WTJU 91.1 FM

How does someone discover jazz? In the 1950s through the mid-60s it was through tAM radio. At that time, Top Forty stations simply aired the most popular songs in the country — the genre was a secondary consideration.

On Wednesday, Oct. 2 we’ll be featuring some of the chart-topping tunes. Legit jazz by legit jazz artists that happen to also be in everyone’s ear (or at least radio).

One of Count Basie’s best-selling albums of the 1950’s was “April in Paris.” This swinging Sammy Nestico chart proved to be a popular single, too. In the 1974 film “Blazing Saddles,” Count Basie and his Orchestra make a cameo playing “April in Paris.”

Other standouts from the decade include Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five,”

In the 1960s, rock began edging other genres off the Top 40 charts. But not entirely. stations gravitated towards rock, but there were still some standout jazz tracks.

Saxophonist Stanz Getz recorded an album with Brazilian husband and wife team Antonio Carlos Jobin and Joao Gilberto. A single from the album “The Girl From Ipanema” became a hit and won a Grammy. The album also introduced American jazz musicians to the bossa nova.

Acker Bilk, a Dixieland clarinetist from England scored a hit in 1961 with “A Stranger on the Shore.” Danish composer/pianist Bent Fabric (Bent Fabricius-Bjerre) crossed over with “Alley Cat” in 1062.

Two New Orleans musicians also charted in the early sixties, spurring a friendly rivalry. Clarinetist Pete Fountain arrived with “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” Trumpeter Al Hirt arrived four years later with “Java” and “Cotton Candy.”

Vince Gimaldi will be forever remembered for his soundtracks for the early Charlie Brown cartoon specials. His 1963 Top 40 hit “Cast Your Fate to the Wind” landed him the gig for “A Boy Named Charlie Brown.” And of course, his score — and playing — on “A Charlie Brown Christmas” has become engrained into the holiday.

Ramsey Lewis and his trio had success with their cover of “The In Crowd.” It would be the first of several Top 40 hits for the group.

Mongo Santamaria had a hit in 1963 with Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man.” Hancock would also take the tune up the charts a decade later.

One might think disco was king in the 1970s, but that didn’t prevent some jazz artists from finding a home on the charts. Bill Chase played lead trumpet with Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kento, and Woody Herman. In 1971 he formed his own horn band Chase and went straight to number one with “Get It On.”

George Benson hit the top twice. He arrived in 1977 with “Breezin'” and returned in 1980 with “Gimme the Night.”

By the 1980s jazz was a rarity on the charts. But Herbie Hancock managed it. He began as a trumpeter with Donald Byrd and later joined the Miles Davis Quintet. He had two standout hits — “Chameleon” and “Rockit.” The latter with a truly unsettling video in heavy rotation on MTV.

Blues guitarist Robert Cray was 33 when he burst onto the Top 40 charts with “Smokin’ Gun.”

In the 1990s Candy Dulfer briefly dominated the airways with her track “Saxuality.” Candy was the daughter of saxophonist Hans Dulfer and played in his big bands. She would form her own band at age 14.

And there are still some surprises. Norah Jones, daughter of Ravi Shankar, won three Down Beat Student Music Awards before graduating high school. Her 2002 chart-topper “Don’t Know Why” showcased her decades of experience as a lounge singer.

Now remember — this special show is part of the WTJU 2024 Jazz Marathon fund drive. So tune in, enjoy the music, and support the station. You can pledge at 434-924-3959, or online at wtju.net.

As always, I’ve gathered far more music than I can air in two hours. Here’s the complete playlist we’ll be choosing tracks from.