In the days before TikTok and YouTube and other platforms appeared, capable of creating stars overnight, musical artists tended to follow a predictable career arc: They’d start out in small clubs and on regional record labels, get “discovered,” have a string of hits, and then fade off into, well, not exactly obscurity, but retirement (intentional or otherwise) or modest local acclaim — or sometimes lucrative careers as regulars in Las Vegas or on the state fair circuit. Some died; some turned to other pursuits when they stopped making money from their music; some enjoyed late-career comebacks.
Some performers stay front and center, of course (Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones, and Madonna will probably never stop until they’re dead), and others, who are no longer with us, have a permanent place in our collective memory (for instance, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Elvis). As for many of the rest, though, having once been discovered, they were subsequently undiscovered, as it were, by all but their most avid fans.
We’re not talking about one-hit wonders here. The music scene is full of artists who once dominated the charts with hit after hit but have largely faded from sight, or at least from the public consciousness. (But speaking of those who reached the charts only once, these are the biggest one-hit wonders of the 21st century.)
The list includes a wide range of performers, including rock-and-roll pioneer Hank Ballard, country star Johnny Tillotson, novelty specialist Dickie Goodman, and soft-rock harmony groups like The Fleetwoods and The Lettermen. The pop-hit Bobbys — Vee, Rydell, and Vinton — appear here, too, and the roster is full of legendary singers of soul and old-style R&B, including Lloyd Price, Joe Tex, Tyrone Davis, Carla Thomas, and LaVern Baker. Some may still perform in person in various places, and all of their music is amply available in various formats. And forgotten though they may be, all are worth remembering.
To assemble a list of forgotten artists who once dominated the charts, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on Billboard Hot 100 chart history and Wikipedia page views. 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 who last appeared on the Hot 100 before 2000 were considered. Chart data is current through March 16, 2024.
50. Brian Hyland
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 22 songs (161 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 273 views per day
- Biggest song: Gypsy Woman (1970)
49. Robert Palmer
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 15 songs (191 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 354 views per day
- Biggest song: Addicted To Love (1986)
48. Four Tops
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 45 songs (382 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 735 views per day
- Biggest song: When She Was My Girl (1981)
47. Clyde McPhatter
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 16 songs (121 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 194 views per day
- Biggest song: A Lover’s Question (1958)
46. Carla Thomas
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 15 songs (99 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 123 views per day
- Biggest song: B-A-B-Y (1966)
45. The Chiffons
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 10 songs (76 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 136 views per day
- Biggest song: He’s So Fine (1963)
44. LaVern Baker
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 13 songs (96 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 125 views per day
- Biggest song: I Cried A Tear (1958)
43. Color Me Badd
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 10 songs (200 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 403 views per day
- Biggest song: All 4 Love (1991)
42. Bobby Vinton
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 43 songs (369 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 695 views per day
- Biggest song: Roses Are Red (My Love) (1962)
41. Mary Wells
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 23 songs (190 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 309 views per day
- Biggest song: My Guy (1964)
40. Tommy James
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 32 songs (280 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 499 views per day
- Biggest song: Crimson And Clover (1968)
39. The Vogues
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 14 songs (108 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 187 views per day
- Biggest song: Turn Around, Look At Me (1968)
38. Barbara Mason
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 11 songs (72 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 86 views per day
- Biggest song: Yes, I’m Ready (1965)
37. Bobby Rydell
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 29 songs (258 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 452 views per day
- Biggest song: We Got Love (1959)
36. Bobby Vee
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 38 songs (257 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 372 views per day
- Biggest song: Devil Or Angel (1960)
35. The Main Ingredient
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 11 songs (101 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 115 views per day
- Biggest song: Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely (1974)
34. Barbara Lewis
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 10 songs (86 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 109 views per day
- Biggest song: Hello Stranger (1963)
33. Johnnie Taylor
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 19 songs (161 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 222 views per day
- Biggest song: Disco Lady (1976)
32. Dennis Yost
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 10 songs (84 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 98 views per day
- Biggest song: What Am I Crying For? (1972)
31. 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)
30. Freddy Cannon
Photo of singer Freddie Cannon.
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 20 songs (139 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 148 views per day
- Biggest song: Palisades Park (1962)
29. Tyrone Davis
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 15 songs (122 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 116 views per day
- Biggest song: Turn Back The Hands Of Time (1970)
28. 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)
27. 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)
26. 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)
25. 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)
24. Tommy Roe
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 22 songs (186 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 215 views per day
- Biggest song: Dizzy (1969)
23. The Dells
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 23 songs (170 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 153 views per day
- Biggest song: Stay In My Corner (1968)
22. 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)
21. 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)
20. Major Lance
Photo of singer 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)
19. 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)
18. The Cover Girls
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 11 songs (155 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 125 views per day
- Biggest song: Wishing On A Star (1992)
17. Joe Simon
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 31 songs (232 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 170 views per day
- Biggest song: Get Down, Get Down (Get On The Floor) (1975)
16. 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)
15. Joe Tex
Trade ad for Joe Texs single Hold What Youve Got.To better adapt it to his respective Wikipedia article, the ad was cropped and cleaned in a graphics editing program. The original can be viewed at the source below.
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 27 songs (206 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 166 views per day
- Biggest song: I Gotcha (1972)
14. 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)
13. Linda Scott
Photo of singers Linda Scott and Steve Alaimo from the television program Where the Action Is.
- 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)
12. 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)
11. 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)
6. Tommy Edwards
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 14 songs (128 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 65 views per day
- Biggest song: It’s All In The Game (1958)
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)
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
- Billboard Hot 100 history: 10 songs (112 weeks total)
- Avg. Wikipedia activity in 2023: 40 views per day
- Biggest song: Raindrops (1961)
(Check out this list of Baby Boomer artists still making great music.)