Yes, there have been several jazz songs that have reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts. One of the most notable is “Take Five” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961 and was the first jazz single to sell over one million copies.
Another jazz song that reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts is “Watermelon Man” by Herbie Hancock. This song, which was released in 1973, topped the Billboard R&B chart and helped to popularize jazz-funk fusion.
In addition, “Feels So Good” by Chuck Mangione reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978 and was a crossover hit that helped to bring jazz to a wider audience. Other jazz artists who have had chart-topping hits include George Benson, Grover Washington Jr., and Kenny G.
It’s worth noting that the way that Billboard calculates its charts has changed over the years, and what may have been considered a jazz song in the past may not fit into that category today. For example, in 2018, “This Is America” by Childish Gambino topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and features elements of jazz in its instrumentation and arrangement.
Overall, while jazz may not have as prominent a presence on the Billboard charts as other genres, there have been several jazz songs that have achieved chart-topping success and helped to bring the genre to a wider audience.
