Elvis Presley debuts with “Heartbreak Hotel,” scandalizes the media with “Hound Dog,” wins over adults with “Love Me Tender,” and comes to personify Rock ‘n Roll in the first full year of the Rock Era. Meanwhile, upstart indie labels continue scoring big hits, Dean Martin croons his way to his first #1, and “hi-fi” hitmakers Nelson Riddle and Les Baxter sell millions as top-40 radio explodes, teens become record collectors and Seeburg unveils the 200-selection jukebox.

#1 Song of the Year   The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all 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 that spent most of their chart runs in the year

1. Elvis Presley
2. The Platters
3. Pat Boone

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

• Elvis Presley (9)

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

• 28.7

#1 Songs   List of #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. Dean Martin – Memories Are Made of This (January, 5 wks)
2. The Platters – The Great Pretender (February, 2 wks)
3. Kay Starr – Rock and Roll Waltz (March, 3 wks)
4. Les Baxter, His Chrous & Orchestra – The Poor People of Paris (La Goualante du Pauvre Jean) (March, 6 wks)
5. Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel (May, 7 wks)
6. Gogi Grant – The Wayward Wind (June, 7 wks)
7. Pat Boone – I Almost Lost My Mind (August, 2 wks)
8. The Platters – My Prayer (August, 2 wks)
9. Elvis Presley – Don’t Be Cruel (September, 10 wks)
10. Jim Lowe – The Green Door (November, 2 wks)
11. Elvis Presley – Love Me Tender (November, 4 wks)