Roy Hamilton was raised in Jersey City from his early teens, after his family moved from Leesburg, Georgia around 1943, and he was discovered performing in the city.
“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).
Sealed in the Record · 2026-07-18 · verify
In the Record§
He sang in Jersey City church choirs with the Searchlight Gospel Singers and boxed Golden Gloves before signing with Epic Records, where he became the label's first star.
His recording of “You'll Never Walk Alone” spent eight weeks at number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1954.
“Unchained Melody” reached number 1 R&B and the pop top 10 in 1955, and “Don't Let Go” reached number 13 pop in 1958, a record often cited as the first rock and roll hit recorded in stereo.
“You Can Have Her” reached number 12 pop in 1961. Hamilton was a documented influence on Elvis Presley.
He died in 1969 at the age of 40.
By family account, given to this archive in 2026 by DJ Flash, Hamilton's line runs into the city's hip-hop era: DJ Flash, who records as DJ Flash Hamilton and is credited with originating Jersey City's mixtape scene, and the late rapper Riggamortis, first cousins, name him as their great-great-grandfather.
Sources§
- Wikipedia — Roy Hamilton — link
- Billboard chart history (Hot R&B and Hot 100)
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