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Forgotten Icons: 1970s Musicians Who Once Ruled The Charts

Forgotten Icons: 1970s Musicians Who Once Ruled The Charts

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

25. Ray Stevens

David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images

24. Betty Wright

Alston Records; Distributed by TK Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

23. Andy Kim

Feld Brothers Management Corp., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

22. Atlanta Rhythm Section

Decca Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

21. Melissa Manchester

C. J. Strauss (management), San Francisco/Arista Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

20. Clarence Carter

John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

19. The Emotions

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

18. The Manhattans

Starday-King Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

17. The 5th Dimension

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

16. The Staple Singers

Soul Train, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

15. Charlie Rich

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

14. The O'Jays

Davizro / Getty Images

13. The Dramatics

vectorfusionart / Shutterstock.com

12. Ohio Players

Mercury Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

11. The Stylistics

Soul Train, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

10. Mark Lindsay

ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

9. Four Tops

Arnie Lee (Arnielee) / Wikimedia Commons

8. Tommy James

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

7. The Main Ingredient

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

6. Johnnie Taylor

Echoes / Redferns via Getty Images

5. Dennis Yost

ipopba / Getty Images

4. Tyrone Davis

Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

3. The Dells

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

2. Joe Simon

Charday Penn / iStock via Getty Images

1. Engelbert Humperdinck

ABC Television Network, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

25. Ray Stevens
24. Betty Wright
23. Andy Kim
22. Atlanta Rhythm Section
21. Melissa Manchester
20. Clarence Carter
19. The Emotions
18. The Manhattans
17. The 5th Dimension
16. The Staple Singers
15. Charlie Rich
14. The O'Jays
13. The Dramatics
12. Ohio Players
11. The Stylistics
10. Mark Lindsay
9. Four Tops
8. Tommy James
7. The Main Ingredient
6. Johnnie Taylor
5. Dennis Yost
4. Tyrone Davis
3. The Dells
2. Joe Simon
1. Engelbert Humperdinck

Each decade had its own incredible music and depending on who you ask, you may get different answers on which time spawned the greatest hits in pop music. But there is no denying that the '70s ranks as one of the greatest decades in pop music history. Many legends, like David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen, and bands like Led Zeppelin, Queen, and Kiss rose to fame. But it also gave us many forgotten icons, musicians who once ruled the charts but are now largely forgotten.

Each of these genres had countless bands and artists jockeying for success, angling to become the name that's synonymous with the genre. If you look at the Billboard Hot 100 Chart from the 1970s, you'll see some names you recognize, but what's shocking is how many acts had several songs –more than a dozen in some cases – on the chart but failed to achieve the long term success that makes them recognizable names to this day.

To determine forgotten icons: 1970s musicians who once ruled 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 with at least 10 songs on the Hot 100, one top 10 song, and less than 1,000 daily average Wikipedia pageviews in 2023 were considered. Chart data is current through March 16, 2024. (If you're feeling nostalgic, these are the biggest love songs of the 1970s.)

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