The Farina brothers: Santo (right) and Johnny (left) were born in
Brooklyn, New York.  

The song “Sleep Walk” was recorded at Trinity Music in Manhattan, New
York City, New York. It entered Billboard’s Top 40 on August 17, 1959 and
rose to the number-one position for two weeks in September and remained
in the Top 40 until November 9. The single also reached number four on the
R&B chart. It was the last instrumental to hit number one in the 1950s and
earned Santo & Johnny a gold record.

http://www.santoandjohnny.com/

Described by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson as "One of our
biggest records ever in life", "Mickey’s Monkey" was a Billboard Top
10 Pop hit, reaching # 8 on that chart, and a Top 10 R&B hit as well,
reaching # 3. It was also the Miracles’ third million selling record in
as many years.

William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. turned 75 in February

After signing a new recording contract with RCA Victor Arti Shaw chose "Begin
the Beguine" to be the first of six tunes he would record with his new 14 piece
band at this, his first recording session with RCA. The session was held at
RCA’s "Studio 2" on East 24th Street in New York. 

Artie Shaw (Arthur Jacob Arshawsky)
(May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004)

The song “Hanky Panky” was recorded at a local radio station, WNIL
in Niles, Michigan, and released on Snap Records, selling well in the
tri-state area of Michigan,Indiana and Illinois. The master of that 
original recording was later sold to Roulette Records where it then
received national distribution.

Tommy James, now 68, was born Thomas Gregory Jackson in Dayton, Ohio.

The Supremes from left: Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard.

The song "Buttered Popcorn" was written by Motown president Berry Gordy
and songwriter Barney Ales, and produced by Gordy, and released as a
Tamla label single by The Supremes. It was the group’s second single since
signing with Motown Records (and their third overall) as well as their second,
and last, single for the Tamla, before moving to the Motown label. This is not
only one of the rare singles to feature Florence Ballard on lead, but the only 
one with her as the sole lead.