R&B Through History
The Hits of 1960
1960 R&B TOP SINGLES
Explore the defining R&B and Soul single releases of 1960. Click any card to load its details, source album, and a fun fact below! (← Back to Main Dashboard)
1960
Early Soul / Motown's RiseTop 30 Single Releases
Selected Song Details
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Source Album:
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Key Takeaways: 1960 Singles
The year 1960 marked the true beginning of the soul era and the ascent of powerhouse labels. **Motown Records** landed its first million-selling hit with The Miracles' "Shop Around," establishing Smokey Robinson as a premier songwriter. The "girl group" sound exploded onto the charts with **The Shirelles'** "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," the first song of its kind to hit #1 on the Hot 100. The raw, unbridled energy of soul was introduced to the world with the ferocious debut of **Tina Turner** on "A Fool in Love." Meanwhile, established artists like **Sam Cooke** and **The Drifters** continued to release sophisticated, socially-aware, and emotionally resonant music that would define the sound of the new decade.