Which 1976 Wild Cherry single topped the Billboard Hot 100?

“Which 1976 Wild Cherry single topped the Billboard Hot 100?” The answer is “Play That Funky Music.” The song became Wild Cherry’s signature hit and reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in September 1976.

Wild Cherry had begun as a hard-rock cover band in Ohio, but disco’s rise made it harder for the group to find work. During a club performance, frontman Rob Parissi reportedly heard a request for the band to play funky music. That idea became the song’s central concept and chorus.

The track blends a dance-oriented funk groove with rock guitar, reflecting the band’s original identity. It also topped Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart and became Wild Cherry’s only U.S. Top 40 hit. The group is therefore frequently described as a one-hit wonder, even though it released several albums afterward.

A common mix-up is confusing its chart success with the group’s later reputation: Wild Cherry did not have a long series of pop hits, but this single was enormous. It was certified platinum and eventually sold about 2.5 million copies in the United States.