Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4th, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.
While February is traditionally celebrated as Black History Month, we're breaking with tradition today to feature each of the #1 Records on Billboard Magazine's Best Selling Rhythm And Blues Singles Chart in 1968 as a means of remembering and celebrating the great music of this era as performed by some of music's top Black Acts.
Interestingly ... (or would that be Ironically) ... the same song (by two different artists) bookend this year's list of #1 Hits ...
January 6th - I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight and the Pips (1 week at #1 in 1968, carried over from 5 weeks at #1 in 1967 for a total of 6 weeks on top overall)
January 13th - I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
January 20th - Chain Of Fools - Aretha Franklin (4 weeks)
February 17th - I Wish It Would Rain - The Temptations (3 weeks)
March 9th - We're A Winner - The Impressions
March 16th - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding (3 weeks)
April 6th - (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone - Aretha Franklin (3 weeks)
April 27th - I Got The Feelin' - James Brown (2 weeks)
May 11th - Cowboys To Girls - The Intruders
May 18th - Tighten Up - Archie Bell and the Drells (2 weeks)
June 1st - Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day - Stevie Wonder
June 8th - Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
June 15th - Think - Aretha Franklin (3 weeks ... and her THIRD #1 Record already for this year!)
July 6th- I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) - The Temptations
July 13th - Grazing In The Grass - Hugh Masekela (4 weeks)
August 10th - Stay In My Corner - The Dells (3 weeks)
August 31st - You're All I Need To Get By - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (5 weeks)
October 5th - Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud (Part 1) - James Brown (6 weeks)
November 16th - Hey, Western Union Man - Jerry Butler
November 23rd - Who's Making Love - Johnnie Taylor
December 14th - I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye (3 weeks in 1968, spilling over for a total of SEVEN weeks overall)
