Top 40 Pop Artists of All Time
Oct 22, 2009 9:40:07 GMT -5
Post by - `J0EL™ on Oct 22, 2009 9:40:07 GMT -5
40. Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers, Don and Phil, are one of the most successful duos ever on the pop charts. They demonstrated a connection between country music and rock and roll. Their vocal harmonies had a very strong influence on pop and rock music to come particularly the Beach Boys, Beatles, and Simon and Garfunkel.
Essential Songs
36. Beyonce
Beyonce Knowles first made her appearance on the pop music scene as part of the trio Destiny's Child. They landed nine top 3 singles including four that went all the way to #1. Since venturing out on her own as a solo artist Beyonce has landed in the top 3 seven more times including four more #1's. Yet, there is a sense that, at the age of 28, she is really just getting started. Beyonce has established herself firmly as a top level singer, dancer, and actor.
Essential Songs
31. Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams is perhaps the most successful international pop superstar to never reach the pop top 40 in the US. As a member of the boy band Take That he took part in recording 12 top 10 UK pop singles including seven #1's. As a solo artist Robbie Williams has gone back to the top 10 an astounding 26 more times including six more #1's. At the 2005 Brit Awards his song "Angels" was named as the top song in British music over the past 25 years.
Essential Songs
25. Jay-Z
Jay-Z is perhaps the most successful hip hop artist of all time both critically and commercially. As a former CEO of Def Jam, he is also seen as one of the most influential businessmen in the history of hip hop. Jay-Z has released 11 #1 albums in the US, more than any other artist except the Beatles.
Essential Songs
19. Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston is sometimes referred to simply as "the Voice." Her powerful vocals led to massive pop success in the 1980s and 1990s. She was born into music with her mother, Cissy Houston, holding a career as a top studio singer. She also counts Dionne Warwick as a cousin and Aretha Franklin her godmother. She became the first artist to have seven consecutive #1 pop singles in the US surpassing the record of six by the Beatles and the Bee Gees.
Essential Songs
14. ABBA
From 1974 through 1982 ABBA were the bestselling pop music act in the world. Although their success was a bit more muted in the US, they were international superstars and some consider their highly melodic, catchy songs to be the gold standard in pop music. The musical Mamma Mia based on ABBA songs has returned the group to massive sales around the world in recent years.
Essential Songs
12. Britney Spears
Britney Spears was the biggest of the teen pop stars to emerge in the late 1990s. However, by the middle of the following decade it seemed her musical career may have drowned in a mass of bad publicity and personal difficulties. Britney Spears then put together one of the most phenomenal comebacks in pop music history and is more commercially and critically successful than ever before. In the past decade she has released 16 top 40 pop singles, five #1 albums and is, at the age of 27, a pop icon.
Essential Songs
8. Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson, with the possible exception of Elvis Presley, was the epitome of larger than life pop music figures. He hit the pop spotlight as a child of 11 in 1969 with his brothers in the group Jackson 5. At the end of the next decade he emerged as a young adult recording artist. Michael Jackson recorded Thriller, the bestselling album of all time, and was the world's biggest pop star in the late 1980s. His career became mired in tabloid rumors and criminal investigations. However, his star still shone brightly when he died suddenly at age 50 in 2009.
Essential Songs
4. Madonna
Madonna has released 37 top 10 pop hits in the US, more than any other artist. She also ranks as the top dance artist of all time. Seven of her albums have debuted at #1 in the US. She is a member of the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.
Essential Songs
2. Elvis Presley
Without Elvis Presley, its hard to imagine how much of what came after in pop and rock music could have happened. He brought rock 'n roll into American living rooms. Elvis Presley became a larger than life cultural icon. He recorded over 100 pop top 40 hits. Elvis Presley died in 1977 at the age of 42.
Essential Songs
For the complete list and to see who's #1 top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/top40popartistsalltime.htm
The Everly Brothers, Don and Phil, are one of the most successful duos ever on the pop charts. They demonstrated a connection between country music and rock and roll. Their vocal harmonies had a very strong influence on pop and rock music to come particularly the Beach Boys, Beatles, and Simon and Garfunkel.
Essential Songs
- "Wake Up Little Susie"
- "Bye Bye Love"
- "All I Have to Do Is Dream"
36. Beyonce
Beyonce Knowles first made her appearance on the pop music scene as part of the trio Destiny's Child. They landed nine top 3 singles including four that went all the way to #1. Since venturing out on her own as a solo artist Beyonce has landed in the top 3 seven more times including four more #1's. Yet, there is a sense that, at the age of 28, she is really just getting started. Beyonce has established herself firmly as a top level singer, dancer, and actor.
Essential Songs
- "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)"
- "Irreplaceable"
- "Crazy In Love"
31. Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams is perhaps the most successful international pop superstar to never reach the pop top 40 in the US. As a member of the boy band Take That he took part in recording 12 top 10 UK pop singles including seven #1's. As a solo artist Robbie Williams has gone back to the top 10 an astounding 26 more times including six more #1's. At the 2005 Brit Awards his song "Angels" was named as the top song in British music over the past 25 years.
Essential Songs
- "Angels"
- "Millenium"
- "Rock DJ"
25. Jay-Z
Jay-Z is perhaps the most successful hip hop artist of all time both critically and commercially. As a former CEO of Def Jam, he is also seen as one of the most influential businessmen in the history of hip hop. Jay-Z has released 11 #1 albums in the US, more than any other artist except the Beatles.
Essential Songs
- "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
- "Empire State of Mind"
- "Big Pimpin'"
19. Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston is sometimes referred to simply as "the Voice." Her powerful vocals led to massive pop success in the 1980s and 1990s. She was born into music with her mother, Cissy Houston, holding a career as a top studio singer. She also counts Dionne Warwick as a cousin and Aretha Franklin her godmother. She became the first artist to have seven consecutive #1 pop singles in the US surpassing the record of six by the Beatles and the Bee Gees.
Essential Songs
- "I Will Always Love You"
- "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
- "It's Not Right But It's Okay"
14. ABBA
From 1974 through 1982 ABBA were the bestselling pop music act in the world. Although their success was a bit more muted in the US, they were international superstars and some consider their highly melodic, catchy songs to be the gold standard in pop music. The musical Mamma Mia based on ABBA songs has returned the group to massive sales around the world in recent years.
Essential Songs
- "Dancing Queen"
- "Take a Chance On Me"
- "Fernando"
12. Britney Spears
Britney Spears was the biggest of the teen pop stars to emerge in the late 1990s. However, by the middle of the following decade it seemed her musical career may have drowned in a mass of bad publicity and personal difficulties. Britney Spears then put together one of the most phenomenal comebacks in pop music history and is more commercially and critically successful than ever before. In the past decade she has released 16 top 40 pop singles, five #1 albums and is, at the age of 27, a pop icon.
Essential Songs
- "...Baby One More Time"
- "Toxic"
- "Womanizer"
8. Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson, with the possible exception of Elvis Presley, was the epitome of larger than life pop music figures. He hit the pop spotlight as a child of 11 in 1969 with his brothers in the group Jackson 5. At the end of the next decade he emerged as a young adult recording artist. Michael Jackson recorded Thriller, the bestselling album of all time, and was the world's biggest pop star in the late 1980s. His career became mired in tabloid rumors and criminal investigations. However, his star still shone brightly when he died suddenly at age 50 in 2009.
Essential Songs
- "Billie Jean"
- "Black or White"
- "Man in the Mirror"
4. Madonna
Madonna has released 37 top 10 pop hits in the US, more than any other artist. She also ranks as the top dance artist of all time. Seven of her albums have debuted at #1 in the US. She is a member of the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.
Essential Songs
- "Like a Prayer"
- "Vogue"
- "Music"
2. Elvis Presley
Without Elvis Presley, its hard to imagine how much of what came after in pop and rock music could have happened. He brought rock 'n roll into American living rooms. Elvis Presley became a larger than life cultural icon. He recorded over 100 pop top 40 hits. Elvis Presley died in 1977 at the age of 42.
Essential Songs
- "Jailhouse Rock"
- "Suspicious Minds"
- "Are You Lonesome Tonight"
For the complete list and to see who's #1 top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/top40popartistsalltime.htm