Explore 1959

1959

President:  Dwight D. Eisenhower
Vice President:  Richard Milhouse Nixon

COST OF LIVING

House                    $  30,000.00 (3-bedroom Ranch Style)
Average income   $    5,016.00 (Yearly)
Minimum Wage     $           1.00 (Per Hour)
Cost of new car    $     2,250.00
Gas (Gallon)         $               .25
Milk (Gallon)         $            1.01 
Postage Stamp     $              .04   
Bread                     $             .20
Eggs (Dozen)        $             .89

MUSIC

New Recording Artists for 1959

Annette Funicello
Brook Benton
Chubby Checker
James Darren
Fabian
Isley Brothers
Jan & Dean
Cliff Richards (voted first British “teen” idol)
Bobby Rydell
Bobby Vee
Bobby Darin

The GRAMMY AWARDS

Record of the Year                    Mack the knife by Bobby Darin  
Song of the Year                        the Battle of New Orleans (by Jimmy Driftwood)
Album of the Year                     Come Dance with Me by Frank Sinatra
Best Vocal-Male                        Frank Sinatra, “Come Dance with Me
Best Vocal-Female                    Ella Fitzgerald “But not for me”
Best New Artist                         Bobby Darin
Best Vocal-Duo/Group               Kingston Trio

#1 Selling Song of 1959

The Battle of New Orleans        Johnny Horton (Billboards Pop & Country Charts)

Top selling Albums of 1959

The Sound of Music                   Original cast
The Kingston Trio at Large        The Kingston Trio

Top Songs we Listened to in 1959

Mack the Knife                          Bobby Darin
Battle of New Orleans              Johnny Horton
Venus                                         Frankie Avalon
Stagger Lee                               Lloyd Price (Top R&B hit of 1959)
The Three Bells                         The Browns
Come Softly to me                    The Fleetwoods
Lonely Boy                                Paul Anka
Smoke Gets in your Eyes        The Platters
Heartaches by the Number      Guy Mitchell
Sleep Walk                                Santo & Johnny
Kansas City                               Wilbert Harrison
A Big Hunk of Love                  Elvis Presley
Mr. Blue                                     The Fleetwoods
The Happy Organ                     Dave “Baby” Cortez
Personality                                Lloyd Price
Put your head on my shoulder  Paul Anka
Charlie Brown                           The Coasters
Donna                                        Ritchie Vallens
16 Candles                                Crests
Sea of Love                               Phil Phillips

 Other Songs We Were Grooving To In 1959

It’s just a matter of time            Brook Benton
Pink Shoe Laces                        Dodie Stevens
Dream Lover                              Bobby Darin
Tiger                                           Fabin
There goes my baby                 The Drifters
Poison Ivy                                 The Coasters
Kookie, lend me your comb     Connie Stevens
What’d I say?                            Ray Charles
La Bamba                                  Ritchie Vallens
Deck of Cards                           Wink Martindale
El Paso                                      Marty Robbins
High Hopes                               Frank Sinatra
Lonely Teardrops                     Jackie Wilson
Misty                                         Johnny Mathis
Oh Carol                                    Neil Sedaka (debut song)
Running Bear                           Johnny Preston
Sea Cruise                                Frankie Ford
Tell Paul                                    Annette w/the Afterbeats
Turn me Loose                         Fabin
Alvin’s Harmonica                   Alvin and the Chipmunks