The world audience for music in the 1950s was the largest in history and showed every sign of growing even larger. Musicians of reputation were in such demand that they could have been performing every day of the year. Traditional seasonal patterns had disappeared.
In the U.S., music was everywhere, from Muzak to an unaccompanied violin in the restaurant. There was an audience for everything.
From Elvis Presley and Pablo Casals, Andre Kostelanetz and Otto Klemperer, folk singer and the Saint Matthew Passion.
There was a noticeable broadening of the taste of concertgoers.
Rock and Roll was just in its infancy, but LOTS of it was created. I’m always amazed at how many great songs were made in the 50s that I’ve never heard before.
Share your love for 1950s Music: What Songs Were Most Popular?
Classical music was still very popular. Blues, swing and jazz were easily accessible. It was truly the convergence of the future and the past because the Sixties changed everything permanently.
But do you really know who ruled the charts in the 1950s? I bet you haven’t heard most of these songs. It’s amazing what we think was popular back then and what actually was popular in the 50s.
It makes me wonder what’s going to be popular in the future that isn’t popular now!
Names like Patti Page, Perry Como and Nat King Cole carry over from the 40s. Rosemary Clooney had a good run, as did Tony Bennett. In the early 50s, the crooners perfected their trade.
But when Elvis came in everything changed. Not only did he completely dominate sales, but pop music from then on was completely different. Guitars, screaming, hip shaking music was topping the charts and the old folks were left wondering what the hell just happened.
Some quick notes: It’s kinda hard to believe All I Have To Do Is Dream gets overtaken by Purple People Eater in 1958. Mr. Blue by The Fleetwoods is a great song. Unchained Melody (1955) and Sleep Walk (1959) are also two of my personal favorites in this list.
Popular Artists from the 1950s
Who were the most popular musical artists in the 1950s?
- Patti Page
- Andrews Sisters
- Nat King Cole
- Perry Como
- Les Paul
- Tony Bennett
- Percy Faith & His Orchestra
- Doris Day
- Rosemary Clooney
- Elvis Presley
- Guy Mitchell
- Sam Cooke
- The Everly Brothers
- The Platters
- Conway Twitty
- Pat Boone
- Andy Williams
- Buddy Holly
- Chuck Berry
- Les Baxter
- Frankie Avalon
Songs in 1950
What were the most popular songs in 1950?
| Jan. 1 – Jan. 6, 1950 Jan. 7 – Jan. 13 Jan. 14 – Feb. 10 Feb. 11 – Mar. 10 Mar. 11 – Mar. 17 Mar. 18 – Mar. 24 Mar. 25 – Apr. 28 Apr. 29 – May 4 May 5 – June 2 June 3 – June 9 June 10 – July 23 June 24 – July 7 July 8 – Aug. 18 Aug. 19 – Oct. 27 Oct. 28 – Nov. 17 Nov. 18 – Dec. 1 Dec. 2 – Dec. 15 Dec.16 – Mar. 2, 1951 | Mule Train Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer I Can Dream, Can’t I? Chattanoogie Shoe Shine The Cry Of The Wild Goose Music! Music! Music! If I Knew You Were Comin’ Id’ve Baked a Cake The Third Man Theme The Third Man Theme Hoop-Dee-Doo Sentimental Me I Wanna Be Loved Mona Lisa Goodnight, Irene All My Love Harbor Lights The Thing The Tennessee Waltz | Frankie Laine Gene Autry Andrews Sisters Red Foley Frankie Laine Teresa Brewer Eileen Barton Anton Karas Guy Lombardo Perry Como with Fontane Sisters Ames Brothers Andrews Sisters Nat King Cole Weavers featuring Gordon Jenkins Patti Page Sammy Kaye Phil Harris Patti Page |
Songs in 1951
What were the most popular songs in 1951?
| Dec. 16, 1950 – Mar. 2 Mar. 3 – Mar. 9 Mar. 10 – Apr. 20 Apr. 21 – June 22 June 23 – July 27 July 28 – Sept.7 Sept. 8 – Nov. 2 Nov. 3 – Nov. 16 Nov.17 – Dec. 28 Dec. 29 – Mar. 14, 1952 | The Tennessee Waltz If Be My Love How High The Moon Too Young Come On – A My House Because Of You Cold, Cold Heart Sin (It’s No Sin) Cry | Patti Page Perry Como Mario Lanza Les Paul & Mary Ford Nat King Cole Rosemary Clooney Tony Bennett Tony Bennett Eddy Howard Johnny Ray |
Songs in 1952
What were the most popular songs in 1952?
| Dec. 29, 1951 – Mar. 14 Mar. 15 – May 16 May 17 – June 20 June 21 – July 4 July 5 – July 11 July 12 – Sept. 12 Sept. 13 – Oct. 17 Oct. 18 – Nov. 21 Nov. 22 – Nov. 28 Nov. 29 – Dec. 26 Dec. 27 – Jan. 9, 1953 | Cry Wheel of Fortune Blue Tango Here in My Heart Delicado Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart You Belong to Me I Went To Your Wedding It’s In The Book Why Don’t You Believe Me I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus | Johnny Ray Kay Starr Leroy Anderson Al Martino Percy Faith & his Orchestra Vera Lynn Jo Stafford Patti Page Johnny Standley Joni James Jimmy Boyd |
Songs in 1953
What were the most popular songs in 1953?
| Dec. 27, 1952 – Jan. 9 Jan. 10 – Feb. 13 Feb. 14 – Mar. 20 Mar. 21 – May 15 May 16 – July 24 July 25 – Aug. 7 Aug. 8 – Oct. 9 Oct. 10 – Nov. 6 Nov. 7 – Nov. 20 Nov. 21 – Jan. 1, 1954 | I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes Till I Waltz Again With You The Doggie In The Window Song From Moulin Rouge I’m Walking Behind You Vaya Con Dios St. George And The Dragonet Vaya Con Dios Rags To Riches | Jimmy Boyd Perry Como Teresa Brewer Patti Page Percy Faith & his Orchestra Eddie Fisher Les Paul & Mary Ford Stan Freberg Les Paul & Mary Ford Tony Bennett |
Songs in 1954
What were the most popular songs in 1954?
| Nov. 21, 1953 – Jan. 1 Jan. 2 – Feb. 26 Feb. 27 – Mar. 12 Mar. 13 – Mar. 19 Mar. 20 – Mar. 26 Ma. 27 – Apr. 9 Apr. 10 – May 28 May 29 – Aug. 6 Aug. 7 – Sept. 24 Sept. 25 – Nov. 5 Nov. 6 – Nov. 12 Nove. 13 – Dec. 3 Dec. 4, – Jan. 21, 1955 | Rags To Riches Oh My Papa Secret Love Make Love To Me Secret Love Make Love To Me Wanted Little Things Mean A Lot Sh-Boom Hey There This Ole House I Need You Now Mr. Sandman | Tony Bennett Eddie Fisher Doris Day Jo Stafford Doris Day Jo Stafford Perry Como Kitty Kallen Crew-Cuts Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney Eddie Fisher The Chordettes |
Songs in 1955
What were the most popular songs in 1955?
| Dec. 4, 1954 – Jan. 21 Jan. 22 – Feb. 4 Feb. 5 – Feb. 11 Feb. 12 – Mar. 25 Mar. 26 – Apr. 29 Apr. 30 – July 8 July 9 – Sept. 2 Sept. 3 – Oct. 7 Oct. 8 – Oct. 14 Oct. 15 – Oct. 21 Oct. 22 – Oct. 28 Oct. 29 – Nov. 4 Nov. 5 – Nov. 25 Nov. 26 – Jan. 13, 1956 | Mr. Sandman Let Me Go, Lover Hearts of Stone Sincerely The Ballad Of Davy Crockett Unchained Melody Rock Around The Clock Yellow Rose Of Texas Love Is a Many Splendored Thing Yellow Rose Of Texas Love Is a Many Splendored Thing Autumn Leaves Love Is a Many Splendored Thing Sixteen Tons | The Chordettes Joan Weber Fontane Sisters McGuire Sisters Bill Hayes Les Baxter Bill Haley & his Comets Mitch Miller The Four Aces Mitch Miller The Four Aces Roger Williams The Four Aces Tennessee Ernie Ford |
Songs in 1956
What were the most popular songs in 1956?
| Nov. 26, 1955 – Jan. 13 Jan. 14 – Feb. 17 Feb. 18 – Mar. 2 Mar. 3 – Mar. 23 Mar. 24 – May 2 May 3 – June 15 June 16 – Aug. 3 Aug. 4 – Aug. 17 Augu. 18 – Sept. 14 Septe. 15 – Nov. 2 Nov. 3 – Nov. 16 Nove. 17 – Dec. 7 Dec. 8 – Dec. 21 Dec. 22 – Dec. 28 Dec. 29 – Feb. 8, 1957 | Sixteen Tons Memories Are Made Of This Great Pretender Rock And Roll Waltz Poor People Of Paris Heartbreak Hotel Wayward Wind I Almost Lost My Mind My Prayer Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog Green Door Love Me Tender Singing The Blues Love Me Tender Singing The Blues | Tennessee Ernie Ford Dean Martin The Platters Kay Starr Les Baxter Elvis Presley Gogi Grant Pat Boone The Platters Elvis Presley Jim Lowe Elvis Presley Guy Mitchell Elvis Presley Guy Mitchell |
Songs in 1957
What were the most popular songs in 1957?
| Dec. 29, 1956 – Feb. 8 Feb. 9 – Feb. 15 Feb. 16 – Mar. 29 Mar. 30 – Apr. 19 Apr. 20 – June 2 June 3 – July 14 July 15 – Sept. 1 Sept. 2 – Oct. 6 Oct. 7 – Oct. 20 Oct. 21 – Nov.3 Nov. 4 – Dec. 8 Dec. 9 – Dec. 29 Dec. 30, – Jan. 10, 1958 | Singing The Blues Don’t Forbid Me Young Love Butterfly All Shook Up Love Letters In The Sand Teddy Bear Tammy Honeycomb Wake Up Little Susie Jailhouse Rock You Send Me April Love | Guy Mitchell Pat Boone Tab Hunter Andy Williams Elvis Presley Pat Boone Elvis Presley Debbie Reynolds Jimmie Rodgers The Everly Brothers Elvis Presley Sam Cooke Pat Boone |
Songs in 1958
What were the most popular songs in 1958?
| Dec. 30, 1957 – Jan. 10 Jan. 11 – Feb. 14 Feb. 15 – Mar. 21 Mar. 22 – Apr. 25 Apr. 26 – May 2 May 3 – May 16 May 17 – June 13 June 14 – July 25 July 26 – Aug. 8 Aug. 23 – Aug. 29 Aug. 30 – Sept. 5 Sept. 6 – Oct. 3 Oct. 4 – Nov. 14 Nov. 15 – Nov. 21 Nov. 22 – Nov. 28 Nov. 29 – Dec. 5 Dec. 6 – Dec. 26 Dec. 27 – Jan. 18, 1959 | April Love At The Hop Don’t (I Beg of You) Tequila Twilight Time Witch Doctor All I Have To Do Is Dream Purple People Eater Hard Headed Woman Volare Little Star Volare It’s All In The Game It’s Only Make Believe Tom Dooley It’s Only Make Believe To Know Him is To Love Him Chipmunk Song | Pat Boone Danny and the Juniors Elvis Presley The Champs The Platters David Seville The Everly Brothers Sheb Wooley Elvis Presley Domenico Modugno The Elegants Domenico Modugno Tommy Edwards Conway Twitty Kingston Trio Conway Twitty Teddy Bears David Seville & The Chipmunks |
Songs in 1959
What were the most popular songs in 1959?
| Dec. 27, 1958 – Jan. 18 Jan. 19 – Feb. 8 Feb. 9 – Mar. 8 Mar. 9 – Apr. 12 Apr. 13 – May 10 May 11 – May 17 May 18 – May 31 June 1 – June 12 July 13 – Aug. 9 Aug. 10 – Aug. 23 Aug. 24 – Sept. 20 Sept. 21 – Oct. 4 Oct. 5 – Nov. 15 Nov. 16 – Dec. 13 Dec. 14 – Dec. 27 Dec. 28 – Jan. 3, 1960 | Chipmunk Song Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Stagger Lee Venus Come Softly To Me The Happy Organ Kansas City The Battle Of New Orleans Lonely Boy A Big Hunk O’ Love The Three Bells Sleep Walk Mack The Knife Mr. Blue Heartaches By The Number Why | David Seville & The Chipmunks The Platters Lloyd Price Frankie Avalon The Fleetwoods Dave “Baby” Cortez Wilbert Harrison Johnny Horton Paul Anka Elvis Presley The Browns Santo & Johnny Bobby Darin The Fleetwoods Guy Mitchell Frankie Avalon |
More 1950s Music
1950s Musical Instruments: History & Pictures »
Share your love for 1950s Music: What Songs Were Most Popular?
this website was sooo helpful for me because, I had a project to do and this website saved my life. Thank you so much I am so glad that I found it.
THis website was amazing. I had a project due the next day and this totally saved my life!!!!!Thanks:)
In the early and middle 1950’s, most of the music wasn’t Rock. Most radio stations carried either western (country) or the last stand of big band (a much peppier version of 40’s music). Some rock-a-billy tracks aired on western (country) stations. And, sometimes a radio station would do a special after-school hour of Rock; however, that was only in cities, never on community radio.
Around the clock broadcasts of 50’s rock did actually happen, for the last two years of the 50’s (only in cities) and half of the 90’s as well (the 50’s&60’s “oldies” stations easily competed against sour sounding “alternative rock” stations during the 90’s). Most people growing up in the 50’s, had they grown up in a small town, had to wait until the 90’s before they heard 50’s rock. Rock was not mainstream in the 50’s. Rock was actually considered “deviant” during most of the 50’s.
As far as real 50’s music goes, have you heard it yet?
For example, http://www.1940sukradio.co.uk/1950sukradio/
MAN!!!?&^%*$# Where’s FATS in your list?? …. as in Fats Antoine Domino. In the late fifties, there was only ONE artist bigger than he and that was of course Elvis. I was spinning his 45’s on my little shoebox phonograph when I was 5.
saved my life, but needs more on presley, got my project done thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS THE GREATEST WEBSITE I HAD A PROJECT DUE THAT I WAS BEHIND ON BUT NOT ANYMORE!! :::DDD
me too
THIS IS THE GREATEST WEBSITE I HAD A PROJECT DUE THAT I WAS BEHIND ON BUT NOT ANYMORE!!
In part of music many people omit things, this always happens, let’s see … This will be a comment so that people are not so closed minded.
At that time, that music was for the mainstream that was ” White Adults ” but the music of the teenagers was totally different, in those times. Just because Pop’s lists were Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennet does not mean they were idols for teenagers. Let’s understand one thing, rebellion began in the 50’s, yes, why? For music, that’s the reason, what kind of music ?, R & B music. I was waiting to see on this website names like Alan Freed, Leonard Chess, Sam Phillips, etc, Djs Jockeys who understood teenagers. So, people, do not let yourself be completely guided by this, if you obviously want to write a 1952 white adult script, definitely the pop list would be efficient, but if you want to write a script about teenagers in 1952, definitely Ruth Brown, Ray Charles, Louis Jordan, Fats Domino and all the R & B singers will help you completely. Rock and Roll is more than a genre, it is a feeling that was born at the beginning of the 50’s when white teenagers from all over the United States listened late at night r & b in secret from their parents.
Great comment and thank you for your insight.
Can’t believe you don’t list Sinatra or Dean Martin in your 50s lists ???
A notable exclusion on this list is JERRY LEE LEWIS. Despite the scandal that followed him in the late 50s, he entered the scene like a firestorm, and for time gave Elvis a run for his crown before his (temporary) fall from grace.
One Christmas I asked Santa for a “record player.” Yes, it actually played vinyl–33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm. For 45’s you had to have an adapter and every so often you had to replace the “needle.” Sometimes the record skipped and my brother told me to tape a penny or a nickel to the tone arm to give it extra weight. Some of my favorite music artists in the 50s were Frankie Avalon (Venus), The McGuire Sisters (Sincerely), Johnny Mathis (anything!), Fats Domino (Blueberry Hill), Ricky Nelson (Poor Little Fool) and so many others. I remember it as my first real introduction to music. That was when I first started memorizing lyrics and to this day I can recall at least a couple of lines from most songs, as well as lyrics all the way up through the 80’s. And now all those tunes are being brought back and the kids think they’re new!