The 1960s can be characterized as a turning point for the United States. Equal rights were talked about and technology took leaps forward. Celebrities started to get more attention. The 1960s was also when different icons made their mark on history. Many of these icons became famous for their music or art. Before that decade, the United States hadn’t experienced Beatlemania yet. They were just a band from overseas that people in England were obsessed with.
It wasn’t until the group made their debut in the United States that Americans started to fully grasp how big they were. However, not many people could have envisioned how important The Beatles would be in history. Another music group to leave their mark was The Rolling Stones. They were also from England and featured Mick Jagger as the lead vocalist. The United States hadn’t been exposed to different music from other parts of the world before the 1960s.
Hearing what other nations sounded like helped music evolve into what it is today. Musicians weren’t the only icons of the 1960s, though. Martin Luther King Jr. fought day and night for equal rights. His speeches have become engrained in the minds of almost every American, even 60 years later. His birthday has become a national holiday in the United States so people can reflect on how much he did during his life. The 1960s was a wonderful era for musicians, politicians, leaders, artists, and athletes. For more 1960s content, click here to read about the most hated TV characters of the decade.
To compile this list of the most iconic people of the 1960s, 24/7 Tempo consulted entertainment-sources. These include WWD, Marie Claire, and Yahoo! Lifestyle.
Cher
Cher defined Pop music during the 60s as the “Goddess of Pop.” During her music-making run, she was given countless nominations from different groups and she won several awards. She was nominated for the Best New Artist by the Grammy’s in 1966, but came up just short. However, that didn’t stop her from becoming one of the greatest musicians in history.
Music isn’t the only place Cher’s considered an icon, by the way. In the LGBTQ+ community, Cher is considered a gay icon even though she isn’t gay herself. As one of the first celebrities with a transgender child, her openness to the gay community helped propel her popularity.
The Beatles
It’s impossible to overstate how important The Beatles have been in the music industry. The group sold out football stadium venues wherever they went. In the 1960s alone, they were nominated for 17 Grammy Awards. They won five of them. People still go to Abbey Road in England to recreate the iconic picture of the group’s “Abbey Road” album.
Sadly for music lovers, the group broke up in 1970. While each went on to have great individual careers, fans still wonder what could have been if they had stayed together for longer than just 10 years. The band consisted of Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin has a voice that charms people after one listen. She’s been dubbed the “Queen of Soul” thanks to her singing and piano playing skills. Songs like “Respect,” “A Natural Woman,” and “I Never Loved A Man” are still played on repeat in 2024. During her career, Franklin won countless awards for her skills with a microphone.
Rolling Stone magazine named her the greatest singer of all time on two separate occasions. She’s also credited with being one of the voices of the equal rights movement during the 1960s. It’s impossible to talk about the 1960s without mentioning Franklin’s contributions to the music world.
Andy Warhol
It’s a common belief that many artist’s are unappreciated while they’re still alive. That wasn’t the case for Andy Warhol, though. During his career, Warhol created countless masterpieces that people loved and still adore. His original work routinely sells for more than $20 million whenever it comes up for auction.
Art isn’t the only thing Warhol had a passion for. When he was alive, he wanted to work in film and music as well. His pop art style pushed artistry forward and now, people use his work as inspiration when coming up with their own ideas. Warhol died in New York City in 1987.
The Rolling Stones
England rock bands were the talk of the town during the 1960s. The Rolling Stones first formed in 1962 while residing in London. They became one of the most beloved groups of all time. Having a frontman like Mick Jagger leading the way certainly helped the group gain notoriety.
Even in 2024, fans still love singing songs like “Satisfaction,” “Honky Tonk Woman,” and “Paint It Black.” These songs are now thought of as iconic within pop culture. Each band member was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2024, the group is still performing on tour to bring back memories to those who grew up with them.
Jackie Kennedy
The nation rallied around Jackie Kennedy after the murder of her husband and former president, John F. Kennedy. Aside from her position, Jackie Kennedy became known as a fashion icon. Her willingness to help the lives of American people enhanced her reputation. One way she did that was by supporting artistic expression.
She became known for traveling internationally and bringing peace to nations who needed it. Kennedy helped redesign the White House by bringing a modern flare to it. Young women looked up to Kennedy and saw all the good things she was doing to bring change to the world.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. is arguably the most important person in US civil rights history. His willingness to bring about change in a peaceful way helped African-Americans gain the equal rights they sought after for such a long time. His face was everywhere because everyone had strong opinions of him at the time.
After his assassination, people continued to speak the message King was dedicated to spreading. American history would likely be much different without the message of peace King preached.
John F. Kennedy
For years, politicians and presidents were seen as out-of-touch older men who didn’t understand which changes needed to be made. That all changed when John F. Kennedy was elected as President of the United States. From birth, Kennedy was groomed to become leader of America. He went to law school and graduated at the top of his class.
His conventionally attractive looks and idealistic energy helped people connect with him on a deeper level. That was something missing from presidents in the past. The untimely murder of Kennedy grew his legendary reputation even more. There are tons of different theories about what truly happened the day he died – and why it happened.
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali was one of the first athletes to use his platform for change. Ali was willing to sacrifice everything he had to avoid getting drafted into the Vietnam War. The war itself was controversial at the time. Young men who were drafted were skeptical about going in the first place, but were forced to enlist under the threat of being put in jail.
Ali didn’t let those threats affect him. He was jailed for his refusal to fight in the war, but he never changed his stance. After Ali was released, he continued his legendary boxing career. Ali was also one of the first athletes to showcase his personality and prove that he was more than just an athlete.
Bill Russell
Another athlete to use his platform for positive lifestyle adaptations was Bill Russell. The best player from the Boston Celtics helped lead the team to 11 championships during his career. However, it’s what Russell did off the court that makes him an icon. Russell propelled change in the world during a time when major cities were divided.
He knew his power as an athlete would help the world improve at a quicker pace. Russell is remembered for creating the same opportunities for African-Americans that he had himself. For more 1960s content, click here to read about the most likable TV characters of the decade.