Michael Jackson's first solo hit “Ben” reaches No. 1

"Ben" is a number-one hit song recorded by the teenaged Michael Jackson for the Motown label in 1972.

The song, the theme of a 1972 film of the same name, spent one week at the top of the U.S. pop chart. It also reached number-one on the Australian pop chart, spending eight weeks at the top spot. The song also later reached a peak of number seven on the British pop chart.

The song became the first of thirteen number-one pop hits for Jackson in the United States and his first number-one as a solo artist.

Later included on Jackson's album of the same name, "Ben" was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Song and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.