The Best 1970s Singers Of All Time Ranked
In North America, Europe, and Oceania, the decade saw the rise of disco, which became one of the biggest genres of the decade, especially in the mid-to-late 1970s. In Europe, a variant known as Euro disco rose in popularity towards the end of the 1970s. Aside from disco, funk, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, and soul music remained popular throughout the decade. Rock music played an important part in the Western musical scene, with punk rock thriving throughout the mid to late 1970s. Other subgenres of rock, particularly glam rock, hard rock, progressive, art rock, and heavy metal achieved various amounts of success. Other genres such as reggae were innovative throughout the decade and grew a significant following. Hip hop emerged during this decade, but was slow to start and did not become significant until the late 1980s. Classical began losing a little momentum; however, through invention and theoretical development, this particular genre gave rise to experimental classical and minimalist music by classical composers. A subgenre of classical, film scores, remained popular with movie-goers. Alongside the popularity of experimental music, the decade was notable for its contributions to electronic music, which rose in popularity with the continued development of synthesizers and harmonizers; more composers embraced this particular genre, gaining the notice of listeners who were looking for something new and different. Its rising popularity, mixed with the popular music of the period, led to the creation of synthpop. Pop also had a popularity role in the 1970s. Here are best 1970’s Singers ranked.
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20. Patti Smith
“Solo artist, Patricia Lee Smith, is a multi-talented American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and author. Her 1975 debut album “Horses” was seen as a significant influence on the New York punk rock movement and made it to number 47 in the Billboard 200. Smith released another 3 studio albums during the 1970s with 2 albums making it into the top 20 in the Billboard 200. “Easter” at number 20 and “Wave” at number 18.”
19. Gloria Gaynor
“Perhaps second only to Donna Summer in terms of disco popularity, Gloria Gaynor remains one of the most recognizable stars of her era. No disco song is as instantly recognizable as her 1978 smash hit “I Will Survive.” The song receives airplay on oldies stations to this day, and Gaynor has remained a popular figure since the 1970s.”
18. Robert Plant
“Led Zeppelin is a favorite band of many to this day, and frontman Robert Plant was a vital part of the group’s success. He continued performing as a solo musician after the group broke up in 1980, and he is still active today.”
17. Aretha Franklin
“Aretha Franklin, also known as “The Queen of Soul” was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist from Detroit, Michigan. Aretha Franklin is the most charted female in history. Franklin released 10 studio albums between 1970 and 1979, all of which made it into the US Billboard 200, although none made it to number 1. She had ten R&B Billboard Chart-topper singles with hits like “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied),” “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do).”
16. Tina Turner
“The Ike and Tina Turner Revue was already an incredibly popular act by the time the 1970s came around, and the duo continued to produce hits in the first half of the decade. Songs like “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine,” “Proud Mary,” and “Sexy Ida” received plenty of play after their release.”
15. Glenn Frey
“The Eagles remain one of the most enjoyed easy-listening bands, and frontman Glenn Frey was a substantial reason for the band’s success. Throughout the ‘70s, Frey was responsible for singing and writing some of the group’s biggest hits before he embarked on a solo career in the 1980s.”
14. Al Green
“Albert Leornes Greene also known as The Reverend Al Green is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Between 1970-1979 Al Green released 11 albums, 7 of which made it into the top 40 in the Billboard 200, with his 1972 album “I’m Still in Love with You” making it to number 4. Although none of his records made it to number one on the Billboard 200, he did enjoy more considerable success on the US Billboard R&B album charts with 6 number 1 albums all coming between 1972-1975.”
13. Freddie Mercury
“Queen was a 4-piece 70s rock band formed in London in 1970. Founding members included Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (lead guitar), Roger Taylor (drums) and John Deacon (bass). Freddie Mercury is widely regarded as one of the greatest male vocalists in history. His electrifying stage performance made Queen one of the best bands to see live during the 70s and 80s. Sadly, Freddie past away in 1991 after losing his battle with AIDS.”
12. Ann Wilson
“Wilson became the first woman to front a hard rock band, and Heart’s success proved she was just as capable as any man at producing beloved hard rock tunes. Heart and Wilson and its largest success in the 1970s, putting out two commercially successful albums in Dreamboat Annie and Little Queen.”
11. Dolly Parton
“Few country musicians became as big a mainstream success as Dolly Parton. From her beginnings in the 1960s, Parton was one of the biggest players in country music. By the end of the 1970s, she cemented herself as one of the most popular acts in the world regardless of genre.”
10. Bruce Springsteen
“Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen aka The Boss is an American singer and songwriter. Since 1972, Bruce Springsteen has played alongside The E Street Band. He released his first studio album in 1973 entitled “Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.” which made it to number 60 in the Billboard 200. He went on to release 3 more albums between 1973-1979. His 1975 album “Born to Run” made it to number 3 in the Billboard 200 and his 1978 album “Darkness on the Edge of Town” made it to number 5.”
9. Stevie Nicks
“While her solo career did not begin until the 1980s, it is unquestionable that Stevie Nicks began to rise in pop culture by the 1970s. She and her boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham joined the band Fleetwood Mac in 1975 and helped shape it into a commercial powerhouse.”
8. Willie Nelson
“No one was bigger in the country music scene during the 1970s than Willie Nelson. Nelson defined the decade’s outlaw country music, and he remains one of country music’s most recognizable faces. Nelson is still active today and is an activist for marijuana legalization.”
7. Olivia Newton-John
“Olivia Newton-John has had a long and storied career, but the 1970s saw her breakout in the music scene in a big way. She topped the charts with two of her albums in the middle of the decade, If You Love Me, Let Me Know, and Have You Never Been Mellow.”
6. Stevie Wonder
“Despite releasing his first single for Motown Records back in 1962, at the age of 12, it wasn’t until the 70s that Stevie Wonder really came into his own. With an ear for soul and a funky golden touch, the blind boy from Michigan overcame his sensory shortcomings by crafting a holy trinity of Grammy award-winning albums (Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Songs In The Key Of Life).”
5. Mavin Gaye
“Marvin Gaye was already breaking out of the Motown system by the beginning of the decade, and the young musician was poised to take the 1970s by storm. He was still with the production company when he created his opus, the album What’s Going On. Instead of allowing the studio to handle production, Gaye produced the album himself.”
4. Diana Ross
“By the time 1970 rolled around, Diana Ross was already one of music’s biggest acts as the lead singer of the Supremes. She left the band to begin the decade, and some wondered if her solo career could match her time with the band. But those fears were quickly quashed, as she recorded two number one hits in the US from her debut solo album.
3. Donna Summer
“Donna Summer was an American singer-songwriter and actress. Summer has sold over 130 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time. Donna Summer’s music had a considerable influence on the 1970’s disco boom. “Lady of the Night” was Donna Summer’s debut studio album was released in 1974. She released a further six studio albums during the 1970s, all making it into the top 30 in the Billboard 200 with “Bad Girls,” making it to number 1.”
2. David Bowie
“As if beamed in from another planet, David Bowie shape-shifted his way through the 70s. Spearheading the glam-rock explosion with his extra-terrestrial persona Ziggy Stardust and, later, the lightning-bolt brio of Aladdin Sane, Bowie slid just as comfortably into the suited’n’booted slipstream of the “plastic soul” era with Young Americans’ ballsy brand of funk and Philly soul. “
1. Elton John
“Together with lyric-writer Bernie Taupin, Elton John was an astonishingly prolific songwriter throughout the 70s, endearing himself to audiences worldwide thanks to classic hits such as Your Song, Daniel and Rocket Man. Moving from glam-rock goofball to pomp-loving performer, his 1973 double-album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, had a dynamite mix of soft-rock epics and superlative piano ballads that launched the bespectacled rocker into superstardom.”