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 1948-1957 there was also an R&B juke box (JB) chart, and from 1955-58 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.
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
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 :
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
Sources [edit]
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Urban
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Rock
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Country
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Jazz
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Latin
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Christian
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Other
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International
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| Singles and tracks |
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Pop
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Dance
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Urban
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Rock
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Country
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Latin
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Christian
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Other
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International
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| Lists of number-ones |
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Lists of artists who
reached number one |
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| See also |
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