Record Breakers and Trivia : Singles : Artists : Age
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Youngest Chart-Topper
Little Jimmy Osmond. He was just 9 years and 8 months young when he hit the summit in 1972 with "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool." Youngest female chart-topper is Helen Shapiro who took "You Don't Know" to the top at the tender age of 14 years and 10 months.
Jessica Smith played the part of 'Baby Sun' in the Teletubbies TV programme. Her giggle was used on The Teletubbies 1997 chart-topper "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!" Though not credited for this 'performance,' she is the youngest person to have appeared on a no.1 single. We are currently trying to ascertain her precise age at the time of recording; it is certainly less than 1 year old and thought to be around the 7 month mark. If you're reading this Jessica, please let us know!
Youngest Top 40 Act
Microbe. Real name Ian Doody, he was just 3 years old when he took "Groovy Baby" to no. 29 in 1969! His dad, Pat, was the news reader on Radio One at the time and his son would sit in front of the radio and 'talk to daddy'. He recorded the lines and used them on the Dave Cash show. Chris Andrews heard it and wrote 'Groovy Baby'. The chorus was by Maddy Bell, Leslie Duncan and Dusty Springfield.
Natalie Casey was the same age when her 1984 track "Chick Chick Chicken" was released but it stalled at no. 72.
Youngest girl to hit the Top 40 in her own right is Demi Holborn. She was 10 years, 2 months and 16 days old when she made no. 27 with "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" in July 2002. In so doing she beat Lena Zavoroni's record of some 28 years standing. Lena was 6 weeks older than Demi when she made the no. 10 position with "Ma He's Making Eyes At Me" in 1974. (see also the note about Jessica Smith in thr 'Youngest Chart-Topper' section, abobve).
The youngest girl to have sung on a Top 40 hit is Joy Gruttmann who provided the vocals for Schnappi (a cartoon crocodile) on the 2005 hit "Schnappi" (no. 32). Though 7 years old by the time the song became a UK hit, Joy laid down her vocals at the tender age of 4.
In terms of appearing on a hit single, Jessica Smith played the part of 'Baby Sun' in the Teletubbies TV programme. Her giggle was used on The Teletubbies 1997 chart-topper "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!" Though not credited for this 'performance,' she is the youngest person to have appeared on a top 40 single. We are currently trying to ascertain her precise age at the time of recording; it is certainly less than 1 year old and thought to be around the 7 month mark. If you're reading this Jessica, please let us know!
Youngest Performer to Enter at Number 1
Billie (Piper); she was 15 years and 287 days when she entered the chart at number 1 on 5th July 1998 with "Because We Want To." Youngest male to do so is Gareth Gates. He was 17 years and 255 days old when he debuted at number 1 with "Unchained Melody" on 24th March 2002.
Oldest Chart-Topper
Louis Armstrong who was 66 years and 10 months when he peaked with "What A Wonderful World"/"Cabaret" in Feb 1968.
Oldest woman is Cher who was 52 years and 7 months when she hit the number 1 spot with "Believe" (1999).
Special mention must go to Kenneth Wolstenholme. Born on 17th July 1920, he went on to become a commentator for the BBC, uttering the immortal line "they think it's all over, it is now" at the end of England's 1966 World Cup final victory. His words spoken words were used (albeit re-voiced) in Englandneworder's chart-topper from June 1990, "World In Motion". Though he was uncredited on the track, this makes Wolstenholme the oldest person to appear on a no.1 single whilst still alive (a month shy of his 70th birthday, though only 45 when he uttered the words!)
Record for the longest gap between birth date and occupying the no. 1 spot overall goes to Nigel Patrick. His original 1966 commentary featured on the "World In Motion" single. Born on 2nd May 1913, he would have been been 77 at the time of his most recent (and only) number 1 (albeit uncredited). Sadly, he died in 1981 oblivious to the fact that he would go on to be a 'pop star'.
Oldest Top 40 Artist
When Larry Adler hit the Top 40 with "The Man I Love" (a duet with Kate Bush) in July 1994, he was 5 months into his 80th year.
Andy williams became the oldest solo artist to have a hit in Dec 2007 (with the issue of his 1963 recording "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"; one week into his 80th year! He, thus toppled John Lee Hooker who was merely(!) 75 years and 2 months old when "Boom Boom" made no. 16. (Had Louis Armstrong survived, he would have been 93 years and 5 months when "We Have All The Time In The World" charted in 1994/5 - a record for the longest gap between birthdate and latest hit.)
Hylda Baker was 73 years and 7 months old (though some sources put her two or even three years younger than this) when she hit the chart as a duet with Arthur Mullard singing a comedy version of "You're The One That I Want". Assuming the former age to be accurate (we believe that it is), this makes her the oldest woman with a chart credit. Most senior female solo artist is Shirley Bassey who was 70 years and 4 months young when she entered the charts with "The Living Tree" in May 2007.
In terms of groups, The Zimmers had a combined age of 3,120 years when they hit the chart in 2007 with their version of "My Generation." There were 40 members; average age 78. Lead singer Alf Carretta was age 90 at the time of recording/chart entry and drummer, Buster Martin, 100 years old - the oldest person ever to chart. Winifred Warburton was oldest woman in the group, aged 99.
Most Disparately Aged Duo
Andy Williams (b. 3rd Dec 1928) & Denise Van Outen (b. 14th Jan 1974). This couple is separated by an age gap of 45 years, 1 month and 11 days; the biggest of any duo. They had a hit with "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" in Jun 2002.
The most disparately aged same-sex duo is Frank Sinatra & Bono (44 years, 4 months and 28 days). Their track "I've Got You Under My Skin" made no. 4 in Dec 1993.
Also well worthy of a mention is Jessica Simpson's 2005 hit, "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'". This featured an uncredited (and almost inaudible) contribution from Willie Nelson who is 47 years, 2 months, and 10 days Jessica's senior.
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