Billboard published a weekly
chart in 1980 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in
soul music and related
African American-oriented genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of black music and since 2005, has been published as
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[1] In 1980, it was published under the title Hot Soul Singles,[2] and 14 different singles reached number one.
In the issue of Billboard dated January 5,
Michael Jackson's "
Rock with You" moved up to number one,[3] a position it held for six consecutive weeks; it was the second consecutive single from his breakthrough album, Off the Wall, to reach the peak position.[4][5][6] In May, Jackson's brother
Jermaine gained his first solo chart-topper with "
Let’s Get Serious", which also spent six weeks at number one.[7]Stevie Wonder spent an additional week in the top spot with "
Master Blaster (Jammin')", his tribute to reggae singer
Bob Marley;[8] its seven weeks atop the chart was the year's longest unbroken run at number one. No act achieved more than one number one during 1980. "Rock With You", "
Upside Down" by
Diana Ross and "
Celebration" by
Kool & the Gang topped the soul chart in 1980 and also reached number one on the
Hot 100 pop singles chart,[9] although "Celebration" did not reach the peak of the pop listing until the following year.[10]
Five other acts reached the top spot for the first time in 1980, beginning in February with
Shalamar. The act assembled by
Dick Griffey, booking agent for TV's Soul Train,[11] topped the chart for a single week with "
The Second Time Around".[12]The S.O.S. Band reached number one for the first and only time with "
Take Your Time (Do It Right) Part 1",[13] which spent five weeks in the top spot.
George Benson gained his first chart-topper with "
Give Me the Night", five years after he first charted, immediately after which jazz trumpeter
Tom Browne reached number one with "
Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)", his first single to enter the listing.[14] It was the first of eight singles by Browne to enter the soul chart, none of which entered the Hot 100 at all.[15]Ray, Goodman & Brown reached number one on the soul chart with their first entry under that name, having previously topped the chart in 1970 and 1975 as the Moments.[16]Larry Graham achieved his first solo number one, having spent time in the top spot as a member of
Sly & the Family Stone and as the frontman of
Graham Central Station.[17][18] The year's final number one was "Celebration", which first reached the top of the chart in the issue of Billboard dated December 20.