Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of May 4, 1963
The Billboard Hot 100 for May 4, 1963 kept Little Peggy March at #1 with “I Will Follow Him.” The dramatic teen-pop hit continued its strong run, proving that Peggy March’s powerful voice and confident delivery had made her one of the breakout stars of the spring.
Andy Williams held steady at #2 with “Can’t Get Used To Losing You,” while Peter, Paul & Mary climbed to #3 with “Puff (The Magic Dragon).” The Chantays brought surf instrumental energy into the Top 5 with “Pipeline,” and The Chiffons remained strong with their former #1 hit “He’s So Fine.”
This week’s Top 5 showed how broad American pop music had become. Teen pop, traditional vocals, folk storytelling, surf instrumentals, and girl-group records all shared the same upper chart space.
Further down the Top 10, Jimmy Soul made a big move with “If You Wanna Be Happy,” The Beach Boys entered the upper chart with “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” and The Drifters, The Cookies, and Mongo Santamaria Band kept soul, girl-group pop, and Latin jazz in the national conversation.
Top 5 Songs
1. I Will Follow Him – Little Peggy March
Little Peggy March remained at #1 with “I Will Follow Him,” continuing one of the most dramatic teen-pop success stories of 1963. Her strong vocal performance gave the song intensity and confidence far beyond her age.
The record built with a sense of devotion and rising emotion, turning a simple romantic idea into something grand and unforgettable. Its bold arrangement helped it stand out from the softer records around it.
At just fifteen, Peggy March had already made chart history with this hit. “I Will Follow Him” became one of the signature pop moments of the spring.
2. Can’t Get Used To Losing You – Andy Williams
Andy Williams held at #2 with “Can’t Get Used To Losing You,” continuing one of the strongest runs of his pop career. The song’s smooth vocal style and light arrangement made heartbreak feel polished and memorable.
Williams delivered the lyric with calm control, giving the record a relaxed elegance. Its contrast between sadness and bright musical backing helped make it one of the most distinctive pop hits of 1963.
The song’s continued success showed that traditional pop singers could still thrive on the Hot 100 alongside teen idols, folk groups, and rock-influenced acts.
3. Puff (The Magic Dragon) – Peter, Paul & Mary
Peter, Paul & Mary climbed to #3 with “Puff (The Magic Dragon),” one of the most beloved folk songs of the decade. Its gentle storytelling and warm harmonies gave it a special place on early 1960s radio.
The song’s appeal came from its imagination and emotional softness. It sounded simple on the surface, but its wistful mood helped it connect with listeners across generations.
Its rise showed how strongly the folk revival was influencing mainstream pop. “Puff” brought acoustic storytelling into the Top 5 during a season filled with many different sounds.
4. Pipeline – Chantay’s
The Chantays reached #4 with “Pipeline,” bringing surf-rock instrumental energy into the Top 5. The song’s rolling guitar sound and dramatic mood made it one of the most memorable instrumental hits of the year.
Unlike many vocal records on the chart, “Pipeline” created its excitement through atmosphere and rhythm. Its guitar line suggested waves, movement, and the growing surf culture of Southern California.
The record’s success showed how surf music was becoming a national force in 1963, opening the door for more guitar-driven records to break through on pop radio.
5. He’s So Fine – The Chiffons
The Chiffons remained in the Top 5 with “He’s So Fine,” proving the staying power of one of the year’s biggest girl-group records. After reaching #1, the song continued to hold strong with its bright vocals and unforgettable hook.
The famous “doo-lang” refrain gave the record an identity listeners could recognize instantly. Its youthful energy helped make it one of the defining hits of the early 1960s girl-group era.
Even as new records climbed around it, “He’s So Fine” remained a reminder that girl-group pop was one of the most important sounds shaping 1963.
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More Weeks at #1 for “I Will Follow Him”
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 May 4, 1963, this was your birthday song:
🎵 I Will Follow Him by Little Peggy March
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🎂 Try your own birthday:
- I Will Follow Him – Little Peggy March
- Can’t Get Used To Losing You – Andy Williams
- Puff (The Magic Dragon) – Peter, Paul & Mary
- Pipeline – Chantay’s
- He’s So Fine – The Chiffons
- If You Wanna Be Happy – Jimmy Soul
- Don’t Say Nothin’ Bad (About My Baby) – The Cookies
- Surfin’ U.S.A. – The Beach Boys
- On Broadway – The Drifters
- Watermelon Man – Mongo Santamaria Band
Chart Movers This Week
Surf, Folk, And Teen Pop Shared The Spotlight
The May 4, 1963 Billboard Hot 100 captured an especially colorful moment in American pop. Little Peggy March held #1 with a dramatic teen anthem, while Peter, Paul & Mary represented the folk revival and The Chantays brought surf-rock instrumentals into the Top 5.
Traditional pop remained strong through Andy Williams, and The Chiffons kept girl-group music near the top. Meanwhile, The Beach Boys were beginning to push surf music even further into the mainstream with “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
This week showed a chart in motion. The early 1960s sound was still bright and melodic, but new regional styles, stronger rhythms, and younger voices were beginning to reshape the direction of popular music.