The Music Of July-December 1959

“Big Bay Radio Is Here”

July 1959


Channel 91, “Big Bay Radio Is Here”. Songs that would enter the KEWB Top 40 this month were “A Little Too Much” by Ricky Nelson, “Ragtime Cowboy Joe” by The Chipmunks, “Sugaree” by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, “Ill Be Satisfied” by Jackie Wilson, “Little Bitty Johnny” by Travis & Bob, “Martinique” by Martin Denny, “See You In September” by The Tempos, “Ciao Ciao Bambina” by Jackie Noguez, “What A Difference A Day Makes” by Dinah Washington, “10,000 Drums” by Carl Smith, “Big Hunk Of Love” by Elvis Presley, “Makin’ Love” by Floyd Robinson, “I Still Get Jealous” by Joni James, “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles, “Lavender Blue” by Sammy Turner, “Beach Time” by Roger Smith, “Small World” by Johnny Mathis, “Kath A Leen” by Charlie Blackwell, “Bei Mir Bist Du Schon” by Louis Prima & Keely Smith, “Here Comes Summer” by Jerry Keller, “With All My Heart” by Brook Benton,

“Till There Was You” by Anita Bryant, “Broken Hearted Melody” by Sarah Vaughn and “Remember When” by The Platters.

August 1959

Songs that would enter the KEWB Top 40 this month were “I Loves You Porgy” by Nina Simone, “The Three Bells” by The Browns, “I Want To Walk You Home” by Fats Domino, “Baby Talk” by Jan & Dean, “It Was I” by Skip & Flip, “Linda Lu” by Ray Sharpe, “Cry” by The Knightsbridge Strings, “Midnight Flyer” by Nat ‘King’ Cole, “I Got Stripes” and “Five Feet High And Rising” by Johnny Cash, “Like I Love you” by Edd Byrnes, “I Looked At Heaven” by Tommy Edwards, “What Is Love” by The Playmates, “Primrose Lane” by Jerry Wallace, “Sea Of Love” by Phil Phillips & The Twilights, “Johnny Reb” by Johnny Horton, “Poor Butterfly” by Dodie Stevens, “Til I Kissed You” by The Everly Brothers, “I’m Gonna Get Married” by Lloyd Price, “Sleepwalk” by Santo & Johnny (The Farina Brothers), “Red River Rock” by Johnny & The Hurricanes, “No Wheels” by The Chordettes, “Mary Lou” by Ronnie Hawkins, “Morgen” by Ivo Robic, “Sweet Bird Of Youth” by Nat ‘King’ Cole, “Poco Loco” by Gene & Eunice, “Caribbean” by Mitchell Torok (this song was also on the charts in the summer of 1953), “Little Forty Ford” by Leon Smith, “Kissin’ Time” by Bobby Rydell, “Mack The Knife” by Bobby Darin, “Bonsoir Dame” by Bud & Travis, “On An Evening In Roma” by Dean Martin and “Betty My Angel” by Jerry Fuller.

September 1959

Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “Battle Hymn Of The Republic” by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” by Connie Francis, “Just Ask Your Heart” by Frankie Avalon, “Lonely Street” by Andy Williams, “Night And Day” by Louis Prima & Keely Smith, “The Angels Listened In” by The Crests, “I’ve Been There” by Tommy Edwards, “Bermuda” by The Crewcuts, “Poison Ivy” by The Coasters, “Mister Blue” by The Fleetwoods, “Love Potion # 9” by The Clovers, “Fools Hall Of Fame” by Pat Boone, “What Is Love” by The Playmates, “The Battle Of Kookamonga” by Homer & Jethro (this is a parody of “The Battle Of New Orleans”), “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” by Paul Anka, “Okefenokee” by Freddy Cannon, “Love Walked In” by The Flamingos, “Teen Beat” by Sandy Nelson, “Come On And Get Me” by Fabian, “Lies” by Teddy Randazzo, “Deck Of Cards” by Wink Martindale, “Believe Me” by The Royal Teens, “A Worried Man” by The Kingston Trio, “Half Breed” and “One Minute To One” by Ricky Nelson, “Danny Boy” by Conway Twitty,

“Some Kind A Earthquake” by Duane Eddy, “Little Girl Blue” by Nina Simone, “Boo Boo Stick Beat” by Chet Atkins, “I Don’t Know” by Ruth Brown, “Hey Little Girl” by Dee Clark and “(Seven Little Girls) Sitting In The Back Seat” by Paul Evans.

October 1959

Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “The Enchanted Sea” by The Islanders and also Martin Denny, “Don’t You Know” by Della Reese, “Tucumcari” by Jimmie Rodgers, “There Comes A Time” by Jack Scott, “Misty” by Johnny Mathis, “Heartaches By The Number” by Guy Mitchell, “So Many Ways” by Brook Benton, “Road Hog” by Johnny Zorro, “Unforgettable” by Dinah Washington, “Tennessee Waltz” by Jerry Fuller, “Rosalie” by Ray Conniff and also by Billy Butterfield, “You Were Mine” by The Fireflies, “Talk To Me” by Frank Sinatra, “Oh Carol” by Neil Sedaka, “I’ve Been Around” by Fats Domino, “Woo Hoo” by The Rock A Teens, “Say Man” by Bo Diddley, “Every Little Thing I Do” by Dion & The Belmonts, “We Got Love” by Bobby Rydell, “Sunrise Serenade” by Roger Williams, “In The Still Of The Night” by The Five Satins (this song was on the first Top 40 for station KOBY back in October of 1956, now it’s back on the local charts again), “In The Mood” by Ernie Fields, “High School U.S.A” by Tommy Facenda (this song was recorded at least 28 times, mentioning different high schools in different regions on each version-there was a Bay Area version of this song), “The Hunch” by Paul Gayten, “Wont’cha Come Home” by Lloyd Price, “The Big Hurt” by Toni Fisher, “Midnight Stroll” by The Revels, “Good Good Lovin” by James Brown & The Famous Flames, “There’s A Girl” by Jan & Dean and “Symphony” by Sammy Turner.

November 1959

Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “Hound Dog Man” by Fabian, “Ebb Tide” by Bobby Freeman, “Reveille Rock” by Johnny & The Hurricanes, “Pretty Blue Eyes” by Steve Lawrence, “Just As Much As Ever” by Bob Beckham, “I’m Movin’ On” by Ray Charles, “Goodnight My love” by Ray Peterson, “Just To Be With You” by The Passions, “Marina” by Rocco Granata, “Uh! Oh!” by The Nutty Squirrels (first there were Chipmunks, now there are Nutty Squirrels), “Joey’s Song” by Bill Haley & The Comets, “God Bless America” by Connie Francis, “Scarlet Ribbons” by The Browns, “El Paso” by Marty Robbins, “It’s Time To Cry” by Paul Anka, “I Wanna Be Loved” by Ricky Nelson, “Why” by Frankie Avalon, “I’ll Walk The Line” by Don Costa, “The Little Drummer Boy” by The Harry Simeone Chorale, “Candy Apple Red” by Bonnie Guitar, “Teardrop” by Santo & Johnny, “The Chipmunk Song” by The Chipmunks (it’s back again) and “Smokie” by The Bill Black Combo.

December 1959



Songs that would debut on the KEWB Top 40 this month were “The Golden Rule” by ‘Cile Turner, “Go Jimmy Go” by Jimmy Clanton, “Not One Minute More” by Della Reese, “Coo Coo U” by The Kingston Trio, “How About That” by Dee Clark, “The Clouds” by The Spacemen, “Harlem Nocturne” by The Viscounts, “Sandy” by Larry Hall, “Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” by Freddy Cannon, “If I Had A Girl” by Rod Lauren, “First Name Initial” by Annette, “Snake In The Garden” by Jerry Howard, “Bonnie Came Back” by Duane Eddy, “The Village Of St. Bernadette” by Andy Williams, “I Was Such A Fool” by The Flamingos, “This Time Of Year” by Brook Benton, “I’ll Take Care Of You” by Bobby “Blue ” Bland, “The Hallelujah Chorus” by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, “Dance With Me” by The Drifters, “Star Of Wonder” by Charlie Baker, “Running Bear” by Johnny Preston, “What About Us” by The Coasters, “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby and “Among My Souvenirs” by Connie Francis. 🙂 🙂 🙂

References: The music surveys of KOBY and KEWB in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area and “The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition” by Joel Whitburn.

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