Most Successful Songwriters on UK chart in the 1950 & 1960s & NME Poll Winners

Who were the most successful songwriter in the 1950s & 1960s?

 

STUART DEVOY, from Southampton, has spent hundreds of hours finding out and here, for the first time ever, we list the results.

Stuart has checked every single composer and co-composer of every record that entered the UK singles charts in the 1950s and 1960s listed them in order of total weeks on chart.

 

  CHECK STUART'S GREAT SITE http://www.britishhitsongwriters.com/

 

 

TOP 60'S SONGWRITERS - BRAND NEW LISTING

NO

NAME

WKS

1

JOHN LENNON

855

2

PAUL MCCARTNEY

847

3

CAROLE KING

494

4

GERRY GOFFIN

487

5

EDDIE HOLLAND

404

6

LAMONT DOZIER

394

6

BRIAN HOLLAND

394

8

LES REED

326

9

HAL DAVID

320

10

BURT BACHARACH

311

11

HOWARD GREENFIELD

285

12

BARRY MANN

280

13

BARRY MASON

276

14

LES VAN DYKE

272

15

KEITH RICHARDS

267

15

MICK JAGGER

267

17

BOB DYLAN

265

18

ROY ORBISON

259

19

MORT SHUMAN

253

20

JEFF BARRY

239

21

PHIL SPECTOR

235

21

TOM SPRINGFIELD

235

23

CYNTHIA WEIL

233

24

ALAN BLAIKLEY

231

24

KEN HOWARD

231

26

BRUCE WELCH

229

27

CHRIS ANDREWS

224

28

DOC POMUS

223

29

HANK MARVIN

218

30

TONY HATCH

178

31

NEIL SEDAKA

176

32

RAY DAVIES

174

33

JERRY LORDAN

168

34

JERRY LEIBER

158

35

BARRY GIBB

155

36

JACK KELLER

151

37

CHUCK BERRY

150

38

ELLIE GREENWICH

149

39

ROBIN GIBB

147

40

JOHN CARTER

146

41

MITCH MURRAY

145

42

TONY MACAULEY

144

43

PETE CALLENDAR

142

43

MIKE STOLLER

142

45

J.D. LOUDERMILK

141

46

BERT BERNS

139

47

ROGER COOK

138

48

BOB CREWE

131

48

MAURICE GIBB

131

50

ROGER GREENAWAY

129

50

PETE TOWNSHEND

129

 

TOP FIFTIES SONGWRITERS

NO

NAME

WKS

1

                        Paul Francis Webster

178

2

Bob Merrill

167

3

Boudleaux Bryant

151

4

Sammy Cahn

130

5

Buck Ram

124

6

Sammy Fain

122

7

Paul Anka

121

8

Paddy Roberts

113

8

Carl Sigman

113

10

Jerry Leiber

109

10

Mike Stoller

109

12

Al Hoffman

104

13

Dick Manning

100

14

Victor Young

99

15

Roy C. Bennett

94

15

Sid Tepper

94

17

Lionel Bart

92

18

Otis Blackwell

87

18

Kal Mann

87

18

Norman Petty

87

21

Felice Bryant

85

21

Jimmy Van Heusen

85

23

Ray Evans

84

24

Harold Adamson

82

25

Richard Adler

79

    26

Jay Livingston

77

27

Jerry Ross

76

28

Dave Bartholomew

73

29

Aaron Schroeder

72

30

Nikolaus Brodzsky      

71

30

Russ Conway

71

30

Terry Gilkyson

71

33

Charlie Chaplin

70

33

Al Stillman

70

35

Buddy Holly

69

36

Hal David

68

37

Melvin Endsley

64

37

Elvis Presley

64

39

Jerry Allison

63

39

Richard Penniman

63

41

Oscar Hammerstein

62

42

Geoffrey Parsons

61

42

Dmitri Tiomkin

61

44

Jack Lawrence

58

45

Benny Davis

57

46

Ned Washington

54

47

Ervin Drake

51

47

Mitchell Parish

51

47

Jimmy Shirl

51

50

Bobby Darin

48
 
 
                 Paddy Roberts - the Top UK songwriter of the 50s

One thing that becomes clear when looking over this list is that the day of the singer/songwriter was still to come - in the 1950s there were singers, and their were songwriters, and someone who could manage both task equally well was a rarity. The highest placed of them is also the only teenager in the whole list, Paul Anka, who was still 18 when the decade ended.   Rock'n'roll's Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller just made the Top 10, and only two British songsmiths made the Top 20 were Paddy Roberts and Lionel Bart. It is also interesting to note that two managers are also riding high, Buck Ram, who looked after The Platters and Buddy Holly's business boss Norman Petty.

 

Among the most interesting composers in the bottom 25 are Jerry Ross (born Jerold Rosenberg), who died at the age of 29 in November 1955 (from bronchiectas) while his composition 'Hernandos Hideaway' was at No.1 in the UK and 'Hey There' at No. 5. Jerry was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1982.


From the rock'n'roll there's Fats Domino's songwriting partner, Dave Bartholomew, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Bobby Darin and Elvis - who admitted that he had no hand in the songs he was given co-writer credits for.


British composers who made the bottom half of the list are Geoffrey Parsons, Russ Conway and the King of the Silent Movies, Charlie Chaplin.

If you're not sure about Paul Francis Webster's portfolio of hits, it includes 'Secret Love', 'April Love', 'Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing', 'Friendly Persuasion', 'Blowing Wild', 'The Loveliest Night Of The Year', 'Who Are We' and 'The Twelfth Of Never'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NME READERS' POLLWINNERS THE 50S & 60S

1952

Female Singer UK - Lita Roza

Instrumental Persnality - Ronnie Scott

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Singer UK - Dickie Valentine

1953

Alto Saxophone - John Dankworth

Arranger - Reg Owen

Bass - Johnny Hawksworth

Drums - Jack Parnell

Female Singer UK - Lita Roza

Guitar - Ivor Mairants

Instrumental Personality - Ronnie Scott

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Singer UK - Dickie Valentine

Piano/Keyboards - Bill Mcguffie

Tenor Sax - Ronnie Scott

Trumpet - Kenny Baker

1954

Alto Saxophone - John Dankworth

Arranger - Reg Owen

Baritone Sax - Harry Klein

Bass - Johnny Hawksworth

Clarinet - Vic Ash

Drums - Ronnie Verrell

Female Singer UK - Lita Roza

Guitar - Bert Weedon

Instrumental Personality - Eric Delaney

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Singer UK - Dickie Valentine

Piano/Keyboards - Bill Mcguffie

Tenor Sax - Tommy Whittle

Trombone - Don Lusher

Trumpet - Kenny Baker

Vibraphone - Victor Feldman

Vocal Group UK - Stargazers

1955

Female Danceband Vocalist - Rose Brennan

Female Singer - Doris Day

Female Singer UK - Ruby Murray

Instrumental Personality - Eddie Calvert

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Danceband Vocalist - Bobbie Britton

Male Singer - Frank Sinatra

Male Singer UK - Dickie Valentine

Most Promising Newcomer - Ronnie Scott

Vocal Group UK - Stargazers

Vocal Personality UK - Dickie Valentine



       Ruby Murray with yet another of her 1955 awards.

1956

DJ - Jack Jackson

Female Singer - Doris Day

Female Singer UK - Alma Cogan

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Singer - Frank Sinatra

Male Singer UK - Dickie Valentine

Musical Personality - Bill Haley

Vocal Group - Four Aces

Vocal Group UK - Stargazers

1957

DJ - Jack Jackson

Female Singer - Doris Day

Female Singer UK - Alma Cogan

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Singer - Pat Boone

Male Singer UK - Dickie Valentine

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

Vocal Group - Platters

Vocal Group UK - King Brothers

Vocal Personality UK - Tommy Steele

1958

DJ - Jack Jackson/Pete Murray (Tied)

Female Singer - Connie Francis

Female Singer UK - Alma Cogan

Instrumental Personality - Eddie Calvert

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Frankie Vaughan

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or Tv Singer - Cliff Richard

Vocal Group - Everly Brothers

Vocal Group UK - Mudlarks

Vocal Personality UK - Frankie Vaughan

1959

DJ - Pete Murray

Female Singer - Connie Francis

Female Singer UK - Shirley Bassey

Instrumental Personality - Russ Conway

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Cliff Richard

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or Tv Singer - Craig Douglas

Single - Cliff Richard-Living Doll

Vocal Group - Everly Brothers

Vocal Group UK - Mudlarks

Vocal Personality UK - Frankie Vaughan

1960

DJ - David Jacobs

Female Singer - Connie Francis

Female Singer UK - Shirley Bassey

Instrumental Personality - Russ Conway

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Cliff Richard

Musical Personality - Duane Eddy

New Disc Or Tv Singer - Emile Ford

Single - Shadows-Apache

Vocal Group - Everly Brothers

Vocal Group UK - King Brothers

Vocal Personality UK - Lonnie Donegan

1961

DJ - David Jacobs

Female Singer - Connie Francis

Female Singer UK - Helen Shapiro

Instrumental Personality - Bert Weedon

Large Band/Orchestra - Ted Heath

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Cliff Richard

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or Tv Singer - John Leyton

Single - Johnny Leyton-Johnny Remember Me

Trad Jazz Band - Acker Bilk

Vocal Group - Everly Brothers

Vocal Group UK - Springfields

Vocal Personality UK - Adam Faith

1962

DJ - David Jacobs

Female Singer - Brenda Lee

Female Singer UK - Helen Shapiro

Instrumental Personality - Jet Harrisn

Large Band/Orchestra - Joe Loss

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Cliff Richard

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or Tv Singer - Frank Ifield

Single - Frank Ifield-I Remember You

Trad Jazz Band - Kenny Ball

Vocal Group - Everly Brothers

Vocal Group UK - Springfields

Vocal Personality UK - Joe Brown

1963

DJ - David Jacobs

Female Singer - Brenda Lee

Female Singer UK - Kathy Kirby

Instrumental Personality - Jet Harrisn

Large Band/Orchestra - Joe Loss

Male Singer - Cliff Richard

Male Singer UK - Cliff Richard

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Singer - Gerry Marsden

Single - Beatles - She Loves You

Trad Jazz Band - Kenny Ball

Vocal Group - Beatles

Vocal Group UK - Beatles

Vocal Personality UK - Joe Brown

1964

Blues/R&B Group UK - Rolling Stones

DJ - Jimmy Savile

Female Singer - Brenda Lee

Female Singer UK - Dusty Springfield

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Cliff Richard

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or TV Singer - Mick Jagger

New Group/Most Promising - Rolling Stones

Single - Animals-House Of The Rising Sun

TV Show - Ready Steady Go!

Vocal Group - Beatles

Vocal Group UK - Beatles

Vocal Personality UK - Cliff Richard

1965

Blues/R&B Group UK - Rolling Stones

DJ - Jimmy Savile

Female Singer - Dusty Springfield

Female Singer UK - Dusty Springfield

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Cliff Richard

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or TV Singer - Donovan

New Group/Most Promising - Seekers

Single - Rolling Stones-Satisfaction

TV Show - Top Of The Pops

Vocal Group - Beatles

Vocal Group UK - Beatles

Vocal Personality UK - John Lennon

1966

Blues/R&B Group UK - Rolling Stones

DJ - Jimmy Savile

Female Singer - Dusty Springfield

Female Singer UK - Dusty Springfield

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Cliff Richard

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or TV Singer - Steve Winwood

New Group/Most Promising - Spencer Davis

Single - Beatles-Eleanor Rigby

TV Show - Top Of The Pops

Vocal Group - Beach Boys

Vocal Group UK - Beatles

Vocal Personality UK - Cliff Richard

1967

Blues/R&B Group UK - Rolling Stones

DJ - Jimmy Savile

Female Singer - Dusty Springfield

Female Singer UK - Lulu

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Tom Jones

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or TV Singer - Engelbert Humperdinck

New Group/Most Promising - Bee Gees

Single - Procol Harum-A Whiter Shade Of Pale

TV Show - Top Of The Pops

Vocal Group - Beatles

Vocal Group UK - Beatles

Vocal Personality UK - Cliff Richard

1968

Blues/R&B Group UK - Rolling Stones

DJ - Jimmy Savile

Female Singer - Lulu

Female Singer UK - Lulu

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Tom Jones

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or TV Singer - Mary Hopkin

New Group/Most Promising - Love Affair

Single - Beatles-Hey Jude

TV Show - Top Of The Pops

Vocal Group - Beatles

Vocal Group UK - Beatles

Vocal Personality UK - Cliff Richard

1969

Blues/R&B Group UK - Fleetwood Mac

DJ - Jimmy Savile

Female Singer - Dusty Springfield

Female Singer UK - Lulu

Male Singer - Elvis Presley

Male Singer UK - Tom Jones

Musical Personality - Elvis Presley

New Disc Or TV Singer - Clodagh Rodgers

New Group/Most Promising - Jethro Tull

Single - Rolling Stones-Honky Tonk Women

TV Show - Top Of The Pops

Vocal Group - Beatles

Vocal Group UK - Beatles

Vocal Personality UK - Cliff Richard

 



Thanks a million for the exclusive Stuart.