Joel Whitburn
Joel Carver Whitburn was born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on the 29th of November 1939. He began collecting records during his teenage years while living in the Midwest. The year 1953 marked a turning point when he first subscribed to Billboard magazine. This subscription provided him with weekly data about popular music trends. When the Hot 100 chart launched in 1958, Whitburn started recording every single entry by hand. He used index cards to track these numbers and names for decades. His method involved writing down peak positions and dates of charted songs. This manual process laid the foundation for his future career as a historian.
Whitburn worked in record distribution for RCA during the mid 1960s. He utilized his personal statistics to help radio stations make programming decisions. The year 1970 saw him establish Record Research Inc. in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. He assembled a team of researchers to analyze all available music charts from Billboard. A licensing agreement allowed his company to use official chart data legally. This partnership enabled them to publish books based on verified industry information. Their work covered genres ranging from rock to country over many decades. The company grew steadily through careful organization and accurate reporting.
Top Pop Singles served as the flagship publication for Record Research Inc. This book traced the history of Billboard's popular singles charts including the Hot 100. The most recent edition titled Top Pop Singles 1955, 2018 appeared in June 2019. Whitburn also authored the series known as Top 40 Hits published by Billboard Books. The ninth edition covering years 1955 to 2009 was released in 2012. Over 200 reference books have been published since the company began operations. Fifty titles remain part of the core Record Research catalog today. Each entry includes peak position dates weeks charted label details and artist trivia.
Whitburn maintained an extensive personal collection of phonograph records throughout his life. These items were stored within underground vaults at his home in Menomonee Falls. His archive contained copies of nearly every 78-rpm record that reached the Billboard charts. He also collected 45-rpm singles LP albums and compact discs from the same era. By 2013 experts estimated this collection held over 200,000 individual singles. The physical size of these holdings reflected decades of dedicated acquisition efforts. Every item represented a piece of music history preserved for future study.
Radio DJs across the United States relied heavily on Whitburn's research tools. Music fans worldwide used his books to verify historical chart positions and track releases. His data extended back to 1890 and covered many different musical genres. Entertainment industry professionals cited his work as essential for understanding past trends. The accuracy of his publications made them standard references for broadcasters and archivists. Whitburn died at his home on the 14th of June 2022 at age 82. His wife Frances passed away five months after him. An interview with Larry LeBlanc from 2007 documented much of his career insights.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was Joel Whitburn born and where did he live?
Joel Carver Whitburn was born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on the 29th of November 1939. He lived in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin for most of his life.
What year did Joel Whitburn start collecting Billboard chart data manually?
The Hot 100 chart launched in 1958 when Joel Whitburn started recording every single entry by hand. He used index cards to track these numbers and names for decades.
Where is Record Research Inc located and what does it publish?
Record Research Inc operates out of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The company publishes over 200 reference books including Top Pop Singles that trace the history of Billboard charts from 1890 onward.
How many records were in Joel Whitburn's personal collection before he died?
Experts estimated Joel Whitburn's collection held over 200,000 individual singles by 2013. His archive contained copies of nearly every 78-rpm record that reached the Billboard charts along with 45-rpm singles and LP albums.
When did Joel Whitburn die and how old was he at death?
Joel Whitburn died at his home on the 14th of June 2022 at age 82. His wife Frances passed away five months after him following an interview with Larry LeBlanc from 2007 that documented much of his career insights.