1961 - Calcutta (Lawrence Welk)

Calcutta

"Calcutta" was written in 1960 by Heino Gaze (music) and Hans Bradtke (lyrics). But an instrumental recording of the tune by Lawrence Welk on the 1961 album "Calcutta! " was a chart hit, possibly the biggest hit of Welk's career.

"Calcutta" hit the top of US Billboard 100 for 2 weeks in February 1961. At the time that "Calcutta" reached #1, Welk, who was then 57, became the oldest artist to have a number one pop single in the U.S. (His record would be broken three years later by Louis Armstrong who, at 62, topped the singles charts with "Hello, Dolly!" in early 1964.)

Dancers Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan, cast members on Welk's weekly TV show, worked up a dance routine to go along with "Calcutta", which they would perform to the song numerous times on the Welk show.