From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of all the musicians and music groups who reached number one on the Billboard
R&B singles chart.
[1]
The chart was officially titled as follows:
Oct 1942 – Feb 1945 The Harlem Hit Parade
Feb 1945 – Jun 1949 Race Records
Jun 1949 – Oct 1958 Rhythm & Blues Records
Oct 1958 – Nov 1963 Hot R&B Sides
Nov 1963 – Jan 1965 No chart published
Jan 1965 – Aug 1969 Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles
Aug 1969 – Jul 1973 Best Selling Soul Singles
Jul 1973 – Jun 1982 Hot Soul Singles
Jun 1982 – Oct 1990 Hot Black Singles
Oct 1990 – Jan 1999 Hot R&B Singles
Jan 1999 – Dec 1999 Hot R&B Singles & Tracks
Dec 1999 – Apr 2005 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
April 2005 – present Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Lists are alphabetical by year.
NOTE : Annual totals may not sum to 52 weeks because:
sometimes the No. 1 place was shared
totals are counted from the start of the stay at No. 1 - for example, a hit which reached No. 1 in November 1945 and stayed there 11 weeks is included in the 1945 list but not 1946.
As well as the R&B best sellers (BS) chart, between 1948 and 1957 there was also an R&B juke box (JB) chart, and from 1955 to 1958 there was an R&B airplay (JY - jockeys) chart. These charts were consolidated into one in October 1958. Years at No. 1 on these different charts are listed where appropriate.
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
Ella Fitzgerald (with Louis Jordan) (5 weeks)
Lionel Hampton (16 weeks)
The Ink Spots (3 weeks)
Louis Jordan (35 weeks, inc. 5 weeks with Ella Fitzgerald)
1947
1948
Roy Brown (1 week JB)
Pee Wee Crayton (1 week BS, 3 weeks JB)
Wynonie Harris (1 week BS, 1 week JB)
Ivory Joe Hunter (3 weeks BS, 3 weeks JB)
Bull Moose Jackson (11 weeks BS, 7 weeks JB)
Lonnie Johnson (7 weeks BS, 7 weeks JB)
Louis Jordan (2 weeks JB)
Julia Lee (9 weeks)
Memphis Slim (2 weeks JB)
Amos Milburn (7 weeks BS, 7 weeks JB)
Red Miller (4 weeks BS, 5 weeks JB)
The Orioles (1 week JB)
Hal Singer (4 weeks BS, 4 weeks JB)
Arbee Stidham (1 week BS, 1 week JB)
Sonny Thompson (4 weeks BS, 3 weeks JB)
Dinah Washington (1 week JB)
1949
1950
Roy Brown (3 weeks BS)
Ruth Brown (11 weeks BS, 7 weeks JB)
Nat "King" Cole (4 weeks JB)
Lowell Fulson (1 week BS, 4 weeks JB)
Ivory Joe Hunter (2 weeks BS, 7 weeks JB)
Louis Jordan (7 weeks BS, 4 weeks JB)
Joe Liggins (11 weeks BS, 13 weeks JB)
Percy Mayfield (2 weeks BS, 1 week JB)
Joe Morris (4 weeks BS, 3 weeks JB)
Johnny Otis and
Little Esther (13 weeks BS, 10 weeks JB) (9 weeks BS / 5 weeks JB with
The Robins , 4 weeks BS / 5 weeks JB with
Mel Walker )
1951
1952
Johnny Ace (9 weeks BS)
Eddie Boyd (2 weeks BS, 7 weeks JB)
Ruth Brown (7 weeks BS, 6 weeks JB)
Tommy Brown with The Griffin Brothers (3 weeks JB)
The Clovers (1 week BS, 1 week JB)
Fats Domino (1 week BS)
The Dominoes (7 weeks BS, 10 weeks JB)
Jimmy Forrest (6 weeks BS, 7 weeks JB)
The Four Blazes (3 weeks JB)
Rosco Gordon (1 week BS)
B. B. King (7 weeks BS, 5 weeks JB)
Little Walter (1 week BS, 8 weeks JB)
Willie Mabon (8 weeks BS, 7 weeks JB)
Lloyd Price (7 weeks BS, 1 week JB)
Johnnie Ray (1 week BS, 1 week JB)
1953
1954
Faye Adams (6 weeks BS, 5 weeks JB)
Ruth Brown (5 weeks BS, 9 weeks JB)
The Charms (9 weeks BS, 2 weeks JB, 2 weeks JY)
Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters (8 weeks BS, 8 weeks JB)
Guitar Slim (6 weeks BS, 14 weeks JB)
Roy Hamilton (8 weeks BS, 5 weeks JB)
B.B. King (2 weeks JB)
The Midnighters (9 weeks BS, 4 weeks JB)
Big Joe Turner (3 weeks JB)
1955
Johnny Ace (9 weeks BS, 9 weeks JB, 10 weeks JY)
Chuck Berry (9 weeks BS, 11 weeks JB, 9 weeks JY)
Ray Charles (1 week JB, 1 week JY)
Bo Diddley (2 weeks JB)
Fats Domino (11 weeks BS, 8 weeks JB, 10 weeks JY)
The Drifters (1 week JB)
Roy Hamilton (3 weeks BS)
Al Hibbler (1 week JB)
Etta James (4 weeks JY)
Little Walter ( 4 weeks BS, 5 weeks JB, 2 weeks JY)
Jay McShann (3 weeks BS, 2 weeks JB, 2 weeks JY)
The Moonglows (2 weeks JB, 1 week JY)
The Penguins (3 weeks BS, 3 weeks JB, 1 week JY)
The Platters (7 weeks BS, 6 weeks JB, 5 weeks JY)
1956
Ray Charles (2 weeks JB, 1 week JY)
Bill Doggett (13 weeks BS, 1 week JB, 5 weeks JY)
Fats Domino (15 weeks BS, 17 weeks JB, 20 weeks JY)
The El Dorados (1 week JB)
Little Willie John (3 weeks BS, 1 week JB, 5 weeks JY)
Little Richard (8 weeks BS, 9 weeks JB, 5 weeks JY)
Frankie Lymon and
The Teenagers (5 weeks BS, 2 weeks JY)
Clyde McPhatter (1 week JB)
The Platters (10 weeks BS, 11 weeks JB, 13 weeks JY)
Elvis Presley (1 week BS, 6 weeks JB)
Shirley and Lee (3 weeks JB, 3 weeks JY)
1957
Paul Anka (2 weeks BS)
LaVern Baker (1 week JY)
Chuck Berry (1 week BS, 1 week JB, 5 weeks JY)
Bobby Bland (2 weeks JY)
The Bobbettes (4 weeks JY)
The Coasters (13 weeks BS, 2 weeks JB, 7 weeks JY)
Nat "King" Cole (2 weeks JY)
Sam Cooke (6 weeks BS, 6 weeks JY)
Fats Domino (14 weeks BS, 13 weeks JB, 12 weeks JY)
The Everly Brothers (1 week JY)
Ivory Joe Hunter (3 weeks JB, 1 week JY)
Jerry Lee Lewis (2 weeks BS, 1 week JY)
Little Richard (2 weeks JB)
Clyde McPhatter (1 week JY)
Mickey & Sylvia (2 weeks JY)
Elvis Presley (10 weeks BS, 4 weeks JB, 5 weeks JY)
Jimmie Rodgers (2 weeks BS, 1 week JY)
Larry Williams (1 week JY)
Chuck Willis (2 weeks JY)
1958
1959
1960
Hank Ballard and The Midnighters (3 weeks)
Brook Benton (23 weeks, inc. 14 weeks with Dinah Washington)
Bill Black (8 weeks)
Buster Brown (1 week)
Jerry Butler (7 weeks)
The Drifters (1 week)
The Everly Brothers (1 week)
Bobby Marchan (1 week)
Dinah Washington (15 weeks, inc. 14 weeks with Brook Benton)
Jackie Wilson (7 weeks)
1961
1962
1963
1964
NOTE: No R&B charts were published between November 1963 and January 1965. The following R&B artists (as assessed by Joel Whitburn) had No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart during that period :
1965
1966
James Brown (2 weeks)
Ray Charles (1 week)
Eddie Floyd (1 week)
The Four Tops (2 weeks)
Slim Harpo (2 weeks)
Wilson Pickett (8 weeks)
Lou Rawls (1 week)
Sam & Dave (1 week)
Percy Sledge (4 weeks)
The Supremes (6 weeks)
The Temptations (16 weeks)
Joe Tex (1 week)
Stevie Wonder (6 weeks)
1967
1968
1969
1970
Brook Benton (1 week)
James Brown (2 weeks)
Tyrone Davis (2 weeks)
Aretha Franklin (5 weeks)
The Jackson Five (20 weeks)
The Moments (5 weeks)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (3 weeks)
Diana Ross (1 week)
Sly & The Family Stone (5 weeks)
The Supremes (1 week)
Stevie Wonder (6 weeks)
1971
1972
1973
Aretha Franklin (2 weeks)
Marvin Gaye (6 weeks)
The Independents (1 week)
Eddie Kendricks (2 weeks)
Gladys Knight & The Pips (8 weeks)
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (2 weeks)
The Ohio Players (1 week)
The O'Jays (4 weeks)
Billy Preston (1 week)
The Spinners (5 weeks)
The Staple Singers (3 weeks)
Sylvia (2 weeks)
Johnnie Taylor (2 weeks)
The Temptations (2 weeks)
Timmy Thomas (2 weeks)
Fred Wesley & The J.B.s (2 weeks)
Barry White (2 weeks)
Stevie Wonder (6 weeks)
1974
1975
1976
1977
William Bell (1 week)
The Brothers Johnson (1 week)
Natalie Cole (5 weeks)
The Commodores (1 week)
Earth, Wind & Fire (7 weeks)
The Emotions (4 weeks)
The Floaters (6 weeks)
Aretha Franklin (1 week)
Marvin Gaye (5 weeks)
Thelma Houston (1 week)
The Isley Brothers (1 week)
K.C. & The Sunshine Band (1 week)
L.T.D. (2 weeks)
The O'Jays (1 week)
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan (2 weeks)
Slave (1 week)
Tavares (1 week)
Barry White (5 weeks)
Stevie Wonder (6 weeks)
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
George Clinton (4 weeks)
DeBarge (5 weeks)
Aretha Franklin (2 weeks)
The Gap Band (1 week)
Michael Jackson (13 weeks, inc. 3 weeks with
Paul McCartney )
Rick James (6 weeks)
Gladys Knight & The Pips (1 week)
Mtume (8 weeks)
New Edition (1 week)
Lionel Richie (7 weeks)
Rufus and Chaka Khan (1 week)
Donna Summer (3 weeks)
1984
Ashford & Simpson (3 weeks)
Cameo (4 weeks)
Chaka Khan (3 weeks)
Kool & The Gang (2 weeks)
Patti LaBelle (4 weeks)
Cheryl Lynn (1 week)
Midnight Star (5 weeks)
New Edition (1 week)
O'Bryan (1 week)
Billy Ocean (4 weeks)
Ray Parker Jr. (2 weeks)
Prince (9 weeks)
Lionel Richie (3 weeks)
Rockwell (5 weeks)
Deniece Williams (3 weeks)
Stevie Wonder (3 weeks)
Yarbrough & Peoples (1 week)
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
Atlantic Starr (1 week)
Babyface (2 weeks)
Anita Baker (1 week)
Regina Belle (1 week)
Chuckii Booker (1 week)
The Boys (1 week)
Bobby Brown (2 weeks)
Peabo Bryson (1 week)
Natalie Cole (1 week)
De La Soul (1 week)
Roberta Flack (1 week)
Eric Gable (1 week)
The Gap Band (2 weeks)
Miki Howard (1 week)
Janet Jackson (2 weeks)
Jermaine Jackson (1 week)
Levert (1 week)
Maze feat. Frankie Beverly (2 weeks)
Stephanie Mills (2 weeks)
New Edition (2 weeks)
The O'Jays (2 weeks)
Prince (1 week)
Teddy Riley feat.
Guy (1 week)
Skyy (2 weeks)
Soul II Soul (3 weeks)
Surface (5 weeks)
Today (1 week)
Luther Vandross (2 weeks)
Jody Watley (1 week)
Karyn White (5 weeks)
Vanessa Williams (2 weeks)
1990
1991
1992
Al B. Sure! (1 week)
Mariah Carey (3 weeks)
Arrested Development (1 week)
Mary J. Blige (3 weeks)
Chuckii Booker (1 week)
Boyz II Men (5 weeks)
Bobby Brown (2 weeks)
Tevin Campbell (2 weeks)
En Vogue (3 weeks)
Aaron Hall (2 weeks)
Whitney Houston (11 weeks)
Miki Howard (1 week)
Michael Jackson (3 weeks)
Jodeci (4 weeks)
Glenn Jones (1 week)
R. Kelly and
Public Announcement (3 weeks)
Gerald Levert (1 week)
Lo-Key? (1 week)
Prince (1 week)
Lionel Richie (1 week)
Lisa Stansfield (1 week)
Keith Sweat (2 weeks)
TLC (2 weeks)
Troop (1 week)
Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson with
BBD and Ralph Tresvant (1 week)
Vanessa Williams (3 weeks)
1993
1994
Aaliyah (3 weeks)
Mariah Carey (2 weeks)
Boyz II Men (9 weeks)
Brandy (4 weeks)
Janet Jackson (10 weeks)
Jodeci (4 weeks)
R. Kelly (12 weeks)
TLC (9 weeks)
Barry White (3 weeks)
Xscape (2 weeks)
1995
1996
Monica (2 weeks)
Mary J. Blige (5 weeks)
R. Kelly (15 weeks inc. 1 with Ronald Isley)
SWV (1 week)
Mariah Carey (1 week)
Bone Thugs N Harmony (7 weeks)
Toni Braxton (2 weeks)
2Pac (3 weeks)
K-Ci & JoJo (3 weeks with 2Pac)
Roger Troutman (3 weeks with 2Pac)
Keith Sweat (6 weeks inc. 3 with Athena Cage)
New Edition (3 weeks)
Aaliyah (2 weeks)
Az Yet (1 week)
Blackstreet (4 weeks)
Dr. Dre (4 weeks with Blackstreet)
Ginuwine (2 weeks)
1997
1998
Sources