List of Hot R&B Singles number ones of 1963

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs is a chart published by Billboard that ranks the top-performing songs in the United States in African-American-oriented musical genres; the chart has undergone various name changes since its launch in 1942 to reflect the evolution of such genres. In 1963, it was published under the title Hot R&B Singles, reflecting the fact that rhythm and blues was the dominant genre. During that year, 21 different singles topped the chart, based on playlists submitted by radio stations and surveys of retail sales outlets.[1] After the issue dated November 23, 1963, Billboard discontinued the chart, which did not return until the issue dated January 30, 1965. No official explanation has ever been given as to why Billboard ceased producing R&B charts. Chart historian Joel Whitburn has contended that "there was so much crossover of titles between the R&B and pop singles (Hot 100) charts that Billboard considered the charts to be too similar".[2]

Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs had the last number one before the chart was discontinued.

In the issue of Billboard dated January 5, Esther Phillips moved up to number one with her version of "Release Me" displacing the final chart-topper of 1962, "You Are My Sunshine" by Ray Charles,[3] but Charles' version of the country song returned to the top of the chart the following week. The year's longest-running number one was "Fingertips (Part 2)" by Little Stevie Wonder, which spent six consecutive weeks in the top spot in August and September. Wonder, who would go on to become one of the biggest stars not only in the R&B field but across all genres, was only 12 years old when the live performance was recorded earlier in the year.[4]

The final number one before Billboard stopped publishing the Hot R&B Singles chart was "Sugar Shack" by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs, which moved into the top spot in the final chart to be published, in the issue dated November 23. The song had previously spent five weeks at number one on the Hot 100.[5] Songs by Little Stevie Wonder, Paul & Paula, Ruby & the Romantics, the Chiffons, Little Peggy March, Jimmy Soul, Lesley Gore and the Essex also topped both charts in 1963.[6] The majority of the acts who topped the R&B chart in 1963 did so for the first time: Paul & Paula, Ruby & the Romantics, the Chiffons, Little Peggy March, Jimmy Soul, Lesley Gore, Barbara Lewis, the Essex, Little Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas, Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters, Little Johnny Taylor, the Impressions, and Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs all made their first appearance in the peak position during the year.[7]