Twistmania grips high society and gives Rock a needed win amid the chill on the airwaves post-Payola scandal as the Silent Generation peaks culturally before the Boomer deluge. The 4 Seasons turn Doo Wop into a commercial juggernaut, Girl Groups and dance crazes dominate, Ray Charles goes Country and two very different British instrumentals are among the year’s top hits.

#1 Song of the Year   The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the year

Artists of the Year   The top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar year

1. Elvis Presley
2. Ray Charles
3. Brenda Lee

Artist with Most Charting Songs   Artist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)

• Ray Charles (11)

Average #1 Artist Age   The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1

• 25.2 years

#1 Songs   List of Hot100 #1 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the year, and (in parentheses), the month the song first hit #1 and the total number of weeks it was #1

1. The Tokens – The Lion Sleeps Tonight (December ’61, 3 wks)
2. Chubby Checker – The Twist (January, 2 wks)
3. Joey Dee & The Starliters – Peppermint Twist – Part 1 (January, 3 wks)
4. Gene Chandler – Duke of Earl (February, 3 wks)
5. Bruce Channel – Hey! Baby (March, 3 wks)
6. Connie Francis – Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You (March, 1 wk)
7. Shelley Fabares – Johnny Angel (April, 2 wks)
8. Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires – Good Luck Charm (April, 2 wks)
9. The Shirelles – Soldier Boy (May, 3 wks)
10. Mr. Acker Bilk with The Leon Young String Chorale – Stranger on the Shore (May, 1 wk)
11. Ray Charles – I Can’t Stop Loving You (June, 5 wks)
12. David Rose & His Orchestra – The Stripper (July, 1 wk)
13. Bobby Vinton – Roses Are Red (My Love) (July, 4 wks)
14. Neil Sedaka – Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (August, 2 wks)
15. Little Eva – The Loco-Motion (August, 1 wk)
16. Tommy Roe – Sheila (September, 2 wks)
17. The 4 Seasons – Sherry (September, 5 wks)
18. Bobby (Boris) Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers – Monster Mash (October, 2 wks)
19. The Crystals – He’s a Rebel (November, 2 wks)
20. The 4 Seasons – Big Girls Don’t Cry (November, 5 wks)
21. The Tornadoes – Telstar (December, 3 wks)