The 1960s were a rich period for music. In the decade’s early years, we saw the folk revival, featuring traditional and tradition-influenced performers from Peter, Paul and Mary and the Kingston Trio to Joan Baez, The Byrds, Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, and of course Bob Dylan. Then came the so-called British Invasion, bringing us the Beatles and the Stones, along with The Who, The Kinks, Small Faces, The Hollies, The Yardbirds, Donovan, and more.
Psychedelic rock took inspiration from both phenomena, in the form of such groups as The Doors, the Jefferson Airplane, and the Grateful Dead. Motown offered its own unique sound with superstars like Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Isley Brothers, The Temptations, and the Four Tops.
The era was a transitional one, too, with these genres and others (surf rock, blues rock, roots music, etc.) sharing airplay and record-store bins (remember record stores?) with remnants of earlier pop and persistently strong currents of country, soul, and R&B. (Across styles, these were the biggest music icons of the 1960s.)
But while some artists seem to go on forever — Dylan and the Stones, among others, are still touring; greats like Elvis and Frank Sinatra will likely never go away, even if they’ve left the planet — the hard truth about most singers and groups, even the most talented and successful, is that they eventually fade from sight. Hardcore fans might remember them and sometimes younger generations discover them and revive their popularity (cf. Kate Bush), but many one-time greats, in many musical arenas, are mostly an afterthought today.
To assemble a list of forgotten artists from the 1960s who once dominated the charts, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on Billboard Hot 100 chart history and Wikipedia pageviews. Artists were ranked based on the ratio of their Billboard Hot 100 chart score — an inverse point system wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point – to their daily average Wikipedia pageviews in 2023. Only artists who had at least 10 songs on the Hot 100, including at least one top 10 song, but fewer than 1,000 daily average Wikipedia pageviews in 2023 were included. Only those whose last appearance on the Hot 100 was prior to 2000 were considered. Chart data is current through March 16, 2024.
These are definitely not one-hit wonders who disappear after a single moment of musical glory. These are artists whose songs have made the Hot 100 a dozen, 20, even 40 times or more. They range from exponents of old-school pop (Vic Dana) to novelty performers (Dickie Goodman) to R&B legends like Joe Tex and Lloyd Price. And while they may not draw much search traffic these days, they are all still very much worth listening to.
25. The Marvelettes
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 23 songs (215 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 244 views per day
- Biggest song: Please Mr. Postman (1961)
24. Freddy Cannon
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 20 songs (139 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 148 views per day
- Biggest song: Palisades Park (1962)
23. Betty Everett
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 10 songs (75 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 78 views per day
- Biggest song: Let It Be Me (1964)
22. Gene Chandler
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 23 songs (161 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 141 views per day
- Biggest song: Duke Of Earl (1962)
21. The Lettermen
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 20 songs (168 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 167 views per day
- Biggest song: Hurt So Bad (1969)
20. The Fleetwoods
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 11 songs (110 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 136 views per day
- Biggest song: Mr. Blue (1959)
19. Tommy Roe
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 22 songs (186 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 215 views per day
- Biggest song: Dizzy (1969)
18. The Miracles
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 46 songs (434 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 496 views per day
- Biggest song: Love Machine (Part 1) (1975)
17. Hank Ballard
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 13 songs (113 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 111 views per day
- Biggest song: Finger Poppin’ Time (1960)
16. Major Lance
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 12 songs (96 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 91 views per day
- Biggest song: The Monkey Time (1963)
15. Dee Dee Sharp
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 10 songs (94 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 114 views per day
- Biggest song: Mashed Potato Time (1962)
14. Jerry Butler
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 38 songs (297 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 249 views per day
- Biggest song: He Will Break Your Heart (1960)
13. Joe Tex
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 27 songs (206 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 166 views per day
- Biggest song: I Gotcha (1972)
12. Lloyd Price
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 15 songs (147 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 140 views per day
- Biggest song: Stagger Lee (1958)
11. Linda Scott
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 11 songs (98 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 69 views per day
- Biggest song: I’ve Told Every Little Star (1961)
10. Dickie Goodman
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 12 songs (68 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 42 views per day
- Biggest song: Mr. Jaws (1975)
9. The Impressions
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 39 songs (298 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 204 views per day
- Biggest song: It’s All Right (1963)
8. Johnny Tillotson
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 25 songs (234 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 160 views per day
- Biggest song: Poetry In Motion (1960)
7. Jimmy Clanton
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 12 songs (110 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 79 views per day
- Biggest song: Just A Dream (1958)
6. The Fireballs
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 10 songs (89 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 61 views per day
- Biggest song: Bottle Of Wine (1967)
5. Brook Benton
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 48 songs (398 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 205 views per day
- Biggest song: It’s Just A Matter Of Time (1959)
4. Jerry Wallace
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 13 songs (110 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 43 views per day
- Biggest song: Primrose Lane (1959)
3. The Belmonts
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 16 songs (138 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 49 views per day
- Biggest song: Tell Me Why (1961)
2. Vic Dana
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 15 songs (113 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 31 views per day
- Biggest song: Red Roses For A Blue Lady (1965)
1. Dee Clark
Trading card photo of Dee Clark. In 1960, Fleer gum cards issued a series of recording stars. He was part of their recording stars cards.
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 10 songs (112 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 40 views per day
- Biggest song: Raindrops (1961)