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Forgotten Icons: 1960s Artists Who Once Ruled the Charts

Forgotten Icons: 1960s Artists Who Once Ruled the Charts

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Forgotten Icons: 1960s Artists Who Once Ruled the Charts

Eva Katalin Kondoros / E+ via Getty Images

25. The Marvelettes

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

24. Freddy Cannon

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

22. Gene Chandler

David Redfern / Getty Images

21. The Lettermen

William Morris Agency (management); photographer: Maurice Seymour (barely visible at lower left), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

20. The Fleetwoods

bulatovic / iStock via Getty Images

19. Tommy Roe

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

18. The Miracles

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

17. Hank Ballard

ElBrooklyn / Wikimedia Commons

16. Major Lance

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

15. Dee Dee Sharp

Public domain / Flickr

14. Jerry Butler

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

13. Joe Tex

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

12. Lloyd Price

Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

11. Linda Scott

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

10. Dickie Goodman

Tim Whitby / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

9. The Impressions

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

8. Johnny Tillotson

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

7. Jimmy Clanton

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

6. The Fireballs

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

4. Jerry Wallace

Marco_Piunti / E+ via Getty Images

2. Vic Dana

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

1. Dee Clark

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

Forgotten Icons: 1960s Artists Who Once Ruled the Charts
25. The Marvelettes
24. Freddy Cannon
23. Betty Everett
22. Gene Chandler
21. The Lettermen
20. The Fleetwoods
19. Tommy Roe
18. The Miracles
17. Hank Ballard
16. Major Lance
15. Dee Dee Sharp
14. Jerry Butler
13. Joe Tex
12. Lloyd Price
11. Linda Scott
10. Dickie Goodman
9. The Impressions
8. Johnny Tillotson
7. Jimmy Clanton
6. The Fireballs
5. Brook Benton
4. Jerry Wallace
3. The Belmonts
2. Vic Dana
1. Dee Clark

Forgotten Icons: 1960s Artists Who Once Ruled the Charts

An era marked by political and social change, the 1960s was a decade that gave us the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Motown, and more, with some of the greatest Billboard hits that are still popular today. But what about the artists who didn't become household names? What artists have we forgotten from the 1960s who deserve to be recognized 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 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.

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 were included. Only those whose last appearance on the Hot 100 was prior to 2000 were considered. Let's dive in now.

This post was updated June 4th, 2025, to reflect additional information.

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