Fame, Fortune, And A Whole Lot Of Who?

There was a time when these singers seemed too big to ever fade away (and they probably thought so too). But then time did what time almost always does. Today, mention many of these names to someone born after 2000 and you're likely to get hit with a blank stare. How many do you remember?

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Debby Boone

In 1977, You Light Up My Life seemed impossible to escape. The song spent ten straight weeks at No. 1 and became one of the biggest hits of the decade. The funny part? The song is still remembered far more than the singer. Plenty of younger listeners know the tune but have absolutely no idea who Debby Boone is.

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Bobby Sherman

If you were a teenage girl in the late 60s or early 70s, Bobby Sherman was probably on your bedroom wall. He sold millions of records, starred on television, and inspired the kind of fan frenzy usually reserved for future boy bands. For a while, it looked like he'd be famous forever. Today, most people born after 2000 have never even heard his name.

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Tiffany

For about five minutes in the late 80s, Tiffany seemed absolutely unstoppable. Her mall tour became a cultural phenomenon, and I Think We're Alone Now turned her into one of the biggest teen stars in America. Then the music landscape shifted almost overnight. Ask a Boomer or Gen Xer and they'll know exactly who she is. Ask a 22-year-old and they'll probably think you're talking about jewelry.

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Eddie Rabbitt

If you listened to country or pop radio in the late 70s and early 80s, Eddie Rabbitt was everywhere. Songs like I Love a Rainy Night and Drivin' My Life Away were huge crossover hits. Today, however, he's become one of those artists whose songs people recognize instantly while struggling to name the guy who sang them.

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Gary Puckett

In the late 60s, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap were everywhere. Young Girl, Lady Willpower, and Over You became massive hits, and for a brief period they rivaled some of the biggest acts in America. Today, younger listeners usually recognize the songs before they recognize the name. That's a long fall from being one of the hottest singers on the planet.

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Melissa Manchester

Melissa Manchester had a string of major hits and Grammy recognition during the 70s and 80s. She seemed like the kind of artist who would remain a household name forever. Instead, she's become one of those singers Boomers remember immediately while younger audiences often have no clue who you're talking about.

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Bobby Goldsboro

If you were around in the late 60s, Honey was unavoidable. The sentimental ballad sold millions of copies and became one of the biggest hits of 1968. At the time, Bobby Goldsboro looked like a star who would be remembered forever. Instead, he's become one of those names that mostly survives in old record collections.

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Leo Sayer

The hair alone should have guaranteed permanent fame. Add in massive hits like You Make Me Feel Like Dancing and When I Need You, and Leo Sayer looked set for a very long run in the spotlight. Yet today, many younger listeners know the songs but couldn't pick Sayer out of a lineup.

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England Dan & John Ford Coley

Soft rock fans absolutely loved these guys. I'd Really Love to See You Tonight became one of the defining songs of the late 70s. The problem is that younger generations tend to remember the era more than the artists. Their music still pops up occasionally, but their names rarely do.

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Juice Newton

For a while, Juice Newton seemed to have country-pop figured out better than almost anybody. Queen of Hearts and Angel of the Morning were huge hits and remain incredibly catchy. But if you mention Juice Newton to someone born in 2005, there's a decent chance they'll assume you're talking about an energy drink.

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Mac Davis

There was a stretch in the 70s when Mac Davis seemed to do a little bit of everything. He sang hits, hosted television shows, acted in movies, and became a genuine household name. Songs like Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me made him a major star. Today, many younger people have never heard of him at all.

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Rick Dees

Most people remember Rick Dees as a radio personality now, but younger generations don't even know that much. In 1976, Disco Duck became a genuine No. 1 hit. Yes, a song sung partly by a duck reached the top of the charts. The 70s were a wild time.

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Kiki Dee

Millions of people know Don't Go Breaking My Heart. Far fewer know Kiki Dee. Her duet with Elton John became one of the decade's biggest songs, but Elton remained a superstar while Dee gradually slipped from public consciousness. That's the danger of sharing the spotlight with Elton John.

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Tony Orlando

Few singers were bigger in the mid-70s than Tony Orlando. Between Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree and Knock Three Times, he was everywhere. He even had his own successful variety show. Yet mention Tony Orlando to someone born after 2000 and you'll probably be explaining who he is before the conversation can continue.

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Billy Vera

Billy Vera scored one of the most unexpected comeback hits of the 80s with At This Moment. The song became absolutely massive after appearing on Family Ties. For a while, it felt like everyone knew his name. Today, most younger viewers don't even know the show that helped make him famous.

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Charlene

Some one-hit wonders leave a huge footprint. Others slowly fade despite having enormous success. Charlene's I've Never Been to Me topped charts around the world and became one of the most talked-about songs of the early 80s. Yet her name has largely vanished from popular culture.

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Freddy Fender

Freddy Fender's comeback story was one of the biggest music stories of the 70s. Songs like Before the Next Teardrop Falls and Wasted Days and Wasted Nights turned him into a major crossover star. For a while, it seemed like everyone knew his name. That's no longer the case.

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Dan Hill

If you've ever heard Sometimes When We Touch, you know Dan Hill. Even people who joke about the song usually know it. The strange thing is that the song survived while the singer's fame mostly didn't. That's a surprisingly common story on this list.

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Rupert Holmes

Most younger people know Escape (The Piña Colada Song). Many don't know Rupert Holmes wrote and sang it. The song has become bigger than the artist himself. Somewhere along the way, Holmes became the answer to a trivia question instead of a household name.

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Ray Stevens

Ray Stevens built a career on novelty songs and comedy hits, and for decades he was one of the most recognizable personalities in country and pop music. The Streak became one of the defining songs of the 70s. The song is still remembered. The man behind it? Not nearly as much.

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Vicki Lawrence

Most Boomers remember Vicki Lawrence from The Carol Burnett Show. But what many of them remember, but younger audiences often don't realize, is that she also had a No. 1 hit with The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. At the time, she was one of the rare television stars successfully crossing into music.

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B.J. Thomas

For decades, B.J. Thomas seemed impossible to avoid. Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head, Hooked on a Feeling, and numerous country hits made him a fixture on radio. Yet younger listeners often know the songs while having no idea who recorded them.

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Helen Reddy

There was a period when Helen Reddy wasn't just famous—she was a cultural force. I Am Woman became an anthem and helped define an era. Today, her influence remains significant, but her name recognition has faded dramatically among younger generations.

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Lou Christie

With that unmistakable falsetto, Lou Christie scored major hits including Lightnin' Strikes and I'm Gonna Make You Mine. During the 60s, he was one of the biggest names on pop radio. These days, younger listeners are far more likely to know the era than the singer himself.

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Paul Davis

Soft rock practically built a mansion for Paul Davis in the late 70s and early 80s. Songs like I Go Crazy were massive hits and stayed on the charts forever. Yet despite that success, his name rarely comes up outside classic hits playlists.

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Crystal Gayle

Crystal Gayle wasn't simply Loretta Lynn's sister. She built a hugely successful career of her own, topped country charts, crossed over into pop, and became instantly recognizable thanks to her famously long hair. Yet many younger music fans know Dolly, Reba, and Loretta while completely missing Crystal.

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Helen Shapiro

Before the Beatles conquered the world, Helen Shapiro was one of Britain's biggest young stars. She scored a string of hits while still a teenager and seemed destined for a huge international career. Then the British Invasion changed everything. Today, she's largely forgotten outside serious music-history circles.

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Bobby Vinton

For a while, Bobby Vinton was one of the biggest hitmakers in America. Songs like Blue Velvet, Mr. Lonely, and There! I've Said It Again turned him into a chart machine throughout the 60s. He sold millions of records and seemed destined to remain a household name forever. Today, most younger listeners know Blue Velvet from a movie title before they know who sang it.

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Anne Murray

For years, Anne Murray was one of the most successful singers in North America. She sold millions of records, won countless awards, and crossed seamlessly between country and pop. Yet despite all that success, younger audiences often know very little about someone who once seemed impossible to ignore.

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Fame?

Fans assume the stars of their era will stay famous forever. History usually has other plans, and eventually even massive stars can become names that younger generations have never heard before. It’s sad…But that's show business.

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