Oldest #1 by a living artist

[johnnywest]

I heard a story on the news recently about Tony Bennett battling Alzheimer's and it got me to thinking: how far back on the charts can you go to find a #1 song where the artist is still alive?

Probably everyone with a #1 hit from the 1930s and 1940s is dead. But 95-year-old Tony Bennett is still around and spent 10 weeks at #1 in 1951 with "Because Of You." Does he hold the current record? Most, if not all, of the #1 artists from 1950 are dead, including Patti Page, Perry Como, Teresa Brewer, Gene Autry and The Andrews Sisters, but there could be others I'm overlooking.

[Mike]

1946 has one, at least in part: This week back in '46, "Oh! What it Seemed to Be" was #1 across the board. Most played on radio was a rendition by Frank Sinatra, but most played in jukeboxes AND the best-selling in stores was a rendition by Frankie Carle and His Orchestra, with Marjorie Hughes on vocal. Unless it's just never been reported anywhere, she is still with us, at the age of 96.

[freakyflybry]

The Ames Brothers hit #1 in 1950 with "Rag Mop/Sentimental Me". Ed Ames is still alive at 94.