The Best of the Pop Charts in 1961

Spotlighin on The Shirelles

Bar none, they were THE group of 1961 and its most history making; their impact, sound, and influence is still felt today; they will forever be timeless. It all started in Passiac, New Jersey, where four young women started singing together in high school in 1958, calling themselves The Popquellos.

Original members Shirley Owens (later Shirley Alston Reeves), Beverly Lee, Addie "Micki" Harris, and Doris Coley (later Doris Kenner, then Jackson) won a local school competition with a self-written song, "I Met Him On A Sunday."

Mary Jane Greenberg, who attended the same high school, was very impressed and suggested that the group audition for her mother. They did. And they were then signed to the small Tiara Records label, owned by Florence Greenberg.

The group decided on a name change, first to the Honeytones, then finally to The Shirelles. In the spring of 1958, they recorded their contest entry. The record sold well; Greenberg leased it to Decca and "I Met Him On A Sunday" went to no. 49 on the Billboard pop charts.

A very encouraged Greenberg then created a new label, Scepter, (1959) and signed the Shirelles to it. She also hired songwriter/producer Luther Dixon to work with the group. Their next record was a remake of The Five Royales' 1957 song, "Dedicated To The One I Love." The song only went to no. 83 (1959).

The following year marked the group's first Top 40 hit (no.39), " Tonight's The Night", written by group member Owens and Luther Dixon. (Did you know that The Chiffons had a version of this? It only went to no. 76.) Dixon then suggested that the group should record a song, "Tomorrow", by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The Shirelles didn't like the song at all. Dixon and King then put together a new musical arrangement, making the tune more upbeat. With the new changes in place, the group agreed to do it. The reworked song was also retitled as "Will You Love Me Tomorrow". And rock-and-roll history was made.

Besides launching the careers of King, Goffin, Greenberg, and Dixon, the Shirelles were now "on the map". The song went to no.1 in mid-December 1960-early 1961. The quartet became the first female group to have a no.1 hit in the rock era. "Dedicated To The One I Love" was reissued and became a no. 3 smash, followed by "Mama Said", which went to no 4. "Big John", also from 1961, became a Top 30 hit (no. 21).

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