UK Number One, One Hit Wonders 1950s Quiz

Answer: Al Martino

"Here In My Heart", written by Pat Genaro/Lou Levinson/Bill Borrelli, was number one for nine weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Al Martino in 1952. It was number one on the Billboard chart for two weeks the same year.

Al Martino was born Jasper Cini in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., on October 7, 1927. He did something that no one else had done and no one else can do. With "Here In My Heart", he had the first number one hit on the first UK Singles Chart, then published by the "New Musical Express" in November 1952. It was also the only UK number one hit in 1952. Al Martino had seven Top Ten hits on the UK Singles Chart, the last one being "Spanish Eyes" in 1973, which was also his last charted single in the UK.

Al Martino died of a heart attack on October 13, 2009, at his home in Springfield, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., aged 82.

Answer: Jo Stafford

"You Belong To Me", written by Chilton Price/Pee Wee King/Redd Stewart, was number one for one week on the UK Singles Chart for Jo Stafford in 1953. It was number one for five weeks on the Billboard Pop Chart in 1952.

Jo Stafford was the first female singer to have a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart. All four of her UK chart entries made the Top 20 but she only had one more Top Ten hit when "Make Love To Me!" peaked at number eight in 1954.

Jo Stafford died of congestive heart failure on July 16, 2008, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., aged 90.

Answer: Lita Roza

"(How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window" written by Bob Merrill, was number one for one week on the UK Singles Chart for Lita Roza in 1954. It did not chart in the U.S.A.

Lita Roza was born Lilian Patricia Lita Roza in Liverpool, UK, on March 14, 1926. She set up a number of firsts with this song. She was the first British solo singer to have a number one hit, the first British female singer to have a number one hit, the first act from Liverpool to have a number one hit and the first singer to have a number one hit with a question in the title, on the UK Singles Chart. She presided at the inauguration of the Liverpool Wall of Fame ceremony, opposite the Cavern Club on Mathew Street, Liverpool, UK, on March 14, 2001.

Lita Roza died peacefully at home in London, England, on August 14, 2008, aged 82.

Answer: Kitty Kallen

"Little Things Mean A Lot", written by Edith Lindeman/Carl Stutz, was number one for one week on the UK Singles Chart for Kitty Kalen in 1954. It was number one for nine weeks on the Billboard Pop Chart the same year.

"Little Things Mean A Lot" was Kitty Kallen's fourth and last number one hit on the Billboard Pop Chart (she had three number one hits in the '40s). In the UK she scored a double with "Little Things Mean A Lot"; not only was it her only number one hit but it was her only chart hit on the UK Singles Chart, ever.

Kitty Kallen died in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, on January 7, 2016, aged 94. No cause of death was reported.

Answer: Tony Bennett

"Stranger In Paradise", written by Alexander Borodin/Robert Wright/George Forrest, was number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Tony Bennett in 1955. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Pop Chart in 1953.

"Stranger In Paradise" proved to be Tony Bennett's only number one hit on the UK Singles Chart. Amazingly, including Tony Bennett's version, six versions of the song entered the UK Singles Chart in 1955. April 15, Tony Bennett (Number 1), April 22, Tony Martin (Number 6), April 22, Don Cornell (Number 19), April 29, Bing Crosby (Number 17), May 13, Eddie Calvert (Number 14) and May 20, The Four Aces (Number 6).

Tony Bennett died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease, in New York City, U.S.A., on July 21, 2023, aged 96.

Answer: Ronnie Hilton

"No Other Love", written by Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II, was number one for six weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Ronnie Hilton in 1956. It did not chart on the Billboard Pop Chart.

Ronnie Hilton was born Adrian Hill on January 26, 1926, in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. He was a crooner during the Rock 'n' Roll era in the '50s and still had a couple of minor hits with "Don't Let The Rain Come Down" (number 21 in 1964) and "A Windmill In Old Amsterdam" (number 23 in 1965), in the middle of Beatlemania in the '60s.

Ronnie Hilton died of a stroke in Hailsham, East Sussex, England, on February 21 2001, aged 75.

Answer: Tommy Steele

"Singing The Blues", written by Melvin Endsley, was number one for one week on the UK Singles Chart for Tommy Steele and The Steelmen in 1956. It did not chart on the Billboard Top 100.

The one week that Tommy Steele's version of "Singing The Blues" was at number one, was in between the two weeks that Guy Mitchell's version of the song was at number one. Guy Mitchell's version then spent one week more at number one equal with "The Garden Of Eden" by Frankie Vaughan.

In the British press Tommy Steele was said to be England's answer to Elvis Presley, (no contest). There was no other Rock'n'Roll singer in the UK Singles Chart at the time but Tommy Steele soon gave up Rock'n'Roll and went into show business appearing in musical stage shows and movies.

Answer: The Kalin Twins

"When", written by Jack Reardon and Paul Evans, was number one for five weeks on the UK Singles Chart for The Kalin Twins in 1958. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

The Kalin Twins were Harold and Herbert; they were born in Port Jervis, New York, U.S.A., in 1934. They were the first set of twins to reach number one in the UK as a duo. Sadly "When" was their only entry on the UK Singles Chart. On their only UK tour in 1958, UK superstar Cliff Richard with his backing group The Drifters (later The Shadows) were support acts on that tour. 31 years later in 1989, The Kalin Twins performed "When" at "From A Distance: The Event" a concert at Wembley Stadium, London, England, starring Cliff Richard and The Shadows.

Harold Kalin died of injuries sustained in a car crash in Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.A., on August 23, 2005, aged 71.
Herbert Kalin died of a heart attack, in Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.A., on July 21, 2006, aged 72.

Answer: Lord Rockingham's XI

"Hoots Mon", written by Harry Robinson, was number one for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Lord Rockingham's XI in 1958. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Lord Rockingham's XI were formed to perform as the resident band on the '50s UK ITV pop music show "Oh Boy!" which ran between 1958/1959. The members of the group were band leader Harry Robinson, Ronnie Black (double bass), Eric Ford (guitar), Benny Green (jazz baritone saxophonist), Rex Morris (tenor sax), Red Price (tenor sax), Cyril Reubens (baritone sax), Don Storer (drums), Bernie Taylor (guitar), Cherry Wainer (Hammond organ) and Reg Weller (percussion).

A legal case was brought by descendants of the real Lord Rockingham, but it was settled out of court. The group toured and made some follow up singles but their only other chart hit was "Wee Tom" which peaked at number 16 in 1959. The group disbanded with the end of the ITV show "Oh Boy!" in 1959.

Answer: Craig Douglas

"Only Sixteen", written by Sam Cooke, was number one for four weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Craig Douglas in 1959. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Not only was "Only Sixteen" Craig Douglas' first and last UK number one hit. at 18 years old, he was the youngest male singer to top the UK Singles Chart up to that point. He had seven Top Ten hits on the UK Singles Chart and strangely enough, the last four hits in 1961 and 1962 all peaked at number nine.

On Sunday October 28 1962, Craig Douglas appeared at the Liverpool Empire theatre and was backed by The Beatles who were lower down on the bill. The show was headlined by Little Richard and the event was promoted by Brian Epstein.