Throwing back to the week of December 7, 1963, we find The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire) at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Dominique.’
I wrote about ‘Dominique’ recently when covering the nine songs not in the English language to top this chart.
That brings us to the #2 song that week, which is ‘I’m Leaving It Up To You’ by the duo Dale & Grace.
This doo-wop ditty spent two weeks at #1 before dropping to the second spot, making it the song atop the charts when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The duo was actually scheduled to perform in Dallas that day, and watched the president’s motorcade pass by their hotel shortly before the shooting.
Careful readers might remember me recently writing that the song ‘Deep Purple’ by Nino Tempo & April Stevens was atop the charts when Kennedy was killed. That was a misunderstanding on my part. That track was #1 in the days leading up to the assassination, but surrendered the crown to ‘I’m Leaving It Up To You’ just before the fateful day.
You decide what you’re gonna do
Now do you want my love?
Or are we through?
That’s why I’m leaving it up to you oh oh
You decide what you’re gonna do
Now do you want my love?
Or are we through?
My heart in my hand
I, I don’t understand
Baby, what, what have I done wrong?
I worship, I worship the ground that you walk on
That’s why I’m leavin’ it up to you oh oh
You decide what you’re gonna do
Now do you want my love?
Or are we through?
Meet Me In Montauk 
Being the number 1 song on such a tragic day is a rather dubious distinction. It got me wondering though what the number one song was on 9-11-2001. The answer, rather ironically, is: “I’m Real (Murder Remix)” by Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule. I have no memory of this song, and I doubt anyone was really listening to it that day.