List of 1950s one-hit wonders in the United States

This is a list of musical artists whose one hit came out in the 1950s.

The list contains recording artists who reached the Top 40 of the U.S. pop chart (the Billboard "Best Sellers in Stores" chart from January 1, 1955, to November 12, 1955, the Billboard Top 100 from November 12, 1955, to August 4, 1958, and the Billboard Hot 100 from August 4, 1958, on) with just one single. In some special cases, a "J" may appear next to the peak position, denoting that the act's only Top 40 hit was on the "Most Played by Jockeys" chart. An asterisk is shown when the date the song reached its peak position on the pop chart is unavailable.

This list begins in 1955, the traditional start of the modern rock and roll era that gave rise to the popularity of the top 40.

Artists in italics have only one Top 40 hit, but either

Years

1955

Song Performer Peak date Peak
"Runaround" The Three Chuckles November 13, 1954* 20
"Let Me Go, Lover!" The Lancers[1] December 18, 1954* 6
"Let Me Go, Lover!" Joan Weber January 1, 1955 1
"Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" The Penguins February 5, 1955 8
"Make Yourself Comfortable" Peggy King February 5, 1955 30
"(My Baby Don't Love Me) No More" DeJohn Sisters February 12, 1955 6
"Pledging My Love" Johnny Ace[2] March 19, 1955 17
"The Ballad of Davy Crockett" The Voices of Walter Schumann[3] April 9, 1955* 29
"Dixie Danny" Laurie Sisters April 16, 1955 30
"Plantation Boogie" Lenny Dee May 4, 1955 19
"Don't Be Angry" Nappy Brown[4] May 7, 1955 25
"The Breeze and I (Andalucia)" Caterina Valente[5] May 14, 1955 8
"Blue Star (The "Medic Theme")" Felicia Sanders[6] May 28, 1955* 29
"Alabama Jubilee" Ferko String Band[7] June 18, 1955* 18
"Love Me or Leave Me" Lena Horne[8] July 9, 1955 19
"The Bandit (O'Cangaceiro)" Eddie Barclay and His Orchestra[9] July 16, 1955 18
"The Man in the Raincoat" Marion Marlowe[10] July 16, 1955* 14 (J)
"The Man in the Raincoat" Priscilla Wright with Don Wright and The Septette[11] August 6, 1955 16
"The Popcorn Song" Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra[12] August 20, 1955 14
"The House of Blue Lights" Chuck Miller August 27, 1955 9
"I Want You to Be My Baby" Lillian Briggs[13] October 1, 1955 18
"At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)" The El Dorados November 12, 1955 17
"Daddy-O" Bonnie Lou[14] December 3, 1955 14
"It's Almost Tomorrow" Snooky Lanson[15] December 3, 1955* 20
"Autumn Leaves" Steve Allen[16] December 10, 1955 35
"Cry Me a River" Julie London[17] December 17, 1955 9
"Oh! Susanna" The Singing Dogs[18] December 17, 1955 22
"(I'm Gettin') Nuttin' for Christmas" Ricky Zahnd and the Blue Jeaners December 24, 1955 21
"Nuttin' for Christmas" Barry Gordon[19] December 31, 1955 6
"Nuttin' for Xmas" Joe Ward December 31, 1955 20

1956

Song Performer Peak date Peak
"Band of Gold" Kit Carson January 7, 1956 11
"When You Dance" The Turbans January 14, 1956 33
"April in Paris" Count Basie[20] February 4, 1956* 28
"(A Theme from) the Three Penny Opera (Moritat)" Richard Hayman and Jan August[21] February 11, 1956* 12
"Chain Gang" Bobby Scott[22] February 18, 1956 13
"Cry Baby" Bonnie Sisters March 3, 1956 18
"Lovely One" The Four Voices March 17, 1956 20
"Eloise" Kay Thompson[23] March 17, 1956 39
"Lullaby of Birdland" The Blue Stars March 24, 1956 16
"Mr. Wonderful" Teddi King March 24, 1956 18
"11th Hour Melody" Lou Busch and His Orchestra March 24, 1956 35
"Eddie My Love" The Teen Queens March 31, 1956 14
"(Themes From) The Man with the Golden Arm" Richard Maltby and His Orchestra[24] March 31, 1956* 32
"Main Theme from The Man with the Golden Arm" Elmer Bernstein[24] April 28, 1956 32
"Blue Suede Shoes" Carl Perkins[25] May 19, 1956 2
"Moonglow and Theme from Picnic" Morris Stoloff Conducting the Columbia Pictures Orchestra[24] June 2, 1956 2
"The Happy Whistler" Don Robertson[26] June 2, 1956 6
"Ivory Tower" Cathy Carr June 16, 1956 2
"Portuguese Washerwomen" Joe "Fingers" Carr[27] June 16, 1956* 25
"Graduation Day" The Rover Boys June 23, 1956 16
"Free" Tommy Leonetti[28] July 7, 1956* 23
"Stranded in the Jungle" The Cadets July 28, 1956 15
"Stranded in the Jungle" The Jayhawks July 28, 1956 18
"Stranded in the Jungle" The Gadabouts August 4, 1956 39
"The Old Philosopher" Eddie Lawrence September 1, 1956 34
"A Casual Look" The Six Teens September 1, 1956 25
"The Fool" Sanford Clark September 22, 1956 7
"When the White Lilacs Bloom Again" Helmut Zacharias and His Magic Violins September 22, 1956 12
"Tonight You Belong to Me" The Lennon Sisters[29] September 29, 1956* 16
"True Love" Grace Kelly[30] October 6, 1956* 3
"Peanuts" Little Joe and the Thrillers October 13, 1956 22
"True Love" Jane Powell October 27, 1956 15
"Priscilla" Eddie Cooley November 24, 1956 20
"City of Angels" The Highlights November 24, 1956 19
"Confidential" Sonny Knight November 24, 1956 17
"Garden of Eden" Joe Valino December 8, 1956 12
"Blueberry Hill" Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra and Chorus December 15, 1956* 29
"Slow Walk" Sil Austin December 22, 1956 17
"Cindy, Oh Cindy" Vince Martin December 22, 1956 9
"Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" Jerry Lewis[16] December 29, 1956 10
"Since I Met You Baby" Ivory Joe Hunter[31] December 29, 1956 12

1957

Song Performer Peak date Peak
"Your Wild Heart" Joy Layne February 23, 1957 20
"Cinco Robles (Five Oaks)" Russell Arms February 23, 1957 22
"The Swingin' Shepherd Blues" Moe Koffman Quartette February 23, 1957 23
"Love Is Strange" Mickey & Sylvia[32] March 2, 1957 11
"The Walk" Jimmy McCracklin with his Band March 9, 1957 7
"Bad Boy" The Jive Bombers March 16, 1957 36
"Sittin' in the Balcony" Johnny Dee[33] March 16, 1957 38
"Marianne" Terry Gilkyson and the Easy Riders April 6, 1957 4
"Almost Paradise" Lou Stein April 6, 1957 31
"I'm Stickin' with You" Jimmy Bowen with The Rhythm Orchids April 27, 1957 14
"Pledge of Love" Ken Copeland[34] May 6, 1957 12
"Rosie Lee" The Mello-Tones May 13, 1957 24
"After School" Randy Starr May 13, 1957 32
"Dark Moon" Bonnie Guitar June 10, 1957 6
"Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" Marvin Rainwater June 10, 1957 18
"Freight Train" Charles McDevitt Skiffle Group June 10, 1957 40
"A Fallen Star" Jimmy Newman June 10, 1957 23
"With All My Heart" Jodie Sands June 24, 1957 15
"Let the Four Winds Blow" Roy Brown[35] July 1, 1957 29
"(Main Theme) Around the World" Victor Young and His Singing Strings July 8, 1957* 26
"Over the Mountain; Across the Sea" Johnnie & Joe July 22, 1957 8
"White Silver Sands" Dave Gardner July 29, 1957 22
"Rainbow" Russ Hamilton September 16, 1957 7
"Mr. Lee" The Bobbettes September 13, 1957 6
"Moonlight Swim" Tony Perkins October 7, 1957 24
"Black Slacks" Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones October 14, 1957 17
"Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" The Tune Weavers October 28, 1957 5
"Silhouettes/Daddy Cool" The Rays November 4, 1957 3
"Little Bitty Pretty One" Thurston Harris November 11, 1957 6
"Alone (Why Must I Be Alone)" Shepherd Sisters November 11, 1957 18
"Liechtensteiner Polka" Will Glahe and His Orchestra November 25, 1957 16
"Could This Be Magic" The Dubs December 2, 1957 23
"The Joker (That's What They Call Me)" Billy Myles December 2, 1957 25
"Hey Little Girl" The Techniques[36] December 9, 1957 29
"Raunchy" Bill Justis[37] December 16, 1957 2
"Raunchy" Ernie Freeman December 30, 1957 4
"I'm Available" Margie Rayburn December 16, 1957 9

1958

Song Performer Peak date Peak
"Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" The Hollywood Flames January 27, 1958 11
"At the Hop" Nick Todd February 10, 1958 21
"The Swingin' Shepherd Blues" Moe Koffman Quartette February 10, 1958* 36
"Get a Job" The Silhouettes February 24, 1958 1
"She's Neat" Dale Wright with the Rock-Its February 24, 1958 38
"Oh Julie" The Crescendos March 3, 1958 5
"Oh Julie" Sammy Salvo March 3, 1958 23 (J)
"7-11" The Gone All Stars March 3, 1958 30
"We Belong Together" Robert & Johnny March 3, 1958 32
"You Can Make It If You Try" Gene Allison March 10, 1958 36
"Been So Long" The Pastels March 10, 1958 24
"Tequila" Eddie Platt March 31, 1958 20
"Dinner with DracPart 1" John Zacherle "The Cool Ghoul"[38] March 31, 1958 6
"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" Laurie London April 14, 1958 1
"Lollipop" Ronald & Ruby April 14, 1958 20
"Don't You Just Know It" Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns[39] April 14, 1958 9
"Book of Love" The Monotones April 21, 1958 5
"Chanson D'Amour (Song of Love)" Art and Dotty Todd May 5, 1958 6
"Wishing for Your Love" The Voxpoppers May 5, 1958 18
"You" The Aquatones May 26, 1958 21
"Torero" Renato Carosone June 2, 1958 18
"Padre" Toni Arden June 2, 1958* 18
"Purple People Eater" Sheb Wooley[40] June 9, 1958 1
"For Your Love" Ed Townsend June 9, 1958 13
"When the Boys Talk About the Girls" Valerie Carr June 9, 1958 19
"Cha-Hua-Hua" The Pets June 9, 1958 34
"(It's Been a Long Time) Pretty Baby" Gino and Gina June 23, 1958 20
"Jennie Lee" Jan and Arnie[41] June 30, 1958 8
"Endless Sleep" Jody Reynolds June 30, 1958 5
"Got a Match?" The Daddy O's July 7, 1958 39
"Delicious" Jim Backus and Friend[42] July 21, 1958 40
"One Summer Night" The Danleers July 28, 1958 7
"Judy" Frankie Vaughan July 28, 1958 22
"Baubles, Bangles and Beads" Kirby Stone Four July 28, 1958 25
"Willie and the Hand Jive" Johnny Otis Show [43] August 4, 1958 9
"The Freeze" Tony and Joe August 4, 1958 33
"Crazy Eyes for You" Bobby Hamilton August 4, 1958 40
"Early in the Morning" The Rinky Dinks[44] August 11, 1958 24
"Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)" Domenico Modugno[45] August 18, 1958 1
"Little Star" The Elegants August 25, 1958 1
"Born Too Late" The Poni-Tails September 15, 1958 7
"Down the Aisle of Love" The Quin-Tones September 15, 1958 18
"Tea for Two Cha Cha" The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra[20] and Warren Covington September 15, 1958* 7
"Summertime, Summertime" The Jamies September 22, 1958 26
"Weekend" The Kingsmen[46] September 22, 1958 35
"Cerveza" Boots Brown September 29, 1958 23
"You Cheated" The Shields October 6, 1958 12
"Itchy Twitchy Feeling" Bobby Hendricks October 6, 1958 25
"Need You" Donnie Owens October 6, 1958 25
"Rockin' Robin" Bobby Day[25] October 13, 1958 2
"The End" Earl Grant October 13, 1958 7
"Susie Darlin'" Robin Luke October 13, 1958 5
"The Blob" The Five Blobs November 3, 1958 33
"Back to School Again" Timmie "Oh Yeah" Rogers November 18, 1958 36
"Poor Boy" The Royaltones December 1, 1958 17
"To Know Him Is to Love Him" The Teddy Bears[47] December 15, 1958 1
"Philadelphia, U.S.A." The Nu-Tornados December 22, 1958 26

1959

Song Performer Peak date Peak
"Gotta Travel On" Billy Grammer[48] January 12, 1959 4
"The Little Drummer Boy" Harry Simeone Chorale January 12, 1959 13
"Teasin'" The Quaker City Boys January 26, 1959 39
"Manhattan Spiritual" Reg Owen February 9, 1959 10
"The Little Space Girl" Jesse Lee Turner February 9, 1959 20
"Pretty Girls Everywhere" Eugene Church and the Fellows February 23, 1959* 36
"Petite Fleur (Little Flower)" Chris Barber's Jazz Band[49] March 2, 1959 5
"I've Had It" The Bell Notes March 9, 1959 6
"You Can Make It If You Try" Gene Allison March 9, 1959 36
"I Got a Wife" The Mark IV March 16, 1959 24
"Tragedy" Thomas Wayne with the DeLons March 23, 1959 5
"Guess Who" Jesse Belvin March 30, 1959 31
"Sea Cruise" Frankie Ford April 6, 1959 14
"Pink Shoe Laces" Dodie Stevens April 13, 1959 3
"This Should Go on Forever" Rod Bernard April 13, 1959 20
"Guitar Boogie Shuffle" The Virtues April 27, 1959 5
"Tell Him No" Travis and Bob April 27, 1959 8
"Three Stars" Tommy Dee May 4, 1959 11
"Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)" The Impalas May 11, 1959 2
"Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)" Edward Byrnes[45][50] May 11, 1959 4
"Only You" Franck Pourcel's French Fiddles June 1, 1959 9
"Lonely for You" Gary Stites June 1, 1959 24
"I've Come of Age" Billy Storm June 1, 1959 28
"No Chemise, Please" Gerry Granahan[51] June 9, 1959 23
"So Fine" The Fiestas June 15, 1959 11
"Tall Cool One"[52] The Wailers[53] June 22, 1959 36
"Bongo Rock" Preston Epps June 29, 1959 14
"Hushabye" The Mystics June 29, 1959 20
"Little Dipper" Mickey Mozart Quintet[54] July 6, 1959 30
"Waterloo" Stonewall Jackson[55] July 13, 1959 4
"You're So Fine" The Falcons July 13, 1959 17
"Ciao, Ciao Bambina" Jacky Noguez and His Musette Orchestra August 10, 1959 24
"Mona Lisa" Carl Mann August 10, 1959 25
"Here Comes Summer" Jerry Keller August 17, 1959 14
"Robbin the Cradle" Tony Bellus August 17, 1959 25
"Mary Lou" Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks[56] August 17, 1959 26
"Sea of Love" Phil Phillips with the Twilights August 24, 1959 2
"The Mummy" Bob McFadden and Dor[57] August 24, 1959 39
"See You in September" The Tempos September 7, 1959 23
"The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)" Dick Flood September 14, 1959 23
"Morgen" Ivo Robic and the Song-Masters September 21, 1959 13
"Makin' Love" Floyd Robinson September 28, 1959 20
"I Loves You, Porgy" Nina Simone[58] October 5, 1959 18
"Say Man" Bo Diddley[39] October 26, 1959 20
"Battle Hymn of the Republic" Mormon Tabernacle Choir[59] October 26, 1959 13
"You Were Mine" The Fireflies October 26, 1959 21
"Deck of Cards" Wink Martindale[60] November 2, 1959 7
"The Enchanted Sea" The Islanders November 16, 1959 15
"High School U.S.A. (Area)" Tommy Facenda November 16, 1959 28
"Woo Hoo" The Rock-A-Teens November 23, 1959 16
"Midnight Stroll" The Revels November 30, 1959 35
"In the Mood" Ernie Fields December 14, 1959 4
"Marina" Rocco Granata and the International Quintet December 21, 1959 31
"Uh! Oh! Part 2" The Nutty Squirrels December 28, 1959 14
"The Happy Reindeer" Dancer, Prancer and Nervous[61] December 28, 1959 34

Notes and references

  1. and Teresa Brewer.
  2. A star of rhythm and blues singing in the United States.
  3. Better known as a film composer.
  4. A highly influential soul singer, cited as an influence by Elvis Presley and James Brown.
  5. Many hits in continental Europe.
  6. Also provided vocals for The Song from Moulin Rouge, a #1 hit for Percy Faith and his orchestra in 1953
  7. One of most renowned string bands in the country, known for their performances in the Philadelphia Mummers' Parade.
  8. Better known as an actress and Broadway star.
  9. A highly renowned music producer in his native France.
  10. A singer known for her appearances on Arthur Godfrey's popular variety show.
  11. Have had more success in their native Canada.
  12. A highly prominent figure in the country music industry.
  13. One of the first female rock n' roll musicians.
  14. One of the first female rock n' roll musicians. She had two additional hits on the Hot Country Songs chart and another top 10 hit in the U.K.
  15. Better known as a television personality.
  16. 1 2 Better known as a comedian and actor.
  17. Better known as an actress.
  18. The B-side, "Jingle Bells," is more widely known today. The Singing Dogs was a pioneering novelty act that introduced the concept of sampling to popular music.
  19. Gordon, at the time six, later became famous as an actor, most notably voicing Donatello in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon.
  20. 1 2 A highly influential jazz artist and big band leader.
  21. Hayman was a highly prolific conductor and arranger with the Boston Pops Orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. August was more successful in the pre-Rock era, having had two top 10 hits in the late 1940s.
  22. Better known as a producer and songwriter.
  23. Better known as an author.
  24. 1 2 3 Better known as a film composer.
  25. 1 2 A highly influential singer.
  26. Better known as a songwriter and a record producer
  27. A pseudonym for the aforementioned Lou Busch
  28. Although American, Leonetti was far more popular in Australia.
  29. and Lawrence Welk.
  30. and Bing Crosby. Kelly is better known as the Princess of Monaco and as an actress.
  31. His only top 40 pop hit, but he was a popular R&B artist with multiple #1 songs
  32. Group member Mickey Baker has a career as a successful studio musician, and Sylvia Robinson later had success on the R&B charts, including another top-40 hit as a solo artist.
  33. Better known as a songwriter, under his real name John D. Loudermilk.
  34. Better known as a televangelist
  35. An influential R&B singer and pianist.
  36. Not the 1960s Jamaican band, but an American vocal group
  37. A highly influential session saxopohonist.
  38. Better known as a television personality.
  39. 1 2 An influential artist in the rock and roll genre.
  40. Four top-40 hits on the country charts (including one number-one), both under his own name and as "Ben Colder." Also better known as an actor.
  41. Featured Jan Berry of Jan and Dean.
  42. Backus was better known as an actor. At the time, he was best known as the voice of the animated character Mr. Magoo. He went on to play Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island.
  43. Otis had a long career including a #2 hit in the UK and many US R&B hits
  44. A band that featured Bobby Darin.
  45. 1 2 Better known in the US as an actor.
  46. The group is actually The Comets without Bill Haley. They should not be confused with the 1960s rock band of the same name.
  47. A doo-wop group that featured songwriter and producer Phil Spector.
  48. A country singer who is more popular on his own genre's charts, and he is a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
  49. Partnership between frontman Chris Barber and band member Pat Halcox was the longest in jazz history.
  50. and Connie Stevens, who had a #3 hit of her own as a solo artist and has had a long and successful acting career.
  51. A member of Dicky Doo and the Don'ts and The Fireflies.
  52. A re-issue peaked at #38 on the Hot 100 in 1964.
  53. One of the first garage rock groups.
  54. Robert Maxwell later had a hit under his own name.
  55. An influential country singer.
  56. A singer whose career has spanned over 50 years, Hawkins is widely popular in his adopted homeland of Canada, and has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. Also, some members of the group would later form The Band.
  57. "Dor" is a pseudonym of Rod McKuen, a highly prolific songwriter who is better known for his role in revitalizing popular poetry in the 1960s and early 1970s.
  58. A pianist who played in many styles, with hits on the R&B chart and in the UK
  59. A well-known choral group.
  60. Better known as a game show host.
  61. Russ Regan, the composer and producer of this piece, would go on to have more success as a record executive in the 1960s and 1970s.

See also

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