Feb 21, 2024 - History

Meet Richmond's history-making Black artist, Tommy Edwards

Sabrina Moreno

A black-and-white photo of Tommy Edwards onstage in front of an orchestra. — Tommy Edwards onstage in New York City in 1952. Photo: PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The first Black singer and songwriter to reach the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 was born and raised in Richmond.

Details: His name was Tommy Edwards, and his No. 1 hit in 1958 "It's All in the Game" sold more than 3 million records, reported the Times-Dispatch.

It spent six weeks at the top of the charts and led to appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
His songs would also become hits for other singers like Tony Bennett.

Worth noting: Quioccasin Baptist Church, where Edwards grew up singing and where he's buried, is still around in Henrico County.

You can watch a documentary on his life, produced by radio personality Randy Scott, on YouTube via VPM.

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Meet Richmond's history-making Black artist, Tommy Edwards

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