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REWIND: The first Filipino musical group to enter US Billboard Hot 100 chart

Entertainment | Music and Concerts

REWIND: The first Filipino musical group to enter US Billboard Hot 100 chart

By Robert Requintina

At A Glance

The Billboard Hot 100 singles chart premiered on Aug. 4, 1958. These days, the songs in the US chart are based on physical and digital sales, online streaming, and radio airplay.

Long before Jake Zyrus (Charice) hit the Billboard Hot 100 US chart with the songs "Pyramid" and "Note to God" in 2010, the Filipino musical group dubbed The Rockey Fellers debuted on the prestigious musical chart in May 1963.

The Rockey Fellers are composed of Doroteo Malignat and his sons Tony, Eddie, Junior, and Albert.

Their hit song "Killer Joe," inspired by the King of Discotheque Killer Joe Piro," peaked the Billboard Hot 100 singles at No. 16. It was written by Bert Russell, Bob Medley, and Bob Elgin also in 1963.

The Rocky Fellers (YouTube)

The Rockey Fellers followed "Killer Joe '' with another hit song entitled "Like the Big Guys Do" which reached No. 55 on the same chart.

But the success of The Rockey Fellers was cut short following the British invasion of the US music scene.

The Billboard Hot 100 singles chart premiered on Aug. 4, 1958. These days, the songs in the US chart are based on physical and digital sales, online streaming, and radio airplay.

Click below to listen to the first Filipino group that rocked the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

https://youtu.be/zzT6VXteGSQ?list=OLAK5uy_nfGftKT-bK-KCKIFUzmQtgyIMn_r7_G_k

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