Over 2000 One Hit Wonder Songs!!
Last Update 04/03/16
Instrumental One Hit Wonders
- Artist
- Arthur Lyman
- Year
- 1961
- Song
- Yellow Bird
- Chart
- 4
A Hawaiian Arthur Lyman was well-known as a vibraphoist for Martin Denny's exotica band, before leaving for his solo career in 1957. His singles "Yellow Bird" became a Top5 hit in 1961, and the only big exotica hit beside Denny's 1959 "Quite Village". He continued to record and perform in Waikiki until his death in 2002.
- Artist
- Philip Upchurch Combo
- Year
- 1961
- Song
- You Can't Sit Down Part 2
- Chart
- 29
Philip Upchurch was an American jazz/R&B guitarist since the 1960s. He has worked with many artists such as B.B. King, Curtis Mayfield, and George Benson. He moment came in 1961 when his singles "You Can't Sit Down" became a national hit. It was hit only chart appearance so far.
- Artist
- Bent Fabric & His Piano
- Year
- 1962
- Song
- Alley Cat
- Chart
- 7
Bent Fabric was a Danish pianist who acquired his international fame in the early 1960s. His infectious "Alley Cat" became a big hit on the other side of the Pacific, and won him a Grammy Award for Best Rock & Roll Record. However, all his following attempts granted him only one more small hit and he never return to US chart ever again.
- Artist
- Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd
- Year
- 1962
- Song
- Desafinado
- Chart
- 15
Jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd was the first person to adapt the acoustic classical guitar technique into the jazz world and popularized the Brazilian music to North America. His most famous work was "Desafinado", a collaboration with Stan Getz which became no.15 hit in 1962. It was his only Top40 singles until his death in 1999.
- Artist
- Jimmy McGriff
- Year
- 1962
- Song
- I've Got A Woman Part 1
- Chart
- 20
Jimmy McGriff was probably the bluesiest among all the famous soul-jazz organists from ever came from Philadelphia. While he was very popular in jazz industry, his work rarely entered the pop world. His cover of Ray Charles' "I've Got a Woman" became Top20 hit in 1962, and the only big chart hit in his career.
- Artist
- Bobby Gregg & His Friends
- Year
- 1962
- Song
- The Jam - Part 1
- Chart
- 29
Bobby Gregg was a record producer and drummer, who was best known for his works on many of 1960s classics. In 1962, his instrumental records "The Jam-Part 1" became a Top40 hit on Billboard chart. He followed with a couple more singles and an album, but none of them became another hit. He soon switched back to his session career.
- Artist
- The Routers
- Year
- 1962
- Song
- Let's Go
- Chart
- 19
Although a real L.A. rock group with this name was signed under Warner Brother Records in the early 1960s, it was a group of session musician who recorded the this instrumental hit. (and also the other songs in the album) This chant and clapping style was soon adopted by UK soccor fans and later became a universal cheering chant.
- Artist
- Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen
- Year
- 1962
- Song
- Midnight In Moscow
- Chart
- 2
Kenny Ball was a British trumpet player who gained his international fame back in the early 1960s - thanks to his one song. The Russia-theme "Midnight in Moscow" became a big hit in 1962 and made him an overnight celebrity in US. It remains his only success outside his homeland so far.
- Artist
- Billy Joe & the Checkmates
- Year
- 1962
- Song
- Percolator
- Chart
- 10
Louis Bideu was an American artist who recorded under the name Billy Joe Hunter. In the early 60s, he worked with Ernie Freeman to write an instrumental song for his band. He hit the spotlight once with "Percolator", a records that used xylophone to mimic the sound of coffee percolator. The song became an unexpected big hit in 1962. Joe continued to release more records, but he never made another hit.
- Artist
- Mr. Acker Bilk
- Year
- 1962
- Song
- Stranger on the Shore
- Chart
- 1
Bernard Stanley 'Acker' Bilk was a British clarinettist who suddenly rose to international fame during the early 1960s. His haunting "Stranger on the Shore" became no.2 in UK and topped the US chart in 1962. He continued to produce more UK hit until the British music invasion in 1964, but he never return to Billboard Top40 chart again.
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