There have been 1383 UK chart single number 1s since 1952.
This song was released about 6 months later, as it was delayed by legal constraints due to Richardson's death in the plane crash. The Cajun musician friend Johnny Preston, who originally was unsure about the song but was eventually persuaded to cut it. Preston became a Rockabilly star and followed "Running Bear" with the #7 "Cradle of Love."
More songs from the same decade.