1957 Hitmakers

1957 Hitmakers

This was the first full year of Top 40 radio in the Bay Area-these were some of the hitmakers of this year.
Marty Robbins would score 2 hits this year, his biggest was “White Sport Coat” (debuting in September 1957 and peaking at #2). Jimmy Bowen would have only 1 hit this year “I’m Sticking with You” (debuting in March 1957 and peaking at #14). Eddie Cochran would also score 1 hit this year-“Sittin’ In The Balcony” (debuting in March 1957 and peaking at #18).

Bobby Helms would score 3 hits this year, two of which were million sellers-“My Special Angel” (October 1957, peaked at #7) and “Jingle Bell Rock” (December 1957, peaked at #6). The Coasters would score 2 hits this year, their biggest was “Searchin'” (May 1957, peaked at #3). The Bobbettes would have one hit this year-“Mr. Lee” (August 1957, peaked at #6)

The Dubs would score 1 hit this year, Could This Be Magic” (November 1957, peaking at #23. The Everly Brothers would debut on the Billboard Top 40 this year, scoring 2 hits. Their biggest hit was “Wake Up Little Susie” (September 1957, #1 for 4 weeks). The Dell Vikings would have 3 hits this year. Their first hit, “Come Go With Me” was their biggest hit (March 1957, peaking at #4.

Bonnie Buckingham would score 1 hit this year. We would know her as Bonnie Guitar and her hit, “Dark Moon” would enter the national charts in April 1957 and peak at #6. This year The Rays would have a big hit with “Silhouettes”. Another hit version of this song was done by Steve Gibson & The Red Caps-this song was a hit in the Bay Area and it would hit the nation’s Top 100 (October 1957, peaking at #63). In 1994 Della Reese would be a successful actress in the TV show “Touched By Angel”. In 1957 she was a hitmaker on the Top 40 charts-“And That Reminds Me” (September 1957, peaking at #12).

This year a group called The Hollywood Flames would have 1 hit , a record called “Buzz Buzz Buzz”. This record would enter the Billboard Top 40 in December of 1957, peaking at #11. One of the members of this group would have a big solo hit next year-his name was Bobby Day. Danny & The Juniors came from Philadelphia. They would have 1 hit this year and it would be their signature hit-“At The Hop” would enter the nation’s Top 40 in December 1957, peaking at #1 for 7 weeks. The Four Coins were a vocal group from Canonsburg, Pennslyvania that would score 2 hits this year. Their biggest hit was called “Shangri-La” (June 1957, peaking at #11).

Chuck Willis was born January 31, 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia. He would score one hit this year-“C.C Rider” (May 1957, peaking at #12). The Tune Weavers would come from Boston, Massachusetts. They would consist of Gilbert Lopez, Charlotte Davis, John Sylvia and Margo Sylvia (the lead singer of the group). Their only hit would come in September 1957 and peak at #5-“Happy Happy Birthday Baby”. Joe Cook would be the lead singer of a group from New York City, New York-they would be called Little Joe & The Thrillers. Their only hit would be called “Peanuts” (October 1957, peaking at #22.

Our next performer was born Marvin Karlton Perry. His mother was Cherokee and he would take his recording name from his mother’s maiden name, Rainwater. We would know him as Marvin Rainwater. He was a former tree surgeon and now he would have his brief moment of fame on the nation’s Top 4o, his only Top 40 hit-“Gonna Find Me A Bluebird” (June 57, peaking at #18). Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones were a rock band from Spartanburg, South Carolina. They would come onto the musical scene with a teenage fashion statement. Their biggest hit this year was “Black Slacks” (September 1957, peaking at #17). It would be followed by a lesser hit, “Penny Loafers & Bobby Socks”. Jimmie Rodgers would burst onto the musical scene in 1957, scoring 2 hits-his biggest was from August 1957. The signature hit of his career was “Honeycomb”, #1 for 4 weeks.

Ricky Nelson would grow up before our very eyes. He started as a 10 year old kid (1951) on his parent’s TV show “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet”. By 1957 he would launch a recording career (many of his hits would be featured on his parent’s TV show). He had 7 Top 40 hits this year, including 2 records that reached #2 on the nation’s Top 40-they were “Teenager’s Romance”, his first hit, (May 1957) and “Stood Up” (December 1957). Tommy Sands would enter the musical scene this year, scoring 2 hits. His biggest hit was “Teenage Crush” (February 1957, peaking at #2). D0n Rondo would have only 1 hit this year-“White Silver Sands” (July 1957, peaking at #7)

Russell Arms was born in Berkeley, California on February 3, 1929. He would be a regular on the TV show “Your Hit Parade” (1952-1957). He had 1 hit this year-“Cinco Robles (Five Oaks)” (February 1957, peaking at #22). Next we come to 2 actors that would have recording success this year. The first was Arthur Kelm-we would know him as Tab Hunter. He would have 2 hits this year-his biggest was “Young Love” (January 1957, #1 for 6 weeks). The second actor that had recording success this year was Sal Mineo. Sal would also have 2 hits this year, his biggest being “Start Movin'” (May 1957, peaking at #9).

Johnnie Louise Richardson and Joe Rivers would form the duo of Johnnie & Joe. They had 1 hit this year-“Over The Mountain” (May 1957, peaking at #8). McHouston “Mickey” Baker and Sylvia Vanderpool would form the duo of Mickey & Sylvia. They had one Top 40 hit this year-“Love Is Strange” (January 1957, peaking at #11). They would have 2 other songs that would make the Top 100 this year “There Oughta Be A Law” (#47) and “Dearest” (#85). Buddy Knox would have 3 hits this year, his biggest being “Party Doll” (March 1957, peaking at #1 for 1 week).

Two more big stars would debut this year, Sam Cooke and Paul Anka. Sam Cooke would have 2 Top 40 hits this and 4 Top 100 hits this year. His biggest hit this year was “You Send Me” (October 1957, peaking at #1 for 3 weeks). Paul Anka would launch his career this year at the age of 16. He would have only 1 Top 40 hit this year-“Diana” (July 1957, peaking at #1 for 1 week). Ruth Weston was born January 30, 1928 in Portsmouth, Virginia. She would be known to us as Ruth Brown and she would have 1 Top 40 hit this year-“Lucky Lips” (March 1957 peaking at #25).

Charlie Gracie would have 2 hits this year-his biggest was “Butterfly” (February 1957, peaking at #1 for 2 weeks). This year would see a big hit for actress Debbie Reynolds-her only hit would be “Tammy” (July 1957, peaking at #1 for 5 weeks). Billy Williams would have 1 hit this year-“I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter” (June 1957, peaking at #3).