"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is a song originally written and
first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda under the title
"Mbube", through South African Gallo Record Company.

In 1961, a version adapted into English by the doo-wop
group the Tokens became a number-one hit in the United
States on this day in 1961. It earned millions in royalties
from cover versions and film licensing.

Lyrics of Linda’s original version were written in Zulu, while
those from the Tokens’ adaptation were written by George
David Weiss.

The song has been adapted and covered internationally by
many pop and folk artists. It was first recorded in the United
States by the Weavers in November 1951, and published
under the title "Wimoweh."

The Tokens

After more than a decade of hits like that never quite made it
to the top of the charts, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
finally earn their first #1 hit when “Tears Of A Clown” topped
the Billboard Hot 100 on December 12, 1970.

William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (84).

On July 29, 1967, The Doors’ song “Light My Fire,” from their
debut album, earned the top spot in the Billboard Hot 100,
becoming their first bona fide smash hit and propelling The
Doors from cult favorites of the rock cognoscenti into
international pop stars and avatars of the ’60s counterculture.

James Douglas Morrison
(December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971)

   
On July 9, 1955 "Rock Around the Clock" became the first rock
and roll recording to hit the top of Billboard‘s Pop charts.

The song is ranked No. 159 on the Rolling Stone magazine’s
list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The Pythian condominium building,
formerly the Pythian Temple where
the recording session for “Rock
Around the Clock” took place.  

The song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” topped the Billboard pop
chart on December 18, 1961, was an instant classic that went
on to become one of the most successful pop songs of all time,
yet its true originator saw only a tiny fraction of the song’s
enormous profits.