Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of March 21, 1960
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending March 21, 1960 showed “The Theme From “A Summer Place”” continuing its remarkable reign at #1. Percy Faith And His Orchestra remained firmly on top with the lush instrumental that had become one of the most recognizable and dominant records of early 1960.
Behind it, Jim Reeves held steady at #2 with “He’ll Have To Go,” proving that country-pop crossover ballads had become a major force on mainstream radio. Bobby Rydell stayed at #3 with “Wild One,” while Jimmy Jones continued his strong chart run with “Handy Man.”
The biggest new movement inside the Top 5 came from Dinah Washington and Brook Benton, whose duet “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)” climbed to #5. Their smooth chemistry brought rhythm-and-blues sophistication and playful vocal warmth into a chart otherwise dominated by instrumentals, teen pop, and country crossover ballads.
The week of March 21, 1960 captured a Billboard Hot 100 that was becoming increasingly wide open. Orchestral instrumentals, country ballads, teen rock-and-roll, rhythm-driven pop, and soulful duets all competed successfully on the same national stage.
Top 5 Songs (March 21, 1960)
1. “The Theme From “A Summer Place”” – Percy Faith And His Orchestra
Percy Faith And His Orchestra remained at #1 with “The Theme From “A Summer Place”,” continuing one of the greatest instrumental chart runs in Billboard Hot 100 history.
The song’s sweeping strings, romantic melody, and cinematic mood helped it stand apart from nearly every vocal record on the chart.
Its ongoing success showed that instrumental pop still had tremendous commercial power during the early rock-and-roll era.
By this point, “A Summer Place” had become more than a popular record — it had become one of the defining sounds of 1960.
2. “He’ll Have To Go” – Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves held the #2 position with “He’ll Have To Go,” one of the smoothest country-pop crossover records of the era.
The song’s quiet vocal intimacy and gentle arrangement gave it a calm emotional power that appealed to both country and pop audiences.
Reeves’ relaxed delivery helped bring Nashville sophistication into the mainstream Hot 100 and showed how country music could thrive in a broader pop setting.
Its continued strength near the top made it one of the defining crossover ballads of early 1960.
3. “Wild One” – Bobby Rydell
Bobby Rydell remained at #3 with “Wild One,” one of the most energetic teen-pop hits on the chart.
The song’s upbeat rhythm, youthful attitude, and dance-ready excitement gave the Top 5 a lively burst of rock-and-roll energy.
Rydell’s clean-cut image and spirited performance helped make him one of the most popular young stars of early 1960.
“Wild One” showed that teenage audiences still had enormous influence over the sound and direction of popular music.
4. “Handy Man” – Jimmy Jones
Jimmy Jones held steady at #4 with “Handy Man,” the bright pop hit that had been a major radio favorite throughout late winter.
The song’s playful lyrics, catchy rhythm, and Jones’ distinctive falsetto made it one of the most memorable records of the season.
Compared with the smoother ballads and instrumentals around it, “Handy Man” brought a lighter, more rhythmic pop personality to the chart.
Its continued popularity showed how well hook-driven pop could compete alongside more dramatic and sophisticated records.
5. “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)” – Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
Dinah Washington and Brook Benton climbed into the Top 5 with “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes),” one of the smoothest and most charming duets of the period.
The record blended rhythm-and-blues warmth with polished pop appeal, giving the chart a sophisticated vocal exchange that felt very different from the solo ballads surrounding it.
Washington and Benton brought playful chemistry, emotional ease, and vocal elegance to the song.
Its rise showed how rhythm-and-blues influences were becoming increasingly important within mainstream American pop music.
More Weeks at #1 for “Theme From A Summer Place”
This song spent multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Explore each chart week below:
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending March 26, 1960, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Theme From A Summer Place by Percy Faith
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🎂 Born in the 60s? Try your own birthday:
Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 – Week of March 21, 1960
- The Theme From “A Summer Place” – Percy Faith And His Orchestra
- He’ll Have To Go – Jim Reeves
- Wild One – Bobby Rydell
- Handy Man – Jimmy Jones
- Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes) – Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
- What In The World’s Come Over You – Jack Scott
- Puppy Love – Paul Anka
- Sweet Nothin’s – Brenda Lee
- Teen Angel – Mark Dinning
- Harbor Lights – The Platters
The Hot 100 Was Becoming More Musically Diverse
The Billboard Hot 100 for March 21, 1960 showed just how many different styles were now competing successfully on American radio.
Percy Faith continued leading the chart with a sweeping orchestral instrumental, while Jim Reeves kept country-pop crossover near the top. Bobby Rydell and Jimmy Jones brought youth-driven pop energy, and Dinah Washington with Brook Benton added rhythm-and-blues sophistication to the Top 5.
The lower half of the Top 10 widened the picture even further. Jack Scott represented moody emotional ballads, Paul Anka returned with teen romance, Brenda Lee brought youthful rock-and-roll attitude, Mark Dinning kept teenage tragedy visible, and The Platters preserved classic vocal-group elegance.
The week of March 21, 1960 remains an excellent example of the Hot 100’s growing diversity. Instead of one dominant trend, the chart now reflected a broader musical marketplace where instrumentals, country crossover, R&B duets, teen idols, vocal groups, and emotional ballads could all succeed together.
