FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 11, 2001

DEAR JERRY: I just finished reading Eddie Fisher's biography. In the book, he claims to have had five consecutive No. 1 hits, and goes on to say he is the only one to achieve this.

Can you tell me if this statement is true? If not, who has the most?
—Tony Cavallaro, Westbrook, Conn.

DEAR TONY: Not being familiar with the exact text of Eddie's assertion, I don't know if there is more to it. For example, he might mean five straight No. 1 hits in Philadelphia (Fisher's home town), though I think even that is unlikely.

On the national level, this is a big fish(er) story.

In his entire chart history, Eddie managed just four No. 1 hits — none of which were consecutive: “Wish You Were Here” (1952); “I'm Walking Behind You” (1953); “Oh! My Pa-Pa” (1953); and “I Need You Now” (1954).

Between 1980 and '87, Alabama, the country group, had 21 consecutive No. 1 singles — a record that may stand forever.

Between them, they could not be sure whether or not any of the original Mills Brothers are still living.

Since you will surely have the answer to this question, if you will provide it I will pass it on to them.
—Eric Kressen, Arlington, Ky.

DEAR ERIC: Tell those guys that Donald F. Mills Sr., the last living member of the original group, passed away on November 13, 1999.

Donald, 84 at the time of his death, continued to entertain throughout the 1990s. Had he been able to work even one concert date in 2000, he would own the distinction of performing in nine consecutive decades.

DEAR JERRY: My question involves singers Jesse Lee Turner and Floyd Robinson, and I'm wondering if they are actually the same person.

Each had just one chart hit, “The Little Space Girl” (Turner) and “Makin' Love” (Robinson), both songs being hits in 1959, and one right after the other.

I have Floyd Robinson's RCA Victor album “Makin' Love,” and its liner notes mention that Floyd Robinson wrote “The Little Space Girl,” Jesse Lee Turner's big hit. But on the original (Carlton 496) 45 rpm of “The Little Space Girl,” the writer credited is Jesse Lee Turner.

What's more, I have seen two picture sleeves for Jesse Lee Turner, and one looks a lot like the man on the cover of Floyd Robinson's album cover.

On top of everything else, they both sound the same.

This is a mystery I have been trying to solve for years. I hope you can help me.
—Terry Campbell, Santa Barbara, Calif.

DEAR TERRY: The similarities are absolutely endless. Both Turner and Robinson were even born in states beginning with "T": Turner in Texas, and Robinson in Tennessee.

That very fact, however, solves your mystery. They are two different gentlemen.

IZ ZAT SO? For the entire year of 1959, Floyd Robinson is the only one-chart-hit male vocalist that comes to mind whose label saw fit to release an album.

Jerry Keller also had his one chart hit that same year (“Here Comes Summer”), but his LP didn't come out until 1960.

This in contrast to other '50s artists — such as Charlie Gracie, Billie & Lillie, and Danny & the Juniors — with multiple hit singles, who remained singles only artists at the time of their greatest success.