The only way to get your record into the hit parade was to have your record played on the radio or on a juke box. Because the wireless was a more powerful medium and reached more people, the songs that were on the BBC play list stood more chance of being a hit.

 

King Brothers

The King Brothers made it big with 'A White Sports Coat' as they were discovered on the BBC they were OK

Teddy Johnson & Pearl Carr

Teddy Johson and Pearl Carr were every thing the BBC wanted. They were married, the sung songs like 'Sing Little Birdie Sing' and they did not mind posing with Petula Clark

Mantovani

When you consider that an artist today only has to sell about 10 copies of their latest single for it to go gold. It was then some achievement that Mantovani sold over a Million copies of 'Charmaine'. A light orchestral piece.

 

Frankie Vaughan

The old smoothie himself Frankie 'Mr Moonlight' Vaughan hoping to get Pet 'Behind The Green Door'

If you fancied a bit of whistling and yodelling Ronnie Ronalde was your boy. Many a housewife would have liked to get him in a 'Monestry Garden'

 

Ray Ellington

Ray Ellington the fifth Goon. Being the resident band on the 'Goon Show' Ray was BBC OK.

 

Norman Wisdom

I think Norman Wisdom has just found out that his top selling record 'Don't Laugh At Me Because I'm A Fool' has been knocked out of the hit parade by the Goons 'Ying Tong Song'

 

Denis Lotis

Denis Lotis arrived from South Africa and sang. Striped coats were OK with the BBC.

Even television programmes played the same music as the wireless. Rockers had a hard fight.