Question 1

True or false: Al Green was originally a member of a gospel group before launching his solo secular career.

Accepted Answer

True. Green sang with his family's gospel group, the Green Brothers, before transitioning to R&B and soul music.

Question 2

True or false: Al Green's song 'Tired of Being Alone' was originally written for Otis Redding.

Accepted Answer

False. Green wrote it for himself, and it became his first major solo hit. Otis Redding died before Green's career took off.

Question 3

True or false: Al Green was ordained as a pastor in the 1970s and continued to record secular music afterward.

Accepted Answer

True. He became a pastor in 1976 at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis, but still released secular hits until the early '80s.

Question 4

True or false: Al Green's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 was 'I'm Still in Love with You'.

Accepted Answer

False. 'Let's Stay Together' was his first and only number-one Hot 100 hit. 'I'm Still in Love with You' peaked at number three.

Question 5

True or false: Al Green won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1973.

Accepted Answer

False. Al Green never won Best New Artist. That award went to America in 1973. He did win a Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for 'Let's Stay Together' that same year, and later a Lifetime Achievement Award (2002).

Question 6

True or false: Al Green's hit 'Let's Stay Together' was written in just 15 minutes.

Accepted Answer

True. Co-writer Willie Mitchell said the song came together quickly in the studio, with Green improvising lyrics on the spot.

Question 7

True or false: Al Green was once attacked with a scalding hot bowl of grits by a romantic partner.

Accepted Answer

True. In 1974, girlfriend Mary Woodson threw boiling grits on him, causing severe burns; she then killed herself.

Question 8

True or false: Al Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Justin Timberlake.

Accepted Answer

False. He was inducted in 1995 by a fellow soul legend, not Timberlake. Justin Timberlake did induct him into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.

Al Green Trivia Questions