1951 Hitmakers
These were some of the hitmakers from 1951
Patti Page, “The Singing Rage” would score 8 hits in 1951-her biggest was Mockingbird Hill” (#2 for 1 week). Eddie Fisher would have 5 hits this year-his biggest was “Any Time” (#2 for 2 weeks). Johnnie Ray would make his debut on the pop charts this year, scoring 2 hits. His biggest hit from this year would become his signature song-“Cry” (#1 for 11 weeks).
Billy Eckstine would score 3 hits in the year 1951-his biggest was “I Apologize” (#6). Les Paul (Lester Pollfuss) and Mary Ford (Colleen Summers) would have 5 hits this year-their biggest hit was “How High The Moon” (#1 for 9 weeks). Doris Day had sung with the band of Les Brown in the 1940’s (she had a big hit in 1945 with “Sentimental Journey”), but now she was a solo star in 1951. She would have 4 hits this year-her biggest was “Shanghai” (#7).
The Four Aces would come from Chester, Pennsylvania and they would feature the lead voice of Al Alberts. They would score 2 hits in 1951-their biggest was “Tell Me Why” (#2 for 6 weeks). The legendary Nat ‘King’ Cole would have 7 hits this year-his biggest was “Too Young” (#1 for 5 weeks). The Weavers were a legendary folk singing group. In 1951 they would score 4 hits-their biggest was “On Top Of Old Smoky” (#2 for 8 weeks).
Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys would have only 1 hit on the pop charts in 1951, but it was a huge country crossover hit-#1 on the pop charts for 3 weeks and #1 on the country charts for an amazing 15 weeks. This record was called “Slowpoke” and the vocal on this song was done by Redd Stewart. Pee Wee King was also the composer of 2 of the biggest hits of this time period-“The Tennessee Waltz” and “You Belong To Me” . Jo Stafford, one of the biggest female stars of the 20th century would have 9 hits this year-her biggest was “Shrimp Boats” (#2 for 2 weeks). The year 1951 was a big year for Frankie Laine as he would score 10 hits this year-his biggest was “Jezabel” (#2 for 2 weeks).
The music world would be introduced to Tony Bennett in 1951. He would score 5 hits this year including 2 #1’s-“Because Of You” (#1 for 10 weeks) and “Cold Cold Heart” (#1 for 6 weeks). The Ames Brothers would have 3 hits this year-their biggest was “Undecided” (#2 for 1 week). The legendary Perry Como would score 8 hits in 1951-his biggest was “If” (#1 for 8 weeks).
Rosemary Clooney (she is the Aunt of the popular actor George Clooney) would score 7 hits in the year 1951-her biggest hit was “Come On A My House” (#1 for 8 weeks). Leroy Anderson would have 2 hits in this year-his biggest was called “Blue Tango” (#1 for 5 weeks). Eddy Howard would have 5 hits in 1951 and among those hits would be his signature song “It’s No Sin” (#1 for 8 weeks).
These were just some of the stars that would entertain us in the year 1951.
