentiments and political divides defined the 1960s. The song “Fortunate Son” by CCR was written by the band’s lead singer, John Fogerty, in response to the Vietnam War. Fogerty was drafted in ’67 but never deployed. The song was released two years later in 1969, and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

American country legend Johnny Cash held one of his most memorable concerts on January 13, 1968, when he performed for the inmates of Folsom Prison in California. By the late ’60s, Cash’s career was at a standstill, but the buzz generated by this performance — and the live recorded album it produced — gave him another boost and placed Cash back on the charts. The live album, “At Folsom Prison,” went No. 1.