On July 2, 1960, the then-21-year-old Jersey girl scored the first-ever Hot 100 No. 1 by a female artist, just one of her 53 career hits.
Nearly two years into the Billboard Hot 100‘s existence, the top of the chart was essentially a boys’ club.
Starting with Ricky Nelson’s “Poor Little Fool,” which led the inaugural list on Aug. 4, 1958, only one of the first 29 No. 1s featured prominent female vocals: “To Know Him, Is to Love Him” by The Teddy Bears, a vocal trio featuring one female member (as well as a young Phil Spector).
But on July 2, 1960, Connie Francis, then 21, made history when “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” recorded with the Joe Sherman Orchestra, rose 2-1. By year’s end, three more No. 1s by solo women would rule: Francis’ follow-up “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own” and Brenda Lee‘s “I’m Sorry” and “I Want to Be Wanted.”
During her career, Francis notched 53 Hot 100 hits. In recent years, she’s focused on fighting for mental healthcare reform for veterans, having co-founded the Haven From the Storm charity.
But, back in 1960, she was hungering for another goal, at least according to a Billboard cover story in the May 16 issue, where “Fool” rose 52-39 in its second chart week, on its way to No. 1. Its title? “Connie Dreams of a Wiener Schnitzel.”
On a promotional tour in Vienna, Francis told Billboard, “I should stay in this wonderful city to see all these fine buildings, to visit these magnificent churches … and to order one Wiener Schnitzel a day!”
Rewinding The Charts: In 1960, Connie Francis Became the First Woman to Top the Billboard Hot 100. On July 2, 1960, the then-21-year-old Jersey girl scored the first-ever Hot 100 No.1 by a female artist, just one of her 53 career hits.
Francis used these reflections as the basis for her April 1960 recording, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" which would go on to become the first single by a female artist to top the Hot 100.
It is no surprise that the Beatles were the commercially most successful act in the 1960s. The Fab Four had eighteen different number one hits from 1964 to 1969 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 55 weeks (of 518 weeks) in the 1960s.
The singer of “Mack the Knife” fame suffered from a heart ailment that had plagued him for most of his life. Francis, who is still recognized as the top-selling female vocalist of the '60s, insisted Darin was the great love of her life.
Today in 1963, Stevie Wonder first entered the U.S. singles chart as Little Stevie Wonder with "Fingertips Parts One and Two"; Wonder was only 13 years old, making him the youngest artist ever to top the chart.
According to Billboard, Lee is now the oldest artist to rule the Hot 100. At the time of “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree” being named the No. 1 smash in the U.S., the singer is 78 years old.
According to sales data compiled by the Official Charts Company, the biggest selling single of the 1960s was She Loves You by The Beatles. I Want to Hold Your Hand, recorded by the Fab Four in 1963, came second.
Rewinding the Charts: 53 Years Ago, 'The Twist' Took a Second Spin at No. 1. Chubby Checker's iconic single started a dance craze and made Billboard history when it topped the Hot 100 in 1960 and 1962.
Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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