Can You Name These Male ’60s Bands and Artists From an Image?

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Name These Male ’60s Bands and Artists From an Image?
Image: Wiki Commons by General Artists Corporation / Atco Records

About This Quiz

The 1960s was a decade characterized by unique political and cultural intersections. Music can attest to that. Just look at the roster of musicians and bands that came out that time. Can you name the male ones by looking at their images here? Take a guess!

Imagine having a budding singer register for the war draft. When the time came for him to do his patriotic duty, he left the concert stages and entered the army to be in another kind of stage. How can that experience influence his music, you think?

This is but one example of how male musicians faced the music, so to speak, during those tumultuous times. Some willingly went out and served while some remained at home to battle in another arena. The anti-war movement was burgeoning, the civil rights movement was gaining ground and other socio-civic stirrings were happening, too. Musicians took their pick and advocated for what they believed in. As a result, they left us with great anti-war and peace-loving messages embedded in '60s songs. 

But that's not the whole picture of the '60s sound. Aside from political and social reflections, genres were also born. Rock 'n' roll came out from different musicians experimenting on mixing styles. That's why you hear a little bit of country music and a dash of gospel with a side of folk music in there. It can be danceable and it can be the easy-listening type, too. These experiments resulted in spectacular creations we're still continuing today.

Can you name these pivotal and popular male acts responsible for such musical creations? We know you can! Groove to this quiz and see!

Ray Charles
Wiki Commons by the Dutch National Archives
"Don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more" until you guess this great man's name. Tell us!
Percy Sledge
Ray Charles
Jamie Foxx portrayed Ray Charles in a 2004 biopic. But some journalists criticized it for its inaccuracy of portraying certain aspects of the music legend's life. They say that the film didn't show how fiercely independent he was, like how he didn't rely on assistance for the blind when getting around.
Stevie Wonder
Herb Alpert

Advertisement

The Beatles
Wiki Commons by Library of Congress
"Help! I need somebody" to guess who this legendary band is. Can you name them?
The Beatles
Did you know that the Beatles got kicked out from a country once? That was in 1966, and the Philippine president's wife, Imelda Marcos, invited the Fab Four to a private breakfast. Due to a schedule conflict, the Liverpool boys never made it; Imelda's rage got them booted out as a result.
The Dave Clark Five
The Drifters
The Troggs

Advertisement

Jimi Hendrix
Wiki Commons
"Purple haze" might be all in your brain but so is his name! Can you identify this guitar hero?
Louis Armstrong
John Lee Hooker
Jimi Hendrix
Musician Jimi Hendrix belongs to an unofficial group termed as the "27 Club." This refers to popular celebrities who all died when they were 27 years old. Other musicians on this infamous list include The Doors' Jim Morrison, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse, to name a few.
Chuck Berry

Advertisement

Frank Sinatra
Wiki Commons by 20th Century Fox
"Start spreading the news" and this crooner's name as well. Do you know him?
Elton John
Bob Dylan
Bobby Darin
Frank Sinatra
Rumor has it that Frank Sinatra disliked Marlon Brando so much when the two were shooting the movie musical version of "Guys and Dolls." Brando played the lead there, which Sinatra originally wanted to play. Sinatra apparently looked down on Brando's singing and acting abilities, too.

Advertisement

The Beach Boys
Wiki Commons by Capitol Records
"God only knows" what we'll be without their music. Do you know this surfin' and rockin' band?
The Clash
The Bluetones
The Commodores
The Beach Boys
A 1990 TV-movie biopic showed that The Beach Boys' drummer Dennis Wilson was the only true "beach boy" in the group. He was the "wild child" who loved surfing and hanging out at the beach unlike his brothers. Sadly, he died of drowning in the '80s.

Advertisement

The Doors
Wiki Commons by Agency for the Performing Arts
"Come on, baby, light my fire" by guessing the name of this ethereal band. Game!
The Rolling Stones
The Doors
If you want to visit the final resting place of Jim Morrison, The Doors' controversial frontman, you'll have to fly to France for that. He died when he was temporarily living in Paris in 1971, so he was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery. He had an earlier tombstone and bust there, which was stolen.
The Clash
The Allman Brothers Band

Advertisement

Ricky Nelson
Wiki Commons by Decca Records
As "fools rush in where angels fear to tread," can you quickly identify this heartthrob?
Bobby Vee
Ricky Nelson
Music and showbiz life were in the Nelson family's veins, thanks to the popularity of parents Ozzie and Harriet in the '50s. Ricky Nelson grew up in his parents' show until he gained his own following as a teenage singing heartthrob. He also had twin sons who became musicians under the name Nelson.
Carl Perkins
Bill Haley

Advertisement

Simon & Garfunkel
Wiki Commons by the Dutch National Archives / Spaarnestad Photo
Can you break "the sound of silence" by naming this duo?
Jan and Dean
Everly Brothers
Simon & Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel initially created an album together in the early '60s but broke up when it flopped. When certain radio stations picked up "Sound of Silence" again, its popularity revived their career. Their popularity skyrocketed more when the song became part of "The Graduate" film soundtrack.
Perry Como and Eddie Fisher

Advertisement

The Monkees
Wiki Commons by NBC Television
When you saw their faces, did you also say "now I'm a believer"? We'll believe you if you tell us which group this is!
The Four Seasons
The Hollies
The Monkees
The Monkees' creation was a bandwagon move to ride on the Beatles' popularity during the '60s. But the difference was, they started as a TV-show act who later toured as musicians. In an interview, The Beatles' John Lennon tipped his hat off to the group for running a successful weekly show.
The Kinks

Advertisement

Louis Armstrong
Wiki Commons by Library of Congress
Well, hello, and "it's nice to have you back where you belong" indeed. Now can you name this talented trumpeter?
Duke Ellington
Miles Davis
Louis Armstrong
Did you know that there's a certain medical condition called Satchmo's Syndrome named after Louis Armstrong? This syndrome affects the muscles surrounding the mouth and is evident in hard-blowing trumpet players like him. They get damaged lips, too.
Dizzy Gillespie

Advertisement

Marvin Gaye
Wiki Commons by J. Edward Bailey
"C'mon, talk to me so you can see what's going on" with this guy. Can you identify him?
Ike Turner
Marvin Gaye
Even music legends like Marvin Gaye battle demons and depression. His personal struggles led to a fight with his father in 1984, which ended the singer's life. His father shot the singer three times in the chest, causing his immediate death.
Ben. E. King
Nat King Cole

Advertisement

The Rolling Stones
Wiki Commons by Øderud
"I can't get no satisfaction" until you tell me who this band is!
The Osmonds
The Lettermen
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones got famous for their songs, their notoriety offstage and Mick Jagger's signature moves in singing and dancing. He's the inspiration of Maroon 5's song "Moves Like Jagger." Jagger joked on TV, though, that he didn't earn a cent from being referred to in that pop hit.
The Mamas and the Papas

Advertisement

Bob Dylan
Wiki Commons by U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Who's this folk hero? "The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind."
Bruce Springsteen
Jackson Browne
James Taylor
Bob Dylan
Perhaps one of the most controversial Nobel Prize winners is folk singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. According to his 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature listing, he won "for having created new poetic expressions" with his songs. But certain literary figures contested this for not honoring a "real poet." He is shown here with singer Joan Baez at the Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., Aug. 28, 1963.

Advertisement

Everly Brothers
Wiki Commons by ABC Television
Before you bid "bye bye love, bye bye happiness," tell us who this duo is first!
Everly Brothers
Since the Everly Brothers were real-life brothers who worked and collaborated together, they also had huge fights just like any other family out there. Younger brother Phil reportedly hit his older brother Don with a guitar when the latter messed up during a concert once.
The Delmore Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
Righteous Brothers

Advertisement

James Brown
Wiki Commons by Heinrich Klaffs
"Get up offa that thing" and identify this legendary performer first!
Isaac Hayes
James Brown
The Godfather of Soul and The Godfather of Funk, James Brown, also had the nickname "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business." Growing up as a child during the Great Depression of the 1930s may have influenced his hardworking business ethic.
Wilson Pickett
Curtis Mayfield

Advertisement

The Jackson 5
Wiki Commons by Bernie Ilson, Inc.
"Blame it on the boogie" if you miss this one. Guess who!
The Jackson 5
Before Michael Jackson made it big, he was part of his older brothers' group known as The Jackson 5. It was the older Jacksons Tito, Jermaine and Jackie who originated the group, then their younger brothers Michael and Marlon also trained with them and performed. Their father was their manager.
The B-52's
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
The Dave Clark Five

Advertisement

Johnny Cash
Wiki Commons by Cowles Communications, Inc.
Can you "walk the line" to name this country-music legend?
Johnny Cash
If you want to see a cinematic version of Johnny Cash's life, watch the 2005 film "Walk The Line" with Joaquin Phoenix as the country singer. Reese Witherspoon played his wife June in the film, a role that won her an Academy Award. Both actors performed some songs themselves in the soundtrack.
Willie Nelson
Kenny Rogers
Hank Williams

Advertisement

Elvis Presley
Wiki Commons by MGM
"You ain't nothing but a hound dog" if you can't name this legend! Who's he?
Buddy Holly
Elvis Presley
Can you connect the King of Rock 'n' Roll Elvis Presley to the King of Pop Michael Jackson? Here's how: MJ got married to Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie Presley, and they stayed together for about two years before divorcing. They first met when he was 17 and she was 7 back in the '70s.
Ritchie Valens
Jerry Lee Lewis

Advertisement

The Who
Plexiglas '60s via YouTube
"It's only teenage wasteland" if you can't identify this great band. Take a guess?
The Turtles
The Who
TV fans might have noticed that all opening theme songs of "CSI" shows came from The Who's discography. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" has "Who Are You," CSI: New York" featured "Baba O'Reilly" and "CSI: Miami" used "Won't Get Fooled Again," while "CSI: Cyber" featured "I Can See for Miles."
The Chieftains
The Cars

Advertisement

Roy Orbison
Wiki Commons by Monument Records
This observant musician saw a "pretty woman walking down the street." Know who?
Tom Petty
Willie Nelson
Jim Reeves
Roy Orbison
Hollywood loves Roy Orbison's music so much that they always try to secure the rights to use them in movies. Actor-director Bradley Cooper paid tribute to the singer in his take of "A Star Is Born" where they even referenced an Orbison tribute performance there. Also, two words: "Pretty Woman."

Advertisement

The Righteous Brothers
Wiki Commons by Orange County Archives
"Oh, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch" in guessing '60s musicians. Tell us who?
The Allman Brothers Band
The Righteous Brothers
Movie buffs might know one of The Righteous Brothers' megahits, "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," from an early Tom Cruise movie. He sang it in a combined a cappella-karaoke style in the 1986 film "Top Gun" in a scene where he was trying to impress Kelly McGillis' character.
The Walker Brothers
The Chemical Brothers

Advertisement

Dean Martin
Wiki Commons by MGM
"You're nobody 'til somebody loves you" for being a '60s music whiz. Know this crooner?
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was the original "titleholder" of the moniker "King of Cool." As part of the Rat Pack, he performed and hung out with equally "cool cats" Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr. They all starred in the original "Ocean's 11" film in 1960.
Bing Crosby
Jerry Lewis
Tony Bennett

Advertisement

Otis Redding
Wiki Commons by Volt Records
While you're "sitting on the dock of the bay," can you also ponder on this legend's identity?
Al Greene
Little Richard
Otis Redding
Rolling Stone magazine called Otis Redding the "Crown Prince of Soul" at the time of his death. The legendary singer-songwriter-producer was only 26 when his private plane crashed in 1968. Before his death, he left an influential soul music legacy with songs like "These Arms of Mine" and "Respect."
Smokey Robinson

Advertisement

The Bee Gees
Wiki Commons by Atco Records
We'll question "How deep is your love" for '60s artists if you can't guess this great group!
The Carpenters
The Pogues
The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees hit it big internationally during the '60s and '70s, but they actually got their start in the late '50s. They were born in England but migrated to Australia where they first hit it big as singing brothers.
The Smiths

Advertisement

Pat Boone
Wiki Commons by Roger Pic
Instead of writing "love letters in the sand," can you guess his name instead?
Pat Boone
Young people today might know Pat Boone as a motivational speaker of the Christian conservative kind. But during his '50s-'60s heyday, he was one of those popular matinee idols in the pop-music scene. But even then, his conservative Christian beliefs made him reject certain music and movie offers.
Ray Peterson
Andy Williams
Bobby Darin

Advertisement

Chubby Checker
Wiki Commons
"Let's twist again" and choose the right name for this cool dude!
Bo Diddley
Chuck Berry
Chubby Checker
"The Twist" song and dance phenomenon will always link back to Chubby Checker, as he popularized the song and the TV show "American Bandstand" boosted the dance craze. The singer earned the title "The King of Twist" at that time, too.
Jimmy Ruffin

Advertisement

Chuck Berry
Wiki Commons by Universal Attractions
"Roll over, Beethoven" and sing us this guy's name!
B.B. King
Fats Domino
Muddy Waters
Chuck Berry
Guitar whiz Chuck Berry didn't dabble into music first during his childhood; another art form took his attention — photography. He learned tips from his uncle, who worked as a professional photographer. He later worked as a part-time photographer himself before hitting it big on the music scene.

Advertisement

Neil Sedaka
Wiki Commons by RCA
If you've got "a one-way ticket to the blues," then you better head to this guy. Who's he?
Neil Sedaka
Writing songs about people you dated was already a phenomenon even before Taylor Swift made it vogue for millennials today. Neil Sedaka's big hit "Oh Carol" is a reference to singer-songwriter Carol King. She later responded with a parody version called "Oh Neil," which wasn't such a big hit.
Paul Anka
Barry Manilow
Pat Boone

Advertisement

Frankie Avalon
Wiki Commons by Alta Vista Productions / American International Pictures
If you "wanna be the teacher's pet," you have to know who this is!
Fabian
Frankie Avalon
From the late '50s to the early '60s, musicians from South Philadelphia were becoming popular. This roster included Frankie Avalon, who hit it big as a teen idol in "American Bandstand." Aside from being a singer, he also became popular as a matinee idol who starred in teen beach-party films.
Bobby Rydell
Gene Pitney

Advertisement

Cream
Wiki Commons by General Artists Corporation / Atco Records
"Bomp bomp bomp bomp bomp bomp!" You'll also "feel free" as soon as you identify this group, now!
Jefferson Airplane
Black Sabbath
Led Zeppelin
Cream
Clap if you know that Eric Clapton was in the group Cream before breaking out on his own (shown here at right). Before that, he was with The Yardsticks. With Cream, they had huge hits like "I Feel Free," "White Room," "Badge" and "Crossroads."

Advertisement

The Temptations
Island Music via YouTube
"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day" if you can tell who this is!
The Temptations
The Motown Sound won't be complete without hearing contributions from The Temptations. They're the ones who hit it big with songs like "My Girl," "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)," "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone," to name a few.
The Miracles
The Funk Brothers
The Contours

Advertisement

Tom Jones
Wiki Commons by ABC Television
"It's not unusual to be loved by anyone," especially if you know who this is. Name drop him for leverage!
Tom Jones
For someone who got ill with tuberculosis during his youth, Tom Jones still came out strong and singing. His pipes proved that the disease didn't bring him down, since he jump-started a career in the '60s that's still going strong today. He is shown here singing with Janis Joplin on the television program "This Is Tom Jones" in 1969.
Engelbert Humperdinck
Van Morrison
Rod Stewart

Advertisement

Fats Domino
Wiki Commons by the Dutch National Archives
"Ain't that a shame" if you can't say his name. Try it!
Bo Diddley
Fats Domino
The early sound and popularity of rock 'n' roll included Fats Domino's essential contributions. The piano-playing singer greatly influenced other great piano-playing singers, too, like Little Richard, Elton John, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Piano Man himself, Billy Joel.
Lloyd Price
Dave Bartholomew

Advertisement

José Feliciano
Wiki Commons by the Dutch National Archives / Rob Mieremet / Anefo
He greeted us with "Feliz Navidad!" Who wants to "wish you a Merry Christmas?"
Ben Howard
Jim Croce
José Feliciano
There are few persons with disabilities who made it big in the entertainment industry during the '60s and earlier times, and José Feliciano is one of them. The Puerto Rican musician was born blind, but his love of music pushed him to learn how to play musical instruments.
Ruben Blades

Advertisement

Herman's Hermits
Wiki Commons by NBC Television
They claimed that "I'm Henry the Eighth I am," but really, who are they?
The Hollies
The Archies
Herman's Hermits
Movie buffs might remember Herman Hermit's popular song "I'm Henry VIII, I am" from the 1990 film "Ghost." This was the song Sam's ghost used to bug Oda Mae the psychic until she agreed to his request. He sang the song all night, to the psychic's dismay.
Gerry & The Pacemakers

Advertisement

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Wiki Commons by Fantasy Records
"It ain't me, it ain't me" who'll falter at guessing. How about you? Guess who!
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Watch many Vietnam War-set movies and you'll probably hear one of Creedence Clearwater Revival's songs on their soundtrack; remember "Forrest Gump" when he first arrived in Vietnam? "Fortunate Son" was playing there, a song that John Fogerty claims wasn't anti-war. It was more anti-upper class.
Deep Purple
Pink Floyd

Advertisement

Bobby Darin
Wiki Commons by General Artists Corporation / Bruno of Hollywood
"Could that someone be Mack the Knife" or this crooner? What's his name?
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Darin
For someone medically diagnosed to live up to his 16th year only, Bobby Darin poured his heart onto making music and making it big. In his short career, he collected a Grammy Award, an Academy Award nomination and accolades for being a successful Las Vegas performer.
Johnny Mathis
Del Shannon

Advertisement

The Four Tops
Wiki Commons by the Dutch National Archives
"I can't help myself" so I'll help you identify them, "sugar pie, honey bunch." Do you know?
The Four Tops
One of the benchmark sounds of Motown Records came from the group called The Four Tops. Thanks to their great harmonies, they became a big influence in pop, R&B, soul and pop-jazz musicians. They also held the line, so to speak, for American music during the British Invasion of the '60s.
The Miracles
The Temptations
The Spinners

Advertisement

Bobby Rydell
Wiki Commons by James Kriegsmann
You can do the "Cha Cha Cha" or "Volare" with this matinee idol. Do you know him?
Bobby Vee
Bobby Rydell
Italian American singers like Bobby Rydell came to the spotlight when music and the mafia were suspiciously "close" with each other. Rydell became conscious of that association, so he tried to distance himself from it. But in his autobiography, he wrote about meeting mafia-connected people.
Mark Wynter
Phil Spector

Advertisement

Cliff Richard
Wiki Commons by the Dutch National Archives / Harry Pot / Anefo
"We're all going on a summer holiday" if you guess who this is!
Albert Hammond
Tommy Steele
Cliff Richard
The singer of "Lucky Lips" named Cliff Richard is more than lucky today. According to reports, this British pop idol is worth around 70 million pounds this decade. That's not surprising, since he's considered as one of the top highest-selling U.K. artists just right behind The Beatles.
Billy Fury

Advertisement

You Got:
/40
Wiki Commons by General Artists Corporation / Atco Records