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List of Billboard number-one R&B songs of 1948

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Singer Lonnie Johnson
Lonnie Johnson (pictured in 1960) had the first number one on the best sellers chart.

In 1948, Billboard magazine published two charts ranking the top-performing songs in the United States within rhythm and blues (R&B) and related African-American-oriented musical genres. The Most Played Juke Box Race Records chart had been published since 1945; placings were based on a weekly survey among jukebox operators. In May, the magazine added the Best Selling Retail Race Records listing, compiled based on a survey of record stores nationwide in which the majority of customers purchased what were then referred to as "race records".[1] The two charts are considered to be part of the lineage of the magazine's multimetric R&B chart,[2] which since 2005 has been published under the title Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[3]

In the issue of Billboard dated January 3, 1948, "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" by Julia Lee and her Boy Friends topped the jukebox chart. The song occupied the top spot for eight of the first ten weeks of 1948, spending its final week at number one in the issue dated March 6; two weeks later, Lee returned to the top of the chart with the song "King Size Papa", which had a nine-week run at number one. Lee's 17 weeks atop the jukebox chart was the most achieved by any artist in 1948, but she would not achieve another number one and her final chart entry came in 1949.[4] In the May 22 issue, the first to feature the new best sellers chart, "Tomorrow Night" by Lonnie Johnson topped both listings.

In addition to Julia Lee, two other acts achieved two number ones in 1948. Bandleader and pianist Sonny Thompson spent two non-consecutive weeks atop both listings with "Long Gone" (Parts I & II) between July and October, and one week atop each in October with "Late Freight". The two records, both of which featured saxophonist Eddie Chamblee, were Thompson's first two chart entries, but he would never achieve another number one.[5] Bull Moose Jackson also achieved two chart-toppers, "I Love You Yes I Do" and "I Can't Go on Without You", but like Thompson he would not return to number one.[6] In December, two versions of the song "Bewildered" reached number one. The Red Miller Trio topped the best sellers listing in the issue dated December 4 and the jukebox chart two weeks later. In the December 25 issue Amos Milburn reached the top spot on the best sellers chart with his version, in the same week that his song "Chicken Shack Boogie" was at number one on the jukebox chart. Despite the success of Miller's version of "Bewildered", it would prove to be the only charting song of his career and little is known about his life.[7] In June and July, Wynonie Harris topped both charts with "Good Rockin' Tonight"; the track was later recorded by Elvis Presley and is considered a historic precursor of rock and roll music.[8][9][10]

Chart history

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Musician Memphis Slim
Memphis Slim (left, pictured in 1980) reached number one with "Messin' Around".
Singer Wynonie Harris
Wynonie Harris (pictured in the 1940s) had a chart-topper with "Good Rockin' Tonight".
Musician Hal Singer
Hal Singer (pictured in 2012) led his Sextette [sic] to number one with the track "Corn Bread".
Chart history
Issue date Juke Box Best Sellers Ref.
Title Artist(s) Title Artist(s)
January 3 "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" Julia Lee and her Boy Friends — [11]
January 10 [12]
January 17 [13]
January 24 [14]
January 31 [15]
February 7 [16]
February 14 [17]
February 21 "I Love You Yes I Do" Bull Moose Jackson and his Buffalo Bearcats [18]
February 28 [19]
March 6 "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" Julia Lee and her Boy Friends [20]
March 13 "I Love You Yes I Do" Bull Moose Jackson and his Buffalo Bearcats [21]
March 20 "King Size Papa" Julia Lee and her Boy Friends [22]
March 27 [23]
April 3 [24]
April 10 [25]
April 17 [25]
April 24 [26]
May 1 [27]
May 8 [28]
May 15 [29]
May 22 "Tomorrow Night" Lonnie Johnson "Tomorrow Night" Lonnie Johnson [30]
May 29 [31]
June 5 [32]
June 12 [33]
June 19 "Good Rockin' Tonight" Wynonie Harris [34]
June 26 "Tomorrow Night" Lonnie Johnson [35]
July 3 "Good Rockin' Tonight" Wynonie Harris [36]
July 10 "Run Joe" Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five "Long Gone (Parts I & II)" Sonny Thompson [37]
July 17 "Tomorrow Night" Lonnie Johnson "Tomorrow Night" Lonnie Johnson [38]
July 24 "Run Joe" Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five "I Can't Go on Without You" Bull Moose Jackson and his Buffalo Bearcats [39]
July 31 "Long Gone (Parts I & II)" Sonny Thompson
August 7 "I Can't Go on Without You" Bull Moose Jackson and his Buffalo Bearcats [40]
August 14 "Long Gone (Parts I & II)" Sonny Thompson [41]
August 21 "I Can't Go on Without You" Bull Moose Jackson and his Buffalo Bearcats [42]
August 28 [43]
September 4 "Messin' Around" Memphis Slim and his House Rockers [44]
September 11 "My Heart Belongs to You" Arbee Stidham [45]
September 18 "I Can't Go on Without You" Bull Moose Jackson and his Buffalo Bearcats "Pretty Mama Blues" Ivory Joe Hunter [46]
September 25[a] "Pretty Mama Blues" Ivory Joe Hunter [47]
"Messin' Around" Memphis Slim and his House Rockers [47]
October 2[a] "Corn Bread" Hal Singer Sextette [48]
"Late Freight" Sonny Thompson Quintet [48]
October 9 "Am I Asking Too Much" Dinah Washington "My Heart Belongs to You" Arbee Stidham [49]
October 16 "Corn Bread" Hal Singer Sextette "Long Gone (Parts I & II)" Sonny Thompson [50]
October 23 "Pretty Mama Blues" Ivory Joe Hunter "Late Freight" Sonny Thompson Quintet [51]
October 30 "Corn Bread" Hal Singer Sextette "Long Gone (Parts I & II)" Sonny Thompson [52]
November 6 "Blues After Hours" Pee Wee Crayton "Blues After Hours" Pee Wee Crayton [53]
November 13 "Corn Bread" Hal Singer Sextette "Corn Bread" Hal Singer Sextette [54]
November 20 "Blues After Hours" Pee Wee Crayton [55]
November 27 "It's Too Soon to Know" The Orioles [56]
December 4 "Chicken Shack Boogie" Amos Milburn "Bewildered" Red Miller Trio [57]
December 11 "Blues After Hours" Pee Wee Crayton "Corn Bread" Hal Singer Sextette [58]
December 18 "Bewildered" Red Miller Trio "'Long About Midnight" Roy Brown and his Mighty Mighty Men [58]
December 25 "Chicken Shack Boogie" Amos Milburn "Bewildered" Amos Milburn [59]

Notes

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a. ^ Two songs tied for number one on the Juke Box chart.

References

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  1. ^ Cole, Tom (November 2, 2013). "Paramount Records: The Label Inadvertently Crucial To The Blues". NPR. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  2. ^ Whitburn 1996, p. xii.
  3. ^ Molanphy, Chris (April 14, 2014). "I Know You Got Soul: The Trouble With Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Chart". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 344.
  5. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 578.
  6. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 280.
  7. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 401.
  8. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 246.
  9. ^ Dahl, Bill. "Wynonie Harris Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  10. ^ Kallen 2013, p. 32.
  11. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. January 3, 1948. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  12. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. January 10, 1948. p. 26. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  13. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. January 17, 1948. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  14. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. January 24, 1948. p. 59. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  15. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. January 31, 1948. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  16. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. February 7, 1948. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  17. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. February 14, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  18. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. February 21, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  19. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. February 28, 1948. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  20. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. March 6, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  21. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. March 13, 1948. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  22. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. March 20, 1948. p. 26. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  23. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. March 27, 1948. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  24. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. April 3, 1948. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. April 17, 1948. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  26. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. April 24, 1948. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  27. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. May 1, 1948. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  28. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. May 8, 1948. p. 36. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  29. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. May 15, 1948. p. 26. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  30. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. May 22, 1948. p. 38. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  31. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. May 29, 1948. p. 34. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  32. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. June 5, 1948. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  33. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. June 12, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  34. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. June 19, 1948. p. 41. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  35. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. June 26, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  36. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. July 3, 1948. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  37. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. July 10, 1948. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  38. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. July 17, 1948. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  39. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. July 31, 1948. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  40. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. August 7, 1948. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  41. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. August 14, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  42. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. August 21, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  43. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. August 28, 1948. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  44. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. September 4, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  45. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. September 11, 1948. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  46. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. September 18, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  47. ^ a b "Race Records". Billboard. September 25, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  48. ^ a b "Race Records". Billboard. October 2, 1948. p. 59. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  49. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. October 9, 1948. p. 35. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  50. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. October 16, 1948. p. 35. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  51. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. October 23, 1948. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  52. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. October 30, 1948. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  53. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. November 6, 1948. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  54. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. November 13, 1948. p. 37. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  55. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. November 20, 1948. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  56. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. November 27, 1948. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  57. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. December 4, 1948. p. 34. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  58. ^ a b "Race Records". Billboard. December 18, 1948. p. 34. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  59. ^ "Race Records". Billboard. December 25, 1948. pp. 32–33. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved April 1, 2022.

Works cited

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