A 2-part focus begins here. Concludes tomorrow.

Caffè  Lattè looks back on:

 

THE FIRST 100

FEMALE SOLOISTS

TO TOP THE US CHART

in The Rock Era

The Rock Era is considered to have begun in July 1955 when “Rock Around The Clock” became the first rock ‘n’ roll single to top the American Pop Chart. This spotlight includes every solo female performer to reach No. 1 in chronological order; from Aretha and Diana to Madonna and Whitney and Beyonce’and Taylor.

 

1956

            KAY STARR Rock And Roll Waltz

           GOGI GRANT The Wayward Wind

1957

            DEBBIE REYNOLDS Tammy

1960

            CONNIE FRANCIS Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool

           BRENDA LEE I’m Sorry

1962

            SHELLEY FABARES Johnny Angel

           LITTLE EVA The Loco-Motion

1963

            LITTLE PEGGY MARCH I Will Follow Him

           LESLEY GORE It’s My Party

            THE SINGING NUN Dominique

1964

            MARY WELLS My Guy

1965

            PETULA CLARK Downtown

1966

            NANCY SINATRA These Boots Are Made For Walkin’

1967

            ARETHA FRANKLIN Respect

           BOBBIE GENTRY Ode To Billie Joe

            LULU To Sir With Love

1968

            JEANNIE C. RILEY Harper Valley P.T.A.

1970

            DIANA ROSS Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

1971

            JANIS JOPLIN Me And Bobby McGee

           CAROLE KING

                   It’s Too Late / I Feel The Earth Move

            CHER Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves

            MELANIE Brand New Key

1972

            ROBERTA FLACK

                 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

           HELEN REDDY I Am Woman

 

1973

            CARLY SIMON You’re So Vain

           VICKI LAWRENCE

                    The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia

            MAUREEN McGOVERN The Morning After

1974

            BARBRA STREISAND The Way We Were

           OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN I Honestly Love You

            MAUREEN McGOVERN The Morning After

1975

            LINDA RONSTADT You’re No Good

           MINNIE RIPERTON Lovin’ You

1977

            MARY MacGREGOR Torn Between Two Lovers

           THELMA HOUSTON Don’t Leave Me This Way

            DEBBY BOONE You Light Up My Life

1978

            YVONNE ELLIMAN If I Can’t Have You

           ANNE MURRAY You Needed Me

            DONNA SUMMER MacArthur Park

1979

            GLORIA GAYNOR I Will Survive

           AMII STEWART Knock On Wood

            ANITA WARD Ring My Bell

1981

            DOLLY PARTON 9 To 5

           SHEENA EASTON Morning Train (Nine To Five)

            KIM CARNES Bette Davis Eyes

1982

            TONI BASIL Mickey

1983

            IRENE CARA Flashdance.. What A Feeling

           BONNIE TYLER Total Eclipse Of The Heart

1984

            DENIECE WILLIAMS Let’s Hear It For The Boy

           CYNDI LAUPER Time After Time

            TINA TURNER What’s Love Got To Do With It

            MADONNA Like A Virgin

 

Continues tomorrow with the next 50 chart-topping Female Soloists.