The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / What Was The First Canadian Band To Top The US Charts?

**Posted by RadioActive** April 1, 2025 7:48 pm

The answer may not surprise you, and they were the first people I thought of. Although I found the article a tad confusing. Paul Anka wasn't technically a band, so perhaps his 1959 feat doesn't fit the question. But it seems to me he should have the credit.

And is this restricted to just the rock era? What about someone like Guy Lombardo? Did he ever have a U.S. #1? I don't think so, but maybe some other Canuck did it early on in the Big Band Era.

What was the first Canadian band to top the US charts?

**Posted by 67GreenRambler** April 1, 2025 8:17 pm

The Crew-Cuts had a #1 in '54 with Sh-boom.

**Posted by Dale Patterson** April 2, 2025 12:28 am

Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians had 26 #1 songs in the pre-rock era,

**Posted by mace** April 2, 2025 7:24 am

Dale Patterson wrote:
Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians had 26 #1 songs in the pre-rock era,

Actually he had 23 #1 songs between 1927 and 1939 plus another whopping 75 Top 10's between 1927 and 1940. An additional five Top 10's occurred between 1946-50. Up until 1933 Variety and a publication called Talking Machine World compiled lists of record label and sheet music best sellers. From 1934-38 Variety dropped sheet music sales but continued record label best sellers. Billboard started monitoring record sales in 1936. In January 1940 the magazine began publishing a "Record Buying Guide" July 27, 1940 saw the introduction of the first Billboard chart. Actually there were five of them. Top 10 National, East, West, South and Midwest. Gee I feel like Casey Kasem. Now on with the countdown. Number... Sources: Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories:The History of Popular American Music 1900-1940. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories: Singles & Albums 1940-54.

**Posted by paterson1** April 2, 2025 9:53 am

So Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians had more #1 songs on Billboard than The Beatles, Drake, Elvis, and Michael Jackson?? Who knew.. Great trivia question. I am sure RA will want to know if any of the songs are cancon!!

**Posted by mace** April 2, 2025 10:53 am

Here is the breakdown of how many weeks at #1 each of Lombardo's hits spent. One week-2. Two weeks-5. Three weeks-6. Four weeks-5. Five weeks-3. Seven weeks-1.

**Posted by RadioActive** April 21, 2025 9:29 am

This should answer some of this, from the source itself, although it only goes back to the Hot 100. Still, a very interesting list.

Here’s Every Canadian Artist Who Has Topped the Billboard Hot 100