The instrumental song "Sleep Walk" was written and recorded by brothers Santo &
Johnny Farina, with their uncle Mike Dee playing the drums. It was recorded at
Trinity Music in Manhattan, New York City. The single entered Billboard‘s Top
40 on August 17, 1959 and rose to the number 1 position for the last two weeks
in September and remained in the Top 40 until November 9. It also reached
number 4 on the R&B chart and was the last instrumental to hit number one in
the 1950s and earned Santo & Johnny a gold record.
 

The Drifters first single featuring Charlie Thomas on lead vocal, "Sweets
for My Sweet" reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 10 on the
R&B chart, in October 1961. This was one of the few post-1958 Drifters
singles that did not feature a string section. It also featured Jimmy Radcliffe
and four female backup vocalists, all of whom would later have hit records,
Cissy Houston, Doris Troy, Dionne Warwick, and Dee Dee Warwick. The
recording also features an up in front piano provided by the song’s co-writer,
Mort Shuman. (From Wikipedia)

The song "The Tracks of My Tears" was written by Smokey Robinson, Pete
Moore, and Marv Tarplin. It is a multiple award-winning hit R&B song and
was also chosen as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that
Shaped Rock and Roll.

William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. turned 77 on February 19.

Fats Domino scored his first R&B #1 hit with “Goin’ Home,” which he recorded with his own band, due to Dave Bartholomew’s departure.

Antoine "Fats" Domino, Jr. turned 89 on February 26.

The song “Twist and Shout” was the trio’s first record to
reach a Top 20 position in the Billboard Hot 100 singles
chart. The recording peaked at No. 17 on the pop top
40 charts, and No. 2 on the R&B charts.