Billboard Number 1 Songs of 1960 Quiz

Answer: El Paso

Marty's label, Columbia, refused to put the five minute song out as a single, so it was included on Marty's "Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs" album. Requests for the song became so strong that company executives relented and released it as a single.

The song also has the distinction of being the first country song to win a Grammy as well as being the longest playing single to chart to that date. Robbins was part of the Grand Ole Opry for four decades. The other songs are also Marty Robbins releases.

Answer: Teen Angel

Mark Dinning's "Teen Angel" was the first top ten teen tragedy song. It preceded the Everly Brothers' "Ebony Eyes," Ray Peterson's "Tell Laura I Love Her," and J. Frank Wilson's "Last Kiss." Mark was signed to MGM records after his release from military service.

His sister, Jean, thought up "Teen Angel" as a good title for a song and she and her husband, Red Surrey, wrote the song overnight. Despite its success many radio stations refused to play the song because of its content.

Answer: The Hollywood Argyles

The Hollywood Argyles were never really a band. Singer Gary Paxton was under contract to another label so he made up the name when he recorded the Dallas Frazier composition. He derived the group name from the name of the streets that intersected where the studio was located, Hollywood and Argyle.

After attending the University of Arizona, Gary gravitated to Hollywood where he ran into his old friend, Dallas Frazier. Another group called Dante and the Evergreens cut a version of the song but it only reached number 15 on the hot 100. Dicky Doo and the Don'ts was a Philly based combo, The Fendermen recorded "Mule Skinner Blues" in 1958 and The Browns recorded "Little Jimmy Brown."

Answer: Brenda Lee

Brenda cut the song at the end of a session that had only 5 minutes of time left. The label was reluctant to release a song by a fifteen-year-old singer singing about unrequited love. It was several months before they did, and when they did it was supposed to be the flip side of "That's All You Gotta Do." Brenda charted another number one later in 1960 with "I Want to be Wanted." Little Peggy March had success with "I Love Him," which was later featured in the Whoopie Goldberg movie "Sister Act." Little Eva sang "Locomotion" and Millie Small charted with the first ska-styled song, "My Boy Lollipop."

Answer: Brian Hyland

Bryan Hyland took the cute song to number one. Songwriter Paul Vance was inspired when he was watching his two-year-old daughter cavorting at the beach in such a bikini. He turned to his friend and collaborator Lee Pockriss and together they wrote the song and recorded a demo with a female singer.

After shopping the song around, sixteen-year-old Brian Hyland recorded it for the Kapp label. Johnny Tillotson sang "Poetry in Motion." Roy Orbison had several hits including "Crying" and "Oh! Pretty Woman." Jack Scott hit the hot 100 earlier in 1958 with "What in the World's Come Over You?"

Answer: The Drifters

The Drifters took the Pomus/Shuman song to number one. The original Drifters were founded around singer Clyde McPhatter, formerly with Billy Ward and the Dominoes, who had a hit in 1951 with "Sixty Minute Man." There were 6 different singers heading the Drifters after he left. Ben E. King handled lead vocals when "Save The Last Dance For Me" was recorded and left shortly thereafter.

The Drifters went on to have other hits such as "This Magic Moment." The Orlons did the dance craze "Wah-Watusi." The Platters had several chart toppers, including "Only You." The Coasters recorded hits such as "Charlie Brown" and "Yakkity-Yak."

Answer: Chubby Checker

Of course, Chubby Checker had the big hit with "The Twist," although Hank Ballard and the Midnighters had already recorded it in 1958. Ernest Evans had previously recorded an audio Christmas card for Dick Clark to send to his friends. Dick was impressed with his singing.

He was already nicknamed "Chubby" and was working at a grocery store as a checker, so the name stuck. He recorded "The Twist" in three takes over 35 minutes. It remained on the charts for 38 weeks. Jimmy Dorsey sang "So Rare." Fats Domino had many hits including "Blueberry Hill," and Jimmy Charles charted in 1958 with "A Million to One."

Answer: Georgia on My Mind

Ray's driver, Tommy Brown, suggested he record "Georgia on My Mind" because he was always singing it while riding around. The song was recorded in New York in five takes, less than Ray usually took. During his incredible career he fused blues, jazz, country and pop music and blended them together in his own style.

His Atlantic label initially balked when he wanted to record a country album, but it became a huge hit. "Sixteen Tons" was a hit for Tennessee Ernie Ford. "Chain Gang" was recorded by Sam Cooke in 1958 and "Shop Around" was a hit for The Miracles.

Answer: Running Bear

"Running Bear" was written by J.P. Richardson, a DJ known as "The Big Bopper." John Preston Courville was a singer from Port Arthur, Texas, who was spotted by a record producer during a performance. Johnny recorded the song with Richardson's encouragement, but when Richardson died along with Buddy Holly, the label temporarily shelved the release of the song.

It was released in late 1959 and slowly made the climb to number one. "Please Mr. Custer" was sung by Larry Verne. "Kaw Liga" is a Hank Williams tune about a wooden Indian and "Quiet Village" is a Martin Denny instrumental. Port Arthur, Texas, produced another notable singer, Janice Joplin.

Answer: Stay

The Zodiaks were named after a car model the bass player saw in a showroom. Maurice Williams composed "Stay" and it was recorded in a former television studio. After the one-minute, 37-second song was rejected by numerous labels, it was taken by Al Silver of Herald Records.

It was re-recorded but Silver made them change an objectionable line referencing smoking. It hit the hot 100 at 86 and steadily climbed. Maurice Williams also wrote and recorded "Little Darlin'," which was a hit for the Diamonds. "Stay" was later covered by the Four Seasons. "Personality" was by Lloyd Price. "Good Timin'" was a hit for Jimmy Jones and "It's Time To Cry" was done by Paul Anka.