Billboard Number 1 Songs of 1963 Quiz

Answer: Steve Lawrence

Steve was originally a trained pianist and sax player who accompanied his vocalist brother, Bernie. When Bernie was drafted, Steve began singing and ended up winning "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts." He signed with King Records in 1951. Then he became a regular on Steve Allen's "Tonight Show" for five years, where he met his wife Edie Gorme. Elvis Presley's initial Las Vegas opening did not go well and he focused on movies. Bobby Rydell had a number of hits, including "Wild One" and "Volare", and he also starred in "Bye Bye Birdie." Dion had several hits such as "Runaround Sue" and "Teenager in Love."

Answer: Walk Right In

"Walk Right In" was a cover of a 1920's-era song. Erik Darling, Bill Svenoe and Lynn Taylor comprised the group. The author of the song was Gus Cannon. The 79-year-old was living in a little house by the tracks in Memphis and he had hocked his banjo to heat his house. With the royalties from "Walk Right In" he earned enough to enjoy life until he passed, even getting a Stax Records contract. "Michael" was a number one for the Highwaymen. Tom Dooley was The Kingston Trio's breakthrough 1957 hit, and "Sally Go 'Round The Roses" was a 1963 hit for the Jaynetts.

Answer: Ruby and The Romantics

Ruby and The Romantics was fronted by Ruby Nash. The four men who became the Romantics were originally called The Supremes. They thought the name Romantics did not suit them. When Ruby was listening to material for their Kapp label to have the group record she heard the Bob Hilliard and Mort Garson composition.

She immediately knew it would be a hit. It entered the charts at 79 and took six weeks to reach the top. The Shirelles recorded "Foolish Little Girl." The Dixie Cups had a later hit with "Going to the Chapel," and The Chiffons had success with songs such as "He's So Fine."

Answer: Little Peggy March

Peggy March had just turned fifteen with the song reached number one. She edged out Brenda Lee by seven months to have the honor of being the youngest female yet to have a number one. Her birth name was Margaret Battavio and she took her stage name from the month she was born.

The song had international success and Peggy toured extensively, even performing in Japan. She never had another number one, but she went on to appear in TV shows and musicals in Europe. Brenda Lee's first number one was "I'm Sorry." Millie Small sang "My Boy Lollipop," and Little Eva was the first to sing "Locomotion." "I Will Follow Him" was featured in the Whoopie Goldberg movie "Sister Act."

Answer: It's My Party

Lesley Gore was the third youngest gal to have a number one hit. Quincy Jones was a producer for the Mercury label and after listening to a demo of the song they both decided it would be right for her. The song was one of four done in a session at Bell Sound studios. Phil Ramone was the engineer on the session. Six days later Lesley heard it on the radio on the way home from school.

They had rushed release of the song because The Crystals also planned to release it. Mary Wells sang "My Guy," Sue Thompson had a hit with "Norman" and Connie Frances had several charted hits including "Who's Sorry now?"

Answer: Surf City

"Surf City" was co-written by Jane Berry and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The two bands were part of a package tour and the Beach Boys influenced the duo to start performing surfing music. The duo originally asked Brian if they could record a song he had just written called "Surfin' USA" but Brian knew it would be a hit for The Beach Boys.

He gave Jan the unfinished lyrics to "Surf City" and told him to run with it. When it was finished Brian even coached them when they recorded the song. "Surfer Girl" and Surfin' Safari" were Beach Boys songs and the Trashmen did "Surfer Bird."

Answer: The Angels

The Angels were the first all-white girl group to have a number one hit. The New Jersey girls started singing in high school. They eventually began singing backing vocals for other artists. Originally called "The Blue Angels" they shortened their name and did some demo singing. "My Boyfriend's Back" was specifically written for them and entered the hot 100 at 79 before hitting the top.

The group appeared on oldies revues into the new millennium. The Chiffons hits include "One Fine Day." The Caravelles sang "You Don't Have to Be A Baby to Cry." The Shangri-las hit it big with "Leader of the Pack."

Answer: Sugar Shack

The number one song was recorded in the famed Clovis, New Mexico, studio where Buddy Knox and Buddy Holly recorded their hits. Jimmy Gilmer was performing around the Amarillo, Texas, area with a variety of bands, eventually teaming up with an instrumental group called The Fireballs.

The Fireballs had already a hit with the instrumental "Torquay." The band recorded "Sugar Shack" after it got great responses during their shows. After a slow regional start it finally caught on nationally. "Washington Square" was an instrumental by The Village Stompers. "The Green Door" was done by Jim Lowe and "Chapel of Love" was by the Dixie Cups.

Answer: Deep Purple

Frequently believed to be a married couple, the brother-and-sister duo had individual solo careers before teaming up to record their own arrangement of the standard. Nino was backing Bobby Darin in a session and Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic records was impressed with him.

He informed Ahmet that he was putting an act together with his sister. They rushed through the recording of "Deep Purple" and despite a few minor mistakes they sent the master out. A studio secretary told them it would be a smash. "Blue Velvet" and "Blue on Blue" were among Bobby Vinton's hits. "Ruby Baby" was done by Dion after he switched to the Columbia label.

Answer: Little Stevie Wonder

This was the beginning of an incredible career for Steveland Morris; aka Stevie Wonder. "Fingertips Pt.2" was the first live recording to top the charts. It also marked the first time that a single and the album that it was from (Little Stevie Wonder-The Twelve-Year-Old genius) hit the top of the charts simultaneously.

The backing band was the nucleus of what would become the Motown session musicians. Because the song was seven minutes long it was not initially considered for release. Trini Lopez did a version of "If I Had a Hammer." Rolf Harris did "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" and Andy Williams had hits including "Can't get Used to Losing You."