THE MOST POPULAR SONG HITS AND PERFORMERS OF 1950

Bing and Gary Crosby Play A Simple Melody This song was written by Irving Berlin and used in the Motion Picture, There's No Business Like Show Business. The song is actually two songs, one is a simple old fashioned melody and the second a more complex jazz song. At first the songs are sung separately and then over top of one another. Gary Crosby is Bing's son. Doris Day Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered This song has it's origins in the 1940 musical Pal Joey, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, which launched the career of legendary dancer Gene Kelly. It would hit the charts, though ten years, later in 1950. Many artists would go on to record the song, including Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion and Cher. The Mills Brothers Daddy's Little Girl If there was a song that was used at almost every wedding in the 1950s 60s, 70s and 80s, this would be it. Not however during the ceremony. The song would be used for the father daughter dance at the reception to the tears of all the women married or single. The song's lyrics and music were written by Boby Burke and Horace Gerlach. Nat King Cole Mona Lisa The Mona Lisa is probably the most famous of Da Vinci's work. The painting resides at The Louvre Museum in Paris and many prints, postcards, and posters have been made of this classic work of art. There is much speculation as to who the model for the painting was, but no one knows for sure, and the enigmatic smile she wears has been perplexing people since the paining was completed. The song compares a woman to the famous portrait. The song was composed by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston for the motion picture Captain Carey U.S.A. It took the Academy Award for best song in 1950. Perry Como A Bushel And A Peck Guys and Dolls is a musical based on a story By Damon Runyon. It tells the tale of a young missionary girl who falls in love with a gambler in New York City. The musical made it's premiere on Broadway in 1950 and would run for 1200 performances. It also took the Tony Award for that year. A Bushel And A Peck is song by Miss Adelaide who is a singer at a local club, the song was part of her act. Gene Autry Here Comes Peter Cottontail Having topped the charts in 1949 with the song Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, it is not surprising that Gene Autry would come back the following year with a song about a popular rabbit for Easter. The song was written by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins and would peak at #5 on the Billboard Charts. The song would later become the title for a 1971 Easter special which told the story of how a young Peter got the job as Easter Bunny. Eileen Barton If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Baked A Cake Written by Al Hoffman, Bob Merrill and Clem Watts the song was published in 1950 and recorded in January of that year by Eileen Barton. The song became such a big hit that it's record producer, National Records, could not handle the demand and turned to the larger record company, Mercury Records, to help with distribution. The song would be recorded by many other artist, a few times as a duet. Bing Crosby and Bob Hope would record the song in this was as well as Ethel Merman and Ray Bulger. Teresa Brewer Music Music Music This Million seller record was first recorded by London Records in 1949 by Teresa Brewer. The song was written by Stephen Weiss and Bernie Baum. Petula Clark would record the song that same year and that version would be popular in Australia. The song would be recorded again in the 1970s by Melanie, but she would rename it The Nickel Song. Anton Karas Third Man Theme Written by Anton Karas in 1949 for the film, The Third Man. This instrumental piece topped the Bill Board Charts for eleven weeks. It's popularity is partially attributed to the use of the zither, an instrument rarely used in music at that time.   Top Artists and Songs of 1950 Andrews Sisters I Can Dream, Can't I? I Wanna Be Loved Anton Karas Third Man Theme Art Lund Mona Lisa Bill Snyder Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered) Billy Eckstine My Foolish Heart Bing and Gary Crosby Play A Simple Melody Sam's Song (The Happy Tune) Bing Crosby Chattanoogie Shoe-Shine Boy Four Winds and the Seven Seas Harbor Lights Dinah Shore My Heart Cries For You Doris Day Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered) Hoop-Dee-Doo Eileen Barton If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd Have Baked A Cake Eve Young One Silver Dollar Fats Domino The Fat Man Frank Allison Peter Cottontail Frank Sinatra Goodnight Irene Frankie Laine Cry of the Wild Goose Music Maestro Please Freddy Martin Music! Music! Music! (Put Another Nickle In) Gene Autry Peter Cottontail Gene Krupa Bonaparte's Retreat Gordon Jenkins and the Weavers Goodnight, Irene Gordon Jenkins Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered) My Foolish Heart Tzena Tzena Guy Lombardo Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think) Harbor Lights Tennesseee Waltz Third Man Theme Guy Mitchell My Heart Cries For You The Roving Kind Hank Snow I'm Movin On Hoagy Carmichael The Old Piano Roll Blues Ivory Joe Hunter I Need You So Jerry Murad's Harminicats Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered) Jimmy Wakely Peter Cottontail Joe 'Fingers' Carr Sam's Song Joe Liggins and his Honeydrippers Pink Champagne Jo Stafford Goodnight, Irene Tennessee Waltz Johnnie Lee Wills Rag Mop Johnny Otis Double Crossing Blues Larry Green and his Orchestra Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered) Lefty Frizzell If You've Got The Money (I've Got The Time) Les Paul and Mary Ford Tennessee Waltz Lionel Hampton Rag Mop Little Esther Double Crossing Blues Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five Blue Light Boogie Louis Prima and Keely Smith Oh Babe Mel Torme Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered) Mervin Shiner Peter Cottontail Mills Brothers Daddy's Little Girl Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You) Mindy Carson My Foolish Heart Mitch Miller Tzena Tzena Muddy Waters Rollin' Stone Nat 'King' Cole Mona Lisa Patti Page All My Love The Tennesse Waltz Percy Faith All My Love Percy Mayfield Please Send Me Someone To Love Perez Prado Mambo Number 5 Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters Hoop-Dee-Doo You're Just In Love Perry Como A Bushel and A Peck Patricia You're Just In Love Phil Harris The Thing Professor Longhair Crazy Baldhead Ralph Flanagan Rag Mop Ray Anthony Count Every Star Harbor Lights Sentimental Me Ray Bolger Dearie Red Foley Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy Roy Brown and his Mighty-Mighty Men Hard Luck Blues Russ Morgan Sentimental Me Ruth Brown Teardrops From My Eyes Sammy Kaye Harbor Lights Hollywood Square Dance I've Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts It Isn't Fair Teresa Brewer Music! Music! Music! The Ames Brothers Can Anyone Explain (No No No!) Rag Mop Undecided Sentimental Me The Robins Double Crossing Blues The Starlighters Rag Mop Tony Martin and Fred Warren I Said my Pajamas (and Put On My Pray'rs) Tony Martin There's No Tomorrow Vic Damone My Heart Cries For You Victor Young Mona Lisa Yves Montand Les Feulles Mortes