Billboard number-one singles charts preceding the Billboard Hot 100 were updated weekly by Billboard magazine and the leading indicator of popular music for the American music industry since 1940 and until the Billboard Hot 100 chart was established in 1958.

Before the Billboard Hot 100 chart was established in August 1958, Billboard used to publish several weekly charts. Throughout most of the 1950s, the magazine published the following charts to measure a song's popularity:

Most Played by Jockeys – ranked the most played songs on United States radio stations, as reported by radio disc jockeys and radio stations. Most Played in Jukeboxes – ranked the most played songs in jukeboxes across the United States. Best Selling Pop Singles (later renamed to Best Selling Singles and then renamed to Best Sellers in Stores) – ranked the biggest selling singles in retail stores, as reported by merchants surveyed throughout the country.

Number ones Key – Number-one single of the year

Reached number oneArtist(s)SingleRecord labelWeeks atnumber oneRef195096 January 7, 1950 Gene Autry "Rudolph, The Red-nosed Reindeer" Columbia 1 97 January 14, 1950 The Andrews Sisters "I Can Dream, Can't I" Decca 4 98 February 11, 1950 The Ames Brothers "Rag Mop" Coral 1 99 February 18, 1950 Red Foley "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" Decca 4 100 March 18, 1950 Teresa Brewer "Music! Music! Music!" London 4 101 April 15, 1950 Eileen Barton "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake" National (local); Mercury (nationwide) 2 102 April 29, 1950 Anton Karas "The Third Man Theme" London 11 103 July 15, 1950 Nat King Cole "Mona Lisa" Capitol 5 104 August 19, 1950 Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers"Goodnight Irene"♪ (1950) Decca 13 105 November 18, 1950 Sammy Kaye "Harbor Lights" Columbia 2 106 December 2, 1950 Phil Harris "The Thing" RCA Victor 4 107 December 30, 1950 Patti Page "The Tennessee Waltz" Mercury 9 1951108 March 3, 1951 Perry Como "If" RCA Victor 6 109 March 10, 1951 Mario Lanza "Be My Love" RCA Victor (Red Seal) 1 110 April 21, 1951 Les Paul and Mary Ford "How High The Moon" Capitol 9 111 June 23, 1951 Nat King Cole"Too Young"♪ (1951) Capitol 5 112 July 28, 1951 Rosemary Clooney "Come On-a My House" Columbia 6 113 September 8, 1951 Tony Bennett "Because Of You" Columbia 8 114 November 3, 1951 Tony Bennett "Cold, Cold Heart" Columbia 6 115 December 15, 1951 Eddy Howard "Sin (It's No Sin)" Mercury 2 116 December 29, 1951 Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads "Cry" Okeh (Columbia) 11 1952117 March 15, 1952 Kay Starr "Wheel Of Fortune" Capitol 9 118 May 17, 1952 Leroy Anderson"Blue Tango"♪ (1952) Decca 5 119 June 21, 1952 Al Martino "Here In My Heart" Capitol 2 120 July 5, 1952 Percy Faith "Delicado" Columbia 1 121 July 12, 1952 Vera Lynn "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" London 9 122 September 13, 1952 Jo Stafford "You Belong To Me" Columbia 5 123 October 18, 1952 Patti Page "I Went To Your Wedding" Mercury 5 124 November 22, 1952 Johnny Standley "It's In The Book (parts 1 & 2)" Capitol 1 125 November 29, 1952 Joni James "Why Don't You Believe Me" MGM 4 126 December 27, 1952 Jimmy Boyd "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" Columbia 2 1953127 January 10, 1953 Perry Como "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" RCA Victor 5 128 February 14, 1953 Teresa Brewer "Till I Waltz Again With You" Coral 5 129 March 21, 1953 Patti Page "The Doggie In The Window" Mercury 8 130 May 16, 1953 Percy Faith"The Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart)"♪ (1953) Columbia 10 131 July 25, 1953 Eddie Fisher "I'm Walking Behind You" RCA Victor 2 132 August 8, 1953 Les Paul and Mary Ford "Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)" Capitol 11 133 October 10, 1953 Stan Freberg "St. George And The Dragonet" Capitol 4 134 November 21, 1953 Tony Bennett "Rags To Riches" Columbia 6 1954135 January 2, 1954 Eddie Fisher "Oh! My Pa-pa (O Mein Papa)" RCA Victor 8 136 February 27, 1954 Doris Day "Secret Love" Columbia 3 137 March 13, 1954 Jo Stafford "Make Love To Me!" Columbia 3 138 April 10, 1954 Perry Como "Wanted" RCA Victor 8 139 June 5, 1954 Kitty Kallen"Little Things Mean A Lot"♪ (1954) Decca 9 140 August 7, 1954 The Crew Cuts "Sh-Boom" Mercury 7 141 September 25, 1954 Rosemary Clooney "Hey There" Columbia 6 142 November 6, 1954 Rosemary Clooney "This Ole House" Columbia 1 143 November 13, 1954 Eddie Fisher "I Need You Now" RCA Victor 3 144 December 4, 1954 The Chordettes "Mr. Sandman" Cadence 7 1955145 January 22, 1955 Joan Weber "Let Me Go, Lover!" Columbia 2 146 February 5, 1955 The Fontane Sisters "Hearts Of Stone" Dot 1 147 February 12, 1955 The McGuire Sisters "Sincerely" Coral 6 148 March 26, 1955 Bill Hayes "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" Cadence 5 149 April 30, 1955 Pérez Prado"Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White"♪ (1955) RCA Victor 10 150 July 9, 1955 Bill Haley & His Comets "Rock Around The Clock" Decca 8 151 September 3, 1955 Mitch Miller "The Yellow Rose of Texas" Columbia 6 152 October 15, 1955 The Four Aces "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" Decca 2 153 October 29, 1955 Roger Williams "Autumn Leaves" Kapp 4 154 November 26, 1955 Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sixteen Tons" Capitol 7 1956155 January 14, 1956 Dean Martin "Memories Are Made Of This" Capitol 5 156 February 18, 1956 Kay Starr "Rock And Roll Waltz" RCA Victor 1 157 February 25, 1956 Nelson Riddle "Lisbon Antigua" Capitol 4 158 March 24, 1956 Les Baxter "Poor People Of Paris" Capitol 4 159 April 21, 1956 Elvis Presley "Heartbreak Hotel"♪ (1956) RCA Victor 8 160 June 16, 1956 Gogi Grant "The Wayward Wind" Era 6 161 July 28, 1956 Elvis Presley "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" RCA Victor 1 162 August 4, 1956 The Platters "My Prayer" Mercury 2 163 August 18, 1956 Elvis Presley "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog" RCA Victor 11 164 November 3, 1956 Elvis Presley "Love Me Tender" RCA Victor 5 165 December 8, 1956 Guy Mitchell "Singing The Blues" Columbia 9 1957166 February 9, 1957 Elvis Presley "Too Much" RCA Victor 3 167 March 2, 1957 Tab Hunter "Young Love" Dot 4 168 March 30, 1957 Buddy Knox "Party Doll" Roulette 1 169 April 6, 1957 Perry Como "Round And Round" RCA Victor 1 170 April 13, 1957 Elvis Presley "All Shook Up"♪ (1957) RCA Victor 8 171 June 8, 1957 Pat Boone "Love Letters In The Sand" Dot 5 172 July 13, 1957 Elvis Presley "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" RCA Victor 7 173 August 31, 1957 Debbie Reynolds "Tammy" Coral 3 174 September 14, 1957 Paul Anka "Diana" ABC-Paramount 1 175 September 28, 1957 The Crickets "That'll Be The Day" Brunswick 1 176 October 5, 1957 Jimmie Rodgers "Honeycomb" Roulette 2 177 October 19, 1957 The Everly Brothers "Wake Up Little Susie" Cadence 1 178 October 26, 1957 Elvis Presley "Jailhouse Rock" RCA Victor 7 179 December 7, 1957 Sam Cooke "You Send Me" Keen 2 180 December 28, 1957 Pat Boone "April Love" Dot 2 1958181 January 11, 1958 Danny & the Juniors "At The Hop" ABC-Paramount 5 182 February 15, 1958 Elvis Presley "Don't" RCA Victor 5 183 March 22, 1958 The Champs "Tequila" Challenge 5 184 April 26, 1958 The Platters "Twilight Time" Mercury 1 185 May 3, 1958 David Seville "Witch Doctor" Liberty 2 186 May 17, 1958 The Everly Brothers "All I Have To Do Is Dream" Cadence 4 187 June 14, 1958 Sheb Wooley "The Purple People Eater" MGM 6 188 July 26, 1958 Elvis Presley "Hard Headed Woman" RCA Victor 2

Statistics by decade

By artist The following artists achieved three or more number-one hits during the 1950–1958. A number of artists had number-one singles on their own as well as part of a collaboration.

Artist Number-one hits Elvis Presley 10 Perry Como 4 Patti Page 3 Rosemary Clooney 3 Eddie Fisher 3 Tony Bennett 3

Artists by total number of weeks at number-one The following artists were featured in top of the chart for the highest total number of weeks during the 1950–1958.

Artist Weeks at number-one Elvis Presley 57 Patti Page 22 Tony Bennett 20 Perry Como 20 Les Paul and Mary Ford 20 Rosemary Clooney 13 Eddie Fisher 13

Songs by total number of weeks at number-one The following songs were featured in top of the chart for the highest total number of weeks during the 1950–1958.

13 "Goodnight Irene" Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers 11 "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog" Elvis Presley 11 "Vaya Con Dios" Les Paul and Mary Ford 11 "Cry" Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads 11 "The Third Man Theme" Anton Karas

See also List of Billboard number-one singles 1950s in music

References