Pollin' Tracks Spo-Dee-O-Dee! ILM does the 1950s—THE TOP 101 RESULTS THREAD

Got into a "Who's left?" (from the '50s) thing on Facebook today, following the death of Huey Smith.

A friend suggested Smokey Robinson and Chubby Checker, both of whom I consider '60s guys...until I checked, and the Miracles' first two charted hits were indeed from the '50s, and both were iconic ("Got a Job" and "Bad Girl"). "The Twist" is 1960, one minor hit from '59; that one's shakier.

After that--and discounting Pat Boone/Frankie Avalon-types--all I could come up with were Dion (83), Billy Emerson (not all that well known, but 97!), and Sonny Curtis (Crickets' guitarist, 85). There are undoubtedly some doo-wop people left, but not anyone who also had solo success, I don't think. Berry Gordy and Mike Stoller, too, but they're different.

The '50s are almost gone. Even more today than yesterday.

Huh, fun to scroll back through this one. Along with Madonna and Elton John, this was my favorite ILM poll to run.

Real long shot, I know, but you don't have a spreadsheet anywhere with voters' lists, do you? I only post my Top 10, and I'm curious what my other 40 were. I usually have these lists in my e-mail, but this one was a Google Form.

sad to note the Spotify playlist has been deleted

xp I'm sure I don't. That was 2 computers ago.

There’s a spotify playlist with the nominations https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4dZR1lNRm0gmFVX5Ovg7vH?si=wfX4LsjWQ1GwZcSbW_CugA

Maybe someone’s keen enough to do the top 101.

Brenda Lee (78) and Wanda Jackson (85) are still around.

...and Jackie DeShannon (81) made her first records in the '50s.

Hey hey, Ronald Isley (81).

As Tom and Jerry, Simon and Garfunkel had a charting single in the 50s (although of course they're not "seen as 50s").

Those listed below are probably insufficiently rockin' but:

I watched the 1956 musical comedy The Girl Can't Help It last night; Fats Domino and Little Richard are gone, but which musical performers from the film are still around?

Johnny Olenn, 85
Nino Tempo, 87
Ray Anthony, 100

― Halfway there but for you, Friday, October 21, 2022 6:43 PM (three months ago) bookmarkflaglink

Brenda Lee and Wanda Jackson were pointed out to me on the FB thread. Definite oversights, in that they had iconic singles in the '50s. (I went by two online lists that missed them too.) Ronald Isley too, obviously--I'm sure I missed a few people who members of groups. I do think of Jackie DeShannon as the '60s, in spirit if not in fact.

"who were"

Ditto Simon & Garfunkel.

Cliff Richard (82) & Hank Marvin (81)

Marilyn Maye is more of the '60s but first sang on a record in the '50s and is now 94 and still singing. She appeared on Johnny Carson's show more often than any other singer.

Elephant In The Room: Pat Boone (88)

Smaller elephant: Frankie Avalon (82), who started charting in '54 and had two #1s in the '50s.