List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)

Linked here are ''Billboard'' magazine's number-one rhythm and blues hits. The ''Billboard'' R&B chart is today known as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

History

From May 22, 1948 to October 13, 1958, multiple charts were published, which explains the overlap in the dates of the charts. The 1942 "Harlem Hit Parade" chart, based on juke box plays, became the "Race Records Juke Box" chart in 1945, and the "Race Record Best Sellers" chart, based on sales, began in parallel in 1948. They were renamed as R&B charts in 1949. A third, "Jockeys" chart, based on radio airplay, was introduced in 1955, and a unified chart was only introduced in 1958. Because of the existence of multiple charts, some dates had more than one number-one song during the week.

Gap in the chart

From November 30, 1963 to January 23, 1965 there was no ''Billboard'' R&B singles chart. Some publications have used ''Cashbox'' magazine's stats in their place. No specific reason has ever been given as to why ''Billboard'' ceased releasing R&B charts, but the prevailing wisdom is that the chart methodology used was being questioned, since more and more white acts were reaching number-one on the R&B chart. According to researcher Joel Whitburn, "there was so much crossover of titles between the R&B and pop singles (Hot 100) charts that ''Billboard'' considered the charts to be too similar. This does not mean that R&B artists stopped turning out hits. After all, it was during this 14-month period that Motown established itself as an R&B institution."

Chart names

* Harlem Hit Parade – 1942 to February 10, 1945
* Juke Box Race Records – February 17, 1945 to June 17, 1957
* Billboard's "Best Sellers" – May 22, 1948 to October 13, 1958
* Rhythm & Blues – June 25, 1949 to November 23, 1963
* Billboard's "Jockeys" – January 22, 1955 to October 13, 1958
* Hot R&B – October 20, 1958 to November 23, 1963. Reinstated January 30, 1965 and continued under that name until the week ending August 16, 1969
* Best Selling Soul Singles – August 23, 1969 to July 7, 1973
* Hot Soul Singles – July 14, 1973 to June 19, 1982
* Hot Black Singles – June 26, 1982 to October 1990
* Hot R&B Singles – October 1990 to January 1999
* Hot R&B Singles & Tracks – January 1999 to December 1999
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks – December 1999 to April 2005
* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – April 2005 to present

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Number One Rhythm And Blues Hits (United States)

Rhythm and blues