Michael Jackson had already became the youngest artist to ever record a number one hit when he was in the Jackson 5 two years prior. But he was only the third youngest when it came to solo number ones. Find out who the other number one teenage singers were.
Originally written for Donny Osmond, a teen idol of the early 70’s, the song Ben was offered to Michael Jackson as Osmond was on tour at the time and unavailable for recording. It became a number one hit for the then 14-year old Michael Jackson, and the song later went on to win a Golden Globe for Best Song. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Ben was by the way written for the American horror film about a young boy and his pet rat, Ben.
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Although MJ had already become the youngest artist to ever record a number-one (I Want You Back with The Jackson 5, in 1970), Ben only made him the third-youngest solo artist, at fourteen, to score a number-one hit single. Only Stevie Wonder, who was thirteen when his song Fingertips, Pt. 2 went to number one, and Osmond, who was months shy of his fourteenth birthday when Go Away Little Girl hit number one in 1971 were younger.
Michael is still however, the youngest artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 at age 11 for I Want You Back.
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If you lived long enough to see Michael Jackson grow, then just be glad. Reminiscing about your past can sometimes help you feel good. So tune in to Y101’s Friday Gold Rush, where our rhythm crew will play the best hits of yesteryears!
So tune in to the rhythm of the city, Y101, Always First.
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