Hot 100 number-one hits of 1961 (USA)
Encyclopedia
These are the Billboard magazine Hot 100
number one hits of 1961.
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
number one hits of 1961.
| Issue Date | Song | Artist(s) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2 | "Are You Lonesome Tonight? Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song) "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is a popular song with music by Lou Handman and lyrics by Roy Turk. It was written in 1926, first published in 1927 and most notably revived by Elvis Presley in 1960 .... " |
Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".... |
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| January 9 | "Wonderland by Night Wonderland by Night "Wonderland by Night" is a popular song by Bert Kaempfert that was a Billboard number one hit for three weeks, starting January 9, 1961. It was Kaempfert's first hit with his orchestra. Another cover, recorded and released by Louis Prima, also charted in the same year, reaching #15 on the... " |
Bert Kaempfert Bert Kaempfert Bert Kaempfert was a German orchestra leader and songwriter. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records, and wrote the music for a number of well-known songs, such as "Strangers in the Night" and "Spanish Eyes".-Biography:He was born in Hamburg, Germany - where he received his lifelong... |
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| January 16 | |||
| January 23 | |||
| January 30 | "Will You Love Me Tomorrow Will You Love Me Tomorrow "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", also known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and originally recorded by The Shirelles. It has been recorded by many artists and was ranked among Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at #125... " |
The Shirelles The Shirelles The Shirelles were an African-American girl group that achieved popularity in the early 1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens , Doris Coley , Addie "Micki" Harris , and Beverly Lee... |
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| February 6 | |||
| February 13 | "Calcutta Calcutta (song) "Calcutta" was written in 1958 by Heino Gaze and Hans Bradtke . The original title was "Tivoli Melody", but it then re-titled several times, until it became known as "Calcutta"... " |
Lawrence Welk Lawrence Welk Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982... |
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| February 20 | |||
| February 27 | "Pony Time Pony Time "Pony Time" is a song recorded by Chubby Checker, his second US #1 "Pony Time" is a song recorded by Chubby Checker, his second US #1 "Pony Time" is a song recorded by Chubby Checker, his second US #1 (after his 1960 single "The Twist." "Pony Time" was also a number one hit on the R&B charts.. The... " |
Chubby Checker Chubby Checker Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"... |
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| March 6 | |||
| March 13 | |||
| March 20 | "Surrender Surrender (Elvis Presley song) "Surrender" is a #1 song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1961. It is an adaptation by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman of the music of a 1902 Neapolitan ballad by Giambattista and Ernesto de Curtis entitled "Torna a Surriento" . It hit number one in the US and UK in 1961... " |
Elvis Presley | |
| March 27 | |||
| April 3 | "Blue Moon Blue Moon (song) "Blue Moon"'s first crossover recording to rock and roll came from Elvis Presley in 1956. His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album Elvis Presley.... " |
The Marcels The Marcels The Marcels were a doo-wop group known for turning American classical pop songs into rock and roll. The group formed in 1959 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and signed to Colpix Records, with lead Cornelius Harp, bass Fred Johnson, Gene Bricker, Ron Mundy, and Richard Knauss... |
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| April 10 | |||
| April 17 | |||
| April 24 | "Runaway Runaway (Del Shannon song) "Runaway" was a number-one Billboard Hot 100 song made famous by Del Shannon in 1961. It was written by Shannon and keyboardist Max Crook, and became a major international hit... " |
Del Shannon Del Shannon Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :... |
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| May 1 | |||
| May 8 | |||
| May 15 | |||
| May 22 | "Mother-in-Law Mother-in-Law (song) "Mother-in-Law" is the name of a hit 1961 single by Ernie K-Doe. The song was a number-one hit in the U.S. on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts.. The song was written and produced by Allen Toussaint who also played the piano solo. It was issued by Minit Records... " |
Ernie K-Doe Ernie K-Doe Ernie K-Doe , born Ernest Kador, Jr., was an African American rhythm and blues singer best known for his 1961 hit single "Mother-in-Law" which went to #1 on the Billboard pop chart in the U.S.-Early career:... |
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| May 29 | "Travelin' Man Travelin' Man "Travelin' Man" is a single by Ricky Nelson, an American singer. It was written by songwriter Jerry Fuller. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100; its b-side, "Hello Mary Lou", reached number nine on the same chart.-Plot:... " |
Ricky Nelson Ricky Nelson Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor... |
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| June 5 | "Running Scared" | Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis... |
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| June 12 | "Travelin' Man" | Ricky Nelson | |
| June 19 | "Moody River Moody River "Moody River" is a number-one Billboard Hot 100 song from June 1961 performed by Pat Boone. It was written by and originally performed by country rockabilly singer Chase Webster . Webster was a labelmate of Boone's at Dot Records.This was the title track from one of Boone's better-selling albums... " |
Pat Boone Pat Boone Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts... |
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| June 26 | "Quarter to Three Quarter to Three "Quarter to Three" is a popular song, adapted and expanded from "A Night with Daddy 'G' - Part 1" , an instrumental by the Church Street Five, which was written by Gene Barge, Frank Guida and Joseph Royster, and sung by Gary U.S. Bonds... " |
Gary U.S. Bonds Gary U.S. Bonds Gary U.S. Bonds is an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer. He is also a prolific songwriter.-Career:... |
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| July 3 | |||
| July 10 | "Tossin' and Turnin' Tossin' and Turnin' "Tossin' and Turnin" is a song written by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene, and originally recorded by Bobby Lewis. The record reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 on July 10, 1961, and R&B chart,, and has since become a standard on oldies compilations. It was named Billboard's number-one... " |
Bobby Lewis Bobby Lewis Bobby Lewis is an African American rock and roll and R&B singer.-Biography:Lewis learned to play the piano by age six. Adopted at age twelve, he moved to a home in Detroit, Michigan... |
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| July 17 | |||
| July 24 | |||
| July 31 | |||
| August 7 | |||
| August 14 | |||
| August 21 | |||
| August 28 | "Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn) Wooden Heart "Wooden Heart " is a song best known for its use in the 1960 Elvis Presley film G.I. Blues. The song was a hit for Presley in the United Kingdom, making number one for six weeks, but wasn't released as a single in the United States until November 1964 as the B-side to "Blue Christmas"... " |
Joe Dowell Joe Dowell Joe Dowell is an American pop singer.-Career:He was born in Bloomington, Indiana, but moved to Bloomington, Illinois, as a child. He first performed at a ninth-grade talent show, and later attended the University of Illinois... |
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| September 4 | "Michael Michael Row the Boat Ashore Michael, Row the Boat Ashore is an African-American spiritual. It was first noted during the American Civil War at St. Helena Island, one of the Sea Islands of South Carolina.... " |
The Highwaymen The Highwaymen (folk band) The Highwaymen were a circa 1960 "collegiate folk" group, which originated at Wesleyan University and had a Billboard number-one hit in 1961 with "Michael" and another Top 20 hit in 1962 with "Cottonfields"... |
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| September 11 | |||
| September 18 | "Take Good Care of My Baby Take Good Care of My Baby "Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin and made famous by Bobby Vee, when it was released in 1961. It quickly became popular, reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in September. The song was covered by The Beatles during their audition at Decca Records on... " |
Bobby Vee Bobby Vee Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:... |
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| September 25 | |||
| October 2 | |||
| October 9 | "Hit the Road Jack Hit the Road Jack "Hit the Road Jack" is a song written by rhythm and bluesman Percy Mayfield and first recorded in 1960 as an a capella demo sent to Art Rupe, available on the Memory Pain CD vol. 2, Specialty Records SPCD-7027-2. It became famous after it was recorded by singer-pianist Ray Charles. It hit number... " |
Ray Charles Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records... |
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| October 16 | |||
| October 23 | "Runaround Sue Runaround Sue "Runaround Sue" is a pop song, originally a US No. 1 hit for the singer Dion during 1961. The song ranked No. 342 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".-Original recording:... " |
Dion Dion DiMucci Dion Francis DiMucci , better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop oldies music, rock and R&B styles.... |
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| October 30 | |||
| November 6 | "Big Bad John Big Bad John "Big Bad John" is a country song originally performed by Jimmy Dean and composed by Dean and Roy Acuff. Released in September 1961, by the beginning of November it went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Dean the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording.The song and its... " |
Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean Jimmy Ray Dean was an American country music singer, television host, actor and businessman. Although he may be best known today as the creator of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand, he became a national television personality starting in 1957, rising to fame for his 1961 country crossover hit "Big Bad... |
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| November 13 | |||
| November 20 | |||
| November 27 | |||
| December 4 | |||
| December 11 | "Please Mr. Postman Please Mr. Postman "Please Mr. Postman" is the debut single by The Marvelettes for the Tamla label, notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. The single achieved this position in late 1961; it hit number one on the R&B chart as well. "Please Mr... " |
The Marvelettes The Marvelettes The Marvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Tamla label. Motown's first successful female vocal group, the Marvelettes are most notable for recording the company's first #1 Pop hit, "Please Mr... |
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| December 18 | "The Lion Sleeps Tonight The Lion Sleeps Tonight "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", also known as "Wimoweh" and originally as "Mbube", is a song recorded by Solomon Linda and his group The Evening Birds for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. It was covered internationally by many 1950s pop and folk revival artists, including The Weavers,... " |
The Tokens The Tokens The Tokens are an American male doo-wop-style vocal group from Brooklyn, New York. They are known best for their chart-scoring 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" .-Career:... |
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| December 25 | |||