Billboard Hot 100: “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” Hits No. 1

Oct. 17, 1964 - Hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 today is “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” a song written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich and recorded by Manfred Mann, a British group. First recorded last year by American vocal group the Exciters, Manfred Mann’s version was released on July 10. It spent two weeks at No. 1 of the U.K. Singles Chart in August.

Manfred Mann formed in London in 1962. The group is named after their keyboardist, Manfred Mann. The group’s lead vocalist is Paul Jones. The band’s hit “5-4-3-2-1” is the theme song for the British pop music show, “Ready Steady Go!” With the help of weekly television exposure, that song rose to No. 5 on the U.K. Singles Chart.

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