Pop is trending younger and more international the year before Beatlemania and The Supremes sweep the nation as the Baby Boom starts coming of age. Girl Groups are everywhere, Surf and Hot Rod sounds become California’s hot new cultural export, and Americans turn to Pop to soothe the shock of the JFK assassination at year’s end.

#1 Song of the Year   The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 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 during the calendar year

1. The Beach Boys
2. Chubby Checker
3. Ray Charles

Artist with Most Charting Songs   Artist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)

• Rick Nelson (9)

Average #1 Artist Age   The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1

• 25.2 years

#1 Songs   List of Hot100 #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. Steve Lawrence – Go Away Little Girl (January, 2 wks)
2. The Rooftop Singers – Walk Right In (January, 2 wks)
3. Paul & Paula – Hey Paula (February, 3 wks)
4. The 4 Seasons – Walk like a Man (March, 3 wks)
5. Ruby & The Romantics – Our Day Will Come (March, 1 wk)
6. The Chiffons – He’s So Fine (March, 4 wks)
7. Little Peggy March – I Will Follow Him (April, 3 wks)
8. Jimmy Soul – If You Wanna Be Happy (May, 2 wks)
9. Lesley Gore – It’s My Party (June, 2 wks)
10. Kyu Sakamoto – Sukiyaki (June, 3 wks)
11. The Essex – Easier Said than Done (July, 2 wks)
12. Jan & Dean – Surf City (July, 2 wks)
13. The Tymes – So Much in Love (August, 1 wk)
14. Little Stevie Wonder – Fingertips – Pt 2 (August, 3 wks)
15. The Angels – My Boyfriend’s Back (August, 3 wks)
16. Bobby Vinton – Blue Velvet (September, 3 wks)
17. Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs – Sugar Shack (October, 5 wks)
18. Nino Tempo & April Stevens – Deep Purple (November, 1 wk)
19. Dale & Grace – I’m Leaving It Up to You (November, 2 wks)
20. The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire) – Dominique (December, 4 wks)