Billboard Hot 100 Chart – Week of June 5, 1961

🎵 #1 Song This Week

“Running Scared” – Roy Orbison

• Weeks at #1: 1 (only week at #1)
• A dramatic pop ballad with a powerful vocal climax
• One of Roy Orbison’s earliest major hits

👉 “Running Scared” reached #1 for one week, briefly interrupting the chart run of “Travelin’ Man.”

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🔝 Top 5 Songs – June 5, 1961

1. Running Scared – Roy Orbison
2. Travelin’ Man – Ricky Nelson
3. Mother-in-Law – Ernie K-Doe
4. Daddy’s Home – Shep and the Limelites
5. Stand by Me – Ben E. King

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🎶 What Was Happening This Week

• Roy Orbison reached #1 with a uniquely dramatic vocal performance
• “Travelin’ Man” dropped to #2 but remained strong
• Soul and R&B continued their steady presence in the Top 5

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🧠 Why This Chart Week Matters

This week represents:

• A one-week #1 hit during a competitive chart period
• The rise of Roy Orbison’s emotional, operatic style
• A rare interruption in a multi-week chart run

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🎯 Snapshot of the Moment

By early June 1961:

• The charts were tightly contested
• Different vocal styles—from smooth pop to dramatic ballads—were competing
• The #1 spot could change quickly

At the top was “Running Scared” by Roy Orbison, claiming its place as the #1 song in America for one week.