List of Billboard number-one R&B songs of 1953

In 1953, Billboard magazine published two charts specifically covering the top-performing songs in the United States in rhythm and blues and related African-American-oriented music genres: National Best Sellers and Most Played in Juke Boxes. The two charts are considered part of the lineage of the magazine's multimetric R&B chart launched in 1958,[1] which since 2005 has been published under the title Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs.

B.B. King topped the juke box chart for three non-consecutive weeks with "Please Love Me".

In the issue of Billboard dated January 3, Eddie Boyd was at number one on the juke box chart with "Five Long Years" and Willie Mabon and his Combo topped the best sellers listing with "I Don't Know", both songs retaining their positions from the final week of 1952.[2] The year's longest-running number one on both charts was "Shake a Hand" by Faye Adams; on the best sellers chart it spent nine consecutive weeks in the top spot, and on the juke box listing it spent ten non-consecutive weeks at number one. It was the first chart entry for the singer and began a string of three consecutive number ones, but after 1957 she never charted again;[3] in the early 1960s she turned to gospel music and reportedly refused to even talk about her secular recordings.[4] Although "Shake a Hand" had the highest total number of weeks at number one on the juke box chart, the longest unbroken run in the top spot was achieved by Willie Mabon's "I Don't Know", which spent six consecutive weeks atop the chart in January and February.

Among the other acts to top the chart for the first time in 1953 was Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, who reached number one on both listings with "Hound Dog", the only charting single of her career.[5] The song would later be covered by Elvis Presley, whose version became a multi-million seller.[6] Although less well known, Thornton's original recording is regarded as highly influential; its accolades include being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame[7] and being selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant".[8] Four other acts gained this first number ones in 1953, including the acts with the final number one of the year on each chart: Big Joe Turner with "Honey Hush" on the juke box chart and Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters on the best sellers listing.[9] Faye Adams reached number one with "Shake a Hand", the first chart entry of her career, a feat also achieved by the "5" Royales, who topped both charts in February with "Baby Don't Do It" and returned to number one on both listings in June with "Help Me Somebody".[10] This gave the group the distinction of having gained two number ones with its first two charting songs, but it would not achieve another chart-topper.[10]