Pick a Day

Music History Events: Charts

April 21, 1962 Elvis Presley's "Good Luck Charm" hits #1.

March 31, 1962 In these pre-Beatles years, Connie Francis is one of the biggest stars in America. She scores her third #1 with "Don't Break The Heart That Loves You."

March 10, 1962 "Hey Baby" by Bruce Channel goes to #1 in the US.

January 27, 1962 Joey Dee and the Starliters' "Peppermint Twist" hits #1 for the first of three weeks.

December 11, 1961 Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii hits #1.

November 6, 1961 Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John" hits #1 for the first of five weeks.

October 9, 1961 Ray Charles lands his second #1 US hit when "Hit The Road Jack" goes to the top.

September 18, 1961 Bobby Vee's "Take Good Care Of My Baby," written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, hits #1 for the first of three weeks.

August 28, 1961 Joe Dowell's "Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn)" hits #1, where it will stay for one week.

August 21, 1961 Elvis Presley's LP Something For Everybody hits #1.

July 10, 1961 Bobby Lewis's "Tossin' And Turnin'" hits #1 for the first of seven weeks.

June 5, 1961 Roy Orbison's "Running Scared" hits #1.

June 1, 1961 Elvis Presley's "Surrender" hits #1 on the UK singles chart.

May 29, 1961 Ricky Nelson's "Travelin' Man" hits #1 in the US, his second and last chart-topper ("Poor Little Fool" hit #1 in 1958).

May 22, 1961 Ernie K-Doe's "Mother-in-Law," written by Allen Toussaint, hits #1 in America.

April 24, 1961 Del Shannon's "Runaway" hits #1 in America.

April 3, 1961 The Marcels' "Blue Moon" hits #1 in America.

March 20, 1961 Elvis Presley's "Surrender" hits #1 for the first of two weeks.

February 27, 1961 Chubby Checker's "Pony Time" hits #1 in America for the first of five weeks.

February 13, 1961 Lawrence Welk's "Calcutta" hits #1 for the first of two weeks.

February 6, 1961 The Capris' "There's a Moon Out Tonight" enters the R&B charts.

January 30, 1961 The Shirelles' "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" hits #1 in America. It's the first big hit for the songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King.

November 21, 1960 Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs' "Stay" hits #1 in America. One of the most famous falsetto songs ever recorded, it is later covered by The Four Seasons and Jackson Browne. Running just 1:38, it's the shortest song ever to top the Hot 100.

November 21, 1960 Ray Charles has four entries on the Billboard Hot 100: "Georgia On My Mind" (#5), "Ruby" (#51), "Hard Hearted Hannah" (#66), and "Come Rain Or Come Shine" (#95).

November 3, 1960 Elvis Presley's "It's Now Or Never" hits #1 in the UK, where it stays for eight weeks. The UK release was delayed because "O Sole Mio," on which the melody is based, is still under copyright in Britain, but not in America, where "It's Now Or Never" went to #1 in August.

October 24, 1960 Brenda Lee's "I Want To Be Wanted" hits #1 in the US. It's her last chart-topper until 63 years later when her festive favorite "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," revived by a new music video, goes to the top.

October 24, 1960 In a down year for rock and roll, Frank Sinatra's album of orchestral ballads, Nice 'N' Easy, hits #1 in America.

October 17, 1960 The Drifters' "Save The Last Dance For Me" hits #1 in America for the first of three weeks. Doc Pomus wrote the lyric about his wedding day, when he watched his bride, the actress Willi Burke, dance with his brother.

October 10, 1960 Larry Verne's novelty song "Mr. Custer" hits #1 in America.

September 26, 1960 Connie Francis' "My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own" hits #1 for the first of two weeks.