List of Hot R&B Sides number ones of 1959

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs is a chart published by Billboard that ranks the top-performing songs in the United States in African-American-oriented musical genres; the chart has undergone various name changes since its launch in 1942 to reflect the evolution of such genres. In 1959, it was published under the title Hot R&B Sides, reflecting the fact that rhythm and blues was the dominant genre. During that year, 17 different singles topped the chart, based on playlists submitted by radio stations and surveys of retail sales outlets.[1]

Lloyd Price (pictured in later life) was one of two artists to achieve three number ones in 1959.

In the issue of Billboard dated January 5, Jackie Wilson occupied the number-one position with "Lonely Teardrops", the song's fourth week in the top spot.[2] The song remained atop the chart through the issue dated January 26; the following week it was displaced by "Try Me" by James Brown and the Famous Flames. This was the first number one for Brown,[3] who would go on to become one of the most successful and influential artists in the history of black American music and to be regarded as one of the all-time greats across all genres.[4] Brown is among a number of the year's chart-topping acts to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in recognition of their success and influence; Jackie Wilson, Lloyd Price, the Drifters, Ray Charles, Fats Domino and the Coasters have all been inducted into the Hall of Fame.[5]

Two vocalists achieved multiple number ones in 1959, each taking three singles to the peak position. Lloyd Price reached the top spot with "Stagger Lee", "Personality" and "I'm Gonna Get Married". Although not his most successful song, "Personality" would become Price's signature song and lead to the nickname "Mr. Personality", which would be referenced in the titles of several of his albums.[6] "Stagger Lee" was one of two songs to top the R&B chart and also the all-genre Hot 100 listing, along with "Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison.[7] Brook Benton also achieved three R&B chart-toppers, spending time at number one with "It's Just a Matter of Time", "Thank You Pretty Baby" and "So Many Ways". The first of the three had the year's longest unbroken run at number one, spending nine weeks in the top spot, and Benton's cumulative total of 16 weeks atop the chart was the most by any act. The year's final chart-topper was "The Clouds", an instrumental by the Spacemen, an ensemble led by pianist and bandleader Sammy Benskin.[8] Despite reaching number one, it would prove to be the only chart entry credited to the Spacemen.[9]

Chart history
James Brown (pictured in later life) had his first number one in 1959 with "Try Me".
Fats Domino topped the chart with "I Want to Walk You Home".
Brook Benton spent more weeks at number one than any other act in 1959.
"There Goes My Baby" was the first single by the Drifters to feature Ben E. King (pictured in later life) on lead vocals.[10]
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 5 "Lonely Teardrops" Jackie Wilson [2]
January 12 [11]
January 19 [12]
January 26 [13]
February 2 "Try Me" James Brown and the Famous Flames [14]
February 9 "Stagger Lee" Lloyd Price [15]
February 16 [16]
February 23 [17]
March 2 [18]
March 9 "It's Just a Matter of Time" Brook Benton [19]
March 16 [20]
March 23 [21]
March 30 [22]
April 6 [23]
April 13 [24]
April 20 [25]
April 27 [26]
May 4 [27]
May 11 "Kansas City" Wilbert Harrison [28]
May 18 [29]
May 25 [30]
June 1 [31]
June 8 [32]
June 15 [33]
June 22 [34]
June 29 "Personality" Lloyd Price [35]
July 6 [36]
July 13 [37]
July 20 [38]
July 27 "There Goes My Baby" The Drifters [39]
August 3 "What'd I Say (Part 1)" Ray Charles [40]
August 10 "Thank You Pretty Baby" Brook Benton [41]
August 17 [42]
August 24 [43]
August 31 [44]
September 7 "I'm Gonna Get Married" Lloyd Price [45]
September 14 [46]
September 21 "I Want to Walk You Home" Fats Domino [47]
September 28 "I'm Gonna Get Married" Lloyd Price [48]
October 5 "Poison Ivy" The Coasters [49]
October 12 "Sea of Love" Phil Phillips [50]
October 19 "You Better Know It" Jackie Wilson [51]
October 26 "Poison Ivy" The Coasters [52]
November 2 [53]
November 9 [54]
November 16 "So Many Ways" Brook Benton [55]
November 23 "Don't You Know?" Della Reese [56]
November 30 [57]
December 7 "The Clouds" The Spacemen [58]
December 14 "So Many Ways" Brook Benton [59]
December 21 [60]
December 28 "The Clouds" The Spacemen [61]

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942-1995. Record Research Incorporated. p. xii. ISBN 9780898201154.
  2. "R & B Chart for January 5, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (1988). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942-1988. Record Research Incorporated. p. 58. ISBN 9780898201154.
  4. Rubin, Rick (December 3, 2010). "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time. 7. James Brown". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  5. "Inductees A to Z". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  6. "Lloyd Price Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  7. "Hot 100 - 1959 Archive". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  8. Robinson, Major (February 11, 1960). "New York Beat". Jet. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  9. Whitburn, Joel (1988). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942-1988. Record Research Incorporated. p. 384. ISBN 9780898201154.
  10. Huey, Steve. "Ben E. King Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  11. "R & B Chart for January 12, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  12. "R & B Chart for January 19, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  13. "R & B Chart for January 26, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  14. "R & B Chart for February 2, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  15. "R & B Chart for February 9, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  16. "R & B Chart for February 16, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  17. "R & B Chart for February 23, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  18. "R & B Chart for March 2, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  19. "R & B Chart for March 9, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  20. "R & B Chart for March 16, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  21. "R & B Chart for March 23, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  22. "R & B Chart for March 30, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  23. "R & B Chart for April 6, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  24. "R & B Chart for April 13, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  25. "R & B Chart for April 20, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  26. "R & B Chart for April 27, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  27. "R & B Chart for May 4, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  28. "R & B Chart for May 11, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  29. "R & B Chart for May 18, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  30. "R & B Chart for May 25, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  31. "R & B Chart for June 1, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  32. "R & B Chart for June 8, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  33. "R & B Chart for June 15, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  34. "R & B Chart for June 22, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  35. "R & B Chart for June 29, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  36. "R & B Chart for July 6, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  37. "R & B Chart for July 13, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  38. "R & B Chart for July 20, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  39. "R & B Chart for July 27, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  40. "R & B Chart for August 3, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  41. "R & B Chart for August 10, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  42. "R & B Chart for August 17, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  43. "R & B Chart for August 24, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  44. "R & B Chart for August 31, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  45. "R & B Chart for September 7, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  46. "R & B Chart for September 14, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  47. "R & B Chart for September 21, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  48. "R & B Chart for September 28, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  49. "R & B Chart for October 5, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  50. "R & B Chart for October 12, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  51. "R & B Chart for October 19, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  52. "R & B Chart for October 26, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  53. "R & B Chart for November 2, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  54. "R & B Chart for November 9, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  55. "R & B Chart for November 16, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  56. "R & B Chart for November 23, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  57. "R & B Chart for November 30, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  58. "R & B Chart for December 7, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  59. "R & B Chart for December 14, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  60. "R & B Chart for December 21, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  61. "R & B Chart for December 28, 1959". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
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