Jersey City on the Billboard charts.
Every artist here has a verified national chart record and a documented Jersey City connection, stated plainly and cited on each entry. From the first No. 1 of the SoundScan era to a street-corner R&B giant, these are the receipts.
The Number Ones
- Marilyn McCooMultiple Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s — “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” and “Wedding Bell Blues” with The 5th Dimension (1969), and “You Don't Have to Be a Star” with Billy Davis Jr. (1976).
- Nancy SinatraTwo Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles — “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” (1966) and “Somethin' Stupid,” a duet with Frank Sinatra (1967).
- Kool & the Gang“Celebration” hit No. 1 for two weeks in 1981 · 25 Top-10 R&B and 9 Top-10 pop hits.
- The Manhattans“Kiss and Say Goodbye” topped the Billboard Hot 100 (1976) and “Shining Star” reached No. 5 (1980), across 45 charted R&B hits.
- P.M. Dawn“Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (1991), the first No. 1 of the SoundScan era.
- Jerry Herman“Hello, Dolly!,” written by Herman, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Louis Armstrong (1964).
- Tommy WestProduced Jim Croce's Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” and “Time in a Bottle” (1973).
- Frank InfanteFour Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles as a member of Blondie: “Heart of Glass” (1979), “Call Me” (1980), “The Tide Is High” (1980), and “Rapture” (1981).
- AkonTwo Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles: “I Wanna Love You” (2006) and “Don't Matter” (2007).
Top 40 and Gold
- Al CaiolaInstrumental hits “Bonanza” (No. 19, 1961) and “The Magnificent Seven” (No. 38, 1961).
- Al Di MeolaThe album Elegant Gypsy reached No. 58 on the Billboard 200 (1977).
- The Duprees“You Belong to Me” (No. 7, 1962), “My Own True Love” (No. 13, 1962), and “Have You Heard” (No. 18, 1963).
- Christina Milian“Dip It Low” reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 (2004); “AM to PM” hit No. 27 (2001).
- The PersuasionsThree charting albums in the early 1970s: Street Corner Symphony (No. 16 R&B / No. 88 pop, 1972), We Came to Play (No. 32 R&B, 1971), and Spread the Word (No. 40 R&B, 1972).
- Joe BuddenSlaughterhouse's Welcome to: Our House debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 (2012); “Pump It Up” reached No. 38 on the Hot 100 (2003, Grammy nominated).
- The Jelly Beans“I Wanna Love Him So Bad” reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 (1964).
- Ronnie & the Hi-Lites“I Wish That We Were Married” reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 (1962).
- Roy Hamilton“You'll Never Walk Alone” spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart (1954); “Unchained Melody” also reached No. 1 R&B (1955).
Genre Charts and Broadcast
- Apache“Gangsta Bitch” (Q-Tip production) reached No. 11 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles and No. 67 on the Hot 100 (1993).
- The Spellbinders“For You” reached the Top 25 on the Billboard R&B chart (1965, Columbia Records).
- MacArthur MunfordWith The Spellbinders, “For You” reached the Billboard R&B Top 25 (1965).
- 14 Karat SoulLaunched by Stan Krause on Catamount Records; performed on Saturday Night Live (1983) and became a major concert draw in Japan.
- Ed ShaughnessyHouse drummer of NBC's The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992.
- Stan KrauseAs producer and label owner, Krause broke The Persuasions (No. 16 R&B, 1972) and 14 Karat Soul (Saturday Night Live, 1983), pushing Jersey City street-corner harmony onto the national stage.
Commonly Misattributed
Widely syndicated lists, including real-estate and tourism blogs, credit several artists to Jersey City who are from elsewhere in the region. The record, corrected below, and the full story in The Sound Report:
- Frank Sinatra is from Hoboken, not Jersey City. His daughter Nancy Sinatra and son Frank Sinatra Jr. were born in Jersey City.
- Queen Latifah was born in Newark and raised in East Orange, not Jersey City, despite widespread online claims to the contrary.
- Lauryn Hill is from South Orange, not Jersey City, despite widespread online claims to the contrary.
- Shaquille O'Neal is from Newark, not Jersey City, by his own account.
- Whitney Houston is from Newark, not Jersey City.
- Sarah Vaughan is from Newark, not Jersey City.
- Gloria Gaynor is from Newark, not Jersey City.
- Dionne Warwick is from East Orange, not Jersey City.
- Zakk Wylde was born in Bayonne, not Jersey City.
- The Ad Libs (“The Boy from New York City”) formed in Bayonne, not Jersey City.
- 070 Shake is from North Bergen, not Jersey City.
- Erick Morillo was raised in Union City, not Jersey City.
- Ray Toro of My Chemical Romance is from Kearny, not Jersey City.
- Fetty Wap is from Paterson, not Jersey City.
- The Shirelles are from Passaic, not Jersey City.
- Felipe Rose of the Village People lived only briefly in Jersey City; he is from Brooklyn and later settled in Asbury Park.
Common Questions
What famous musicians are from Jersey City?
Jersey City's charted artists include Marilyn McCoo, Nancy Sinatra, Kool & the Gang, The Manhattans, P.M. Dawn, Jerry Herman, Tommy West, Frank Infante, Akon, among many others documented in this archive.
Has a Jersey City artist ever had a number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
Yes. Kool & the Gang, P.M. Dawn, The Manhattans, Nancy Sinatra, Marilyn McCoo, and Akon all reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Jersey City natives Frank Infante and members played on four Hot 100 number ones with Blondie.
Is Frank Sinatra from Jersey City?
No. Frank Sinatra is from Hoboken. His daughter Nancy Sinatra and son Frank Sinatra Jr. were both born in Jersey City.
Is Queen Latifah from Jersey City?
No. Queen Latifah was born in Newark and raised in East Orange, not Jersey City.
Is Lauryn Hill from Jersey City?
No. Lauryn Hill is from South Orange, not Jersey City.
Know a charted act we are missing?
The archive grows by receipts. If a Jersey City artist charted and is not here, or a fact needs a stronger source, tell us.
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