Popular Musicians In The 60s include 1. The Beatles 2. The Rolling Stones 3. Janis Joplin. The 60s are seen as the golden age of Rock and Roll.
From the mass-popularization of the genre through teen sensation acts like the Beatles to the Summer of Love and the growing presence of the Hippie Culture to the peaceful protests that defined a generation, this decade was perhaps the most important in terms of Western music history.
Due to so many things happening, this decade birthed a bevy of amazing artists. Here are some of them:
10 Popular Musicians In The 60s
| Artist Names: | Years Active: |
| The Beatles | 1960 – 1970 |
| The Rolling Stones | 1962 – Present |
| Janis Joplin | 1962 – 1970 |
| The Doors | 1965 – 1973 |
| Bob Dylan | 1959 – Present |
| Jimi Hendrix | 1962 – 1970 |
| The Beach Boys | 1961 – Present |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 1963 – 1970 |
| Van Morrison | 1958 – Present |
| Creedence Clearwater Revival | 1959 – 1972 |
Popular Musicians In The 70s
Popular Musicians In The 70s include 1. David Bowie 2. Fleetwood Mac 3. Elton John. Here are 10 of them:
| Artist Names: | Years Active: |
| David Bowie | 1962 – 2016 |
| Fleetwood Mac | 1967 – 1995 |
| Elton John | 1962 – Present |
| Pink Floyd | 1965 – 1994 |
| Marvin Gaye | 1957 – 1984 |
| Billy Joel | 1964 – Present |
| Wings | 1971 – 1981 |
| Steely Dan | 1971 – 1981 |
| Led Zeppelin | 1968 – 1980 |
| Bee Gees | 1970 – 2012 |
David Bowie
David Bowie had a career that spanned from 1967 to 2016. However, posterity remembers his 70s works the best.
From 1970’s The Man Who Sold the World to 1980’s Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) Bowie had perhaps one of the strongest runs of albums in the history of Rock and Roll. In between he played with personas, created masks, and changed the landscape of Rock.
The two crowning Jewels of his 70s discography are undoubtedly 1972’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars and 1976’s Station to Station.
In the former, Bowie created an entire genre called Glam Rock to satisfy his visual needs and in the latter, he took on the controversial persona of The Thin White Duke which flirted with Fascism and took Soul & R&B to the darkest places imaginable.
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac has had a lot of members through their decades-long run. The classic lineup saw the best success in the 1970s.
The band’s three album run from 1975’s Fleetwood Mac to 1977’s Rumours to 1979’s Tusk is seen as one of the greatest three album run in all of Rock history. During this time, the group benefited from two of their members being fired up on all cylinders, singer Stevie Nicks and guitarist Lindsay Buckingham.
What also helped the band, in a strange twist of fate, was the discord the Mac were facing. The members famously hated each other and the group was embroiled in many love triangles, break-ups, and illicit trysts, which all made for some great music.
Elton John
Elton John was unstoppable throughout the 1970s. Alongside Bowie, he made being effeminate cool and inspired generations to gender bend.
Like the two aforementioned artists, John also had an incredible run throughout the 1970s, but especially in the front half. From 1970’s Tumbleweed Connection to 1975’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, the man was nigh unstoppable.
Though John would continue to have great success throughout his career, which persists even to this day, his legendary 70’s catalog would have made him a legend even had he not achieved longevity. In fact, to many people, the English singer is the premier Piano man, and were it not for the ubiquity of fellow piano player Billy Joel.
Popular Musicians In The 80s
Popular Musicians In The 80s include 1. Michael Jackson 2. Prince 3. Madonna. Here are 10 of them:
| Artist Names: | Years Active: |
| Michael Jackson | 1964 – 2009 |
| Prince | 1975 – 2016 |
| Madonna | 1979 – Present |
| The Cure | 1978 – Present |
| The Smiths | 1982 – 1987 |
| Pet Shop Boys | 1981 – Present |
| Billy Idol | 1976 – Present |
| Duran Duran | 1978 – Present |
| Van Halen | 1973 – 2020 |
| Def Leppard | 1976 – Present |
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson is widely remembered for being the King of Pop. Though his career began in the 60s, it saw its zenith in the 1980s.
The singer came into his own as a popular solo act in 1979 with his record Off the Wall, but it was its follow-up, Thriller, which came out in 1982 that turned him into the icon he is today. Thriller is not only the best-selling solo album of all time but turned Michael into a household name the world over.
Since then, despite a life filled with controversy, an illness that changed his skin color, and inhumane scrutiny from the media, it didn’t matter as the singer had secured his legacy as not only one of the greats but the greatest singer of all time.
Prince
Prince is a close second to the crown of the greatest solo act of all time. Michael could sing and dance, but Prince could do it all.
From playing every instrument on his albums to writing and starring in his own, iconic, movie, Prince ruled the 80s. From 1980’s Dirty Mind right up to his work for the Batman soundtrack which came out in 1989, the singer took hold of the decade in a way that even Michael couldn’t.
As supreme a guitarist as he was a singer, Prince’s performance at the 2009 Superbowl halftime show is widely considered to be the greatest Half-time performance of all time, edging out both Michael and Madonna. Not many can say they outshined not only the king but also the queen of pop.
Madonna
Madonna is the best-selling female artist of all time. She is also known by the moniker, the Queen of Pop.
Starting her recording career with her stellar self-titled debut in 1983, Madonna went on to be an ever-present presence in the 1980s and the 90s to an even greater degree than both Michael and Prince. In fact, the singer would be having hits right up to the last decade.
For generations, Madonna has been a known name on everyone’s lips, but the singer also carries the essence of the 1980s into each successive year. From the experimentation, poptimism, and extravagance that decade possessed, the Michigan singer is not just the epitome but the poster child of everything the 1980s.
She is Madonna.
Musicians In The 90s
Musicians In The 90s include 1. Nirvana 2. Oasis 3. 2Pac. Here are the 10 best musicians of the decade:
| Artist Names: | Years Active: |
| Nirvana | 1987 -1994 |
| Oasis | 1991 – 2009 |
| 2Pac | 1989 – 1996 |
| The Notorious B.I.G. | 1992 – 1997 |
| Nas | 1991 – Present |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 1988 – 2000 |
| Mariah Carey | 1988 – Present |
| Celine Dion | 1980 – Present |
| Pulp | 1978 – 2002 |
| Pearl Jam | 1990 – Present |
Nirvana
To many Nirvana is the quintessential band of the 90s. Though they were active for less than half the decade, they changed everything.
Their major label debut effort Nevermind changed everything when it came out in 1991. Prior to that, the chief movers and shakers in Rock and Roll were bands like Van Halen, Guns & Roses, and Motley Crue, who epitomized a form of the genre that emphasized excess, lust, and the trappings of fame.
However, Nirvana brought with them a whole new sound that soon took over the decade, and whose influence can still be heard today. The band are the reason why Rock died, but they’re also the reason why, for a brief couple of years, the genre actually mattered again.
Oasis
Oasis was to British pop music what Nirvana was in the states. To many, they were the second coming of the Beatles.
What made the band great and then eventually destroyed them was that they knew it too. Led by the song-writing genius of Noel Gallagher and the iconic vocals and swagger of his brother Liam, Oasis shot up the charts and into the hearts of working-class Brits who had been sick of the pessimism that was coming in from the States.
With their first two albums, the boys from Manchester brought with them a sound that was at once derivative of all great UK rock, but also something wholly new. Nothing has ever sounded like them, not even the Gallagher brothers’ solo works.
2Pac
2Pac is widely considered to be the greatest rapper of all time. If not the greatest, he is definitely the most iconic figure in all of Hip-Hop.
In just five short years, spanning from 1991’s 2Pacalypse Now to 1996’s All Eyez on Me, the New York-born but California-bred rapper took rap to the mainstream and made it cool. Though he may not have had the technical skills or battle instincts of some of his most popular peers the man’s poetry spoke to the people on a deeper level than almost everyone around him.
It is the reason why, to this day, people still herald Pac and his music as the tip of the top of what it means to be a great rapper. From making hits to tunes that touched everyone’s soul, Pac did it all.
Musicians in the 2000s
Musicians in the 2000s include 1. Beyonce 2. Britney Spears 3. Eminem. Here are 10 of them:
| Artist Names: | Years Active: |
| Beyonce | 1997 – Present |
| Britney Spears | 1992 – Present |
| Eminem | 1988 – Present |
| 50 Cent | 1996 – Present |
| The Strokes | 1998 – Present |
| Kanye West | 1996 – Present |
| Arctic Monkeys | 2002 – Present |
| The White Stripes | 1997 – 2011 |
| Justin Timberlake | 1992 – Present |
| Amy Winehouse | 2002 – 2011 |
Beyonce
Beyonce is one of the few artists who have surpassed music to become an institution. She got her start in the 90s girl group, Destiny’s Child.
After setting out as a solo artist in the early 2000s, she quickly became a hit machine releasing popular song after popular song. Known for her powerful and technically skilled voice, the singer still maintains commercial and critical success.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears was the face of the early 2000s like Nirvana and Bowie were of their respective decades. She is widely called the Princess of Pop.
Starting out as a child star, the singer released her debut album …Baby One More Time in 1999 and followed it up with the equally successful Oops!…. I Did It Again a year later. However, her career would go on to be filled with more controversy than music as the decade wound down.
Eminem
Eminem ruled the 2000s Hip-Hop scene despite being a White rapper. He has since gone on to be considered one of the greatest.
The rapper’s career reached its critical apex with his stellar three-album run from 1999’s The Slim Shady LP to 2002’s The Eminem Show. Since then, though he has retained commercial success, his critical reception has somewhat suffered.
10 Famous Deaf Musicians
10 Famous Deaf Musicians include 1. Will.i.am 2. Grimes 3. Neil Young. More are in the table below:
| Artist Names: | Years Active: |
| Will.i.am | 1988 – Present |
| Grimes | 2007 – Present |
| Neil Young | 1963 – Present |
| Matt Maxey | 2014 – Present |
| Dame Evelynn Glennie | 2012 – Present |
| Ayumi Hamasaki | 1993 – Present |
| Mandy Harvey | 2008 – Present |
| Pete Townshend | 1962 – Present |
| Sean Forbes | 2005 – Present |
| Ludwig Van Beethoven | 1783 – 1827 |
Will.i.am
Will.i.am is a popular rapper and producer. He is best known for fronting the Pop-Rap group the Black Eyed Peas.
The rapper revealed in 2010 that he was suffering from tinnitus and had started losing his hearing. Thankfully, he still has enough to keep his career going as of right now.
Grimes
Grimes is the stage name of popular singer Claire Boucher. She is best known for her alternative indie pop music.
The singer started losing her hearing in 2012 and has canceled multiple shows since then so as not to lose her hearing even more.
Neil Young
Neil Young is one of the seminal figures in the history of Rock and Roll. Sadly, he started losing his hearing after mixing his live album, Weld.
Thankfully, his gradual hearing loss has not affected him to the point where he can’t make any music. Though he’s not in the clear, he has gravitated to creating more ambient tracks due to his condition.
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