though their bans may have helped them
gain fame first they’ve made it on their
own terms as well
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
musicians who found success both in a
band and as solo artists
for this list we’re looking at musicians
who rose to fame or established their
talent in a group but continued to work
as recognized musical acts apart from
their groups or after leaving the band
number 10 Eric Clapton Derek and the
Dominos cream and the yardbirds
coming in at number 10 is the legendary
guitarist who earned a name for himself
playing with not one but three
successful bands exploiting his mastery
of blues inspired rock guitar Clapton
earned the ironic nickname slow head
before releasing a slew of successful
solo albums something he was able to do
thanks to his musical talents
clapton has earned several Grammys for
his solo music as well as a Lifetime
Achievement Grammy for his time with
cream
number nine sting the police known for
pioneering the new wave Trent the police
stepped onto the scene with a blend of
rock that was inspired by Punk and
reggae with a hint of jazz
frontman stings iconic vocals however
also did him well when he made the
transition from the trio to a solo act
these dead man’s boots though the rollin
curled when a fella needs a job at a
place in the world but it’s time for a
man to put
with a solo career lasting nearly 30
years and even a few appearances in film
to his name stain has earned a solid
spot at number nine
number eight Diana Ross The Supremes
when Motown was making waves in the
1960s The Supremes were leading the
charge and singer Diana Ross was a major
part of this popularity
Diana Ross was seen as such a star that
in 1967 Motown founder Berry Gordy
decided to change the group’s name to
Diana Ross and The Supremes
Ross’s solo career proved that she was
one of the first female black powerhouse
musical acts which produced such hits as
ain’t no mountain high enough even more
than 40 years after Diana went solo she
is still able to knock us off our feet
number seven Phil Collins Genesis as a
key member of the hugely popular British
rock band Genesis Phil Collins had a lot
to live up to when he decided to go solo
one of the few entries on our list to
remain a member of his previous band
during at least some of his solo career
Collins became the lead singer of
Genesis
after Peter Gabriel’s departure who was
coincidentally another contender for our
top ten
kahlan’s rise to solo fame reached its
peak in the 80s though and he even made
musical and acting appearances on TV
number six dr. Dre NWA his impressive
solo career and acting resume Ice Cube
also had potential to make this list but
our decision to go with the doctor comes
back to their shared roots the release
of NWA’s premiere album Straight Outta
Compton in 1988 marked the beginning of
the infectiously popular gangster rap
genre however it was Dre who won a
Grammy for his solo effort in 1992
continued on to become one of the most
recognized producers in the industry
developing records that launched the
careers of Snoop Dogg video cent and
Eminem number 5 Justin Timberlake NSYNC
a member of the Mickey Mouse Club in the
early 90s alongside Britney Spears and
Christina Aguilera we always knew that
Justin Timberlake was destined to be a
star
as one of the lead singers of the boy
band NSYNC Timberlake earned several
Grammy nominations with the band before
the pop groups demise
his solo career blossomed in the post
90s pop world when JT is currently one
of the most successful singers today and
has a flourishing acting career to go
along with it
number four Ozzy Osbourne Black Sabbath
in the late 60s and throughout the 70s
Black Sabbath helped pioneer the heavy
metal sound through the use of its dark
imagery Tony Iommi’s heavy guitar riffs
and Osborne’s powerful and sadistic
vocals
in 1979 however Osbourne left the band
and jumped headfirst into a full-fledged
solo career
though he has since returned to Sabbath
the Prince of Darkness continues to rock
out with a solo work as well
my name say my name no one is around you
say baby
I love you number three Beyonce
Destiny’s Child borrowing a page from
the PlayBook laid out by Diana Ross and
The Supremes Beyonce Knowles was on
every pop radio station in the 90s with
the hit ban Destiny’s Child after the
group’s breakup Beyonce became a
household name dominating the pop charts
and the silver screen her huge success
with Destiny’s Child seemed impossible
to beat but with chart toppers like
crazy and love
and single ladies
she has obviously cemented herself
forever on her own terms in the pop
music Canada’s number two Michael
Jackson the Jackson 5 the undisputed
king of Pop was not always a solo act
before he became one of the most famous
and successful entertainers ever Michael
was part of the Jackson 5 which broke on
to the music scene in 1967 as a family
act of five brothers but when the world
got tired of grooving to tracks like ABC
Michael broke off on his own his sixth
solo effort thriller is the best-selling
album of all time
although he experienced a fall from
grace in his later years Jackson lives
on through his music as a pop-culture
icon among icon
before we unveil our top picks here are
a few honorable mentions
don’t tell me
number one Paul McCartney the Beatles
they are – pop music what Star Wars is
to the movies they represent everything
that we love about it
although all of the X Beatles released
solo efforts including John Lennon we
chose Paul McCartney as our number one
spot as it was his songwriting ability
and vocal talent that carried over into
a solo career the best after working on
his other band wings his later solo
efforts have left a lasting impression
on us with this artist tomorrow’s aren’t
just as important as the yesterday’s
do you agree with our list what solo
acts that were previously successful in
bands did we miss
the more musical top 10s published every
day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
gain fame first they’ve made it on their
own terms as well
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
musicians who found success both in a
band and as solo artists
for this list we’re looking at musicians
who rose to fame or established their
talent in a group but continued to work
as recognized musical acts apart from
their groups or after leaving the band
number 10 Eric Clapton Derek and the
Dominos cream and the yardbirds
coming in at number 10 is the legendary
guitarist who earned a name for himself
playing with not one but three
successful bands exploiting his mastery
of blues inspired rock guitar Clapton
earned the ironic nickname slow head
before releasing a slew of successful
solo albums something he was able to do
thanks to his musical talents
clapton has earned several Grammys for
his solo music as well as a Lifetime
Achievement Grammy for his time with
cream
number nine sting the police known for
pioneering the new wave Trent the police
stepped onto the scene with a blend of
rock that was inspired by Punk and
reggae with a hint of jazz
frontman stings iconic vocals however
also did him well when he made the
transition from the trio to a solo act
these dead man’s boots though the rollin
curled when a fella needs a job at a
place in the world but it’s time for a
man to put
with a solo career lasting nearly 30
years and even a few appearances in film
to his name stain has earned a solid
spot at number nine
number eight Diana Ross The Supremes
when Motown was making waves in the
1960s The Supremes were leading the
charge and singer Diana Ross was a major
part of this popularity
Diana Ross was seen as such a star that
in 1967 Motown founder Berry Gordy
decided to change the group’s name to
Diana Ross and The Supremes
Ross’s solo career proved that she was
one of the first female black powerhouse
musical acts which produced such hits as
ain’t no mountain high enough even more
than 40 years after Diana went solo she
is still able to knock us off our feet
number seven Phil Collins Genesis as a
key member of the hugely popular British
rock band Genesis Phil Collins had a lot
to live up to when he decided to go solo
one of the few entries on our list to
remain a member of his previous band
during at least some of his solo career
Collins became the lead singer of
Genesis
after Peter Gabriel’s departure who was
coincidentally another contender for our
top ten
kahlan’s rise to solo fame reached its
peak in the 80s though and he even made
musical and acting appearances on TV
number six dr. Dre NWA his impressive
solo career and acting resume Ice Cube
also had potential to make this list but
our decision to go with the doctor comes
back to their shared roots the release
of NWA’s premiere album Straight Outta
Compton in 1988 marked the beginning of
the infectiously popular gangster rap
genre however it was Dre who won a
Grammy for his solo effort in 1992
continued on to become one of the most
recognized producers in the industry
developing records that launched the
careers of Snoop Dogg video cent and
Eminem number 5 Justin Timberlake NSYNC
a member of the Mickey Mouse Club in the
early 90s alongside Britney Spears and
Christina Aguilera we always knew that
Justin Timberlake was destined to be a
star
as one of the lead singers of the boy
band NSYNC Timberlake earned several
Grammy nominations with the band before
the pop groups demise
his solo career blossomed in the post
90s pop world when JT is currently one
of the most successful singers today and
has a flourishing acting career to go
along with it
number four Ozzy Osbourne Black Sabbath
in the late 60s and throughout the 70s
Black Sabbath helped pioneer the heavy
metal sound through the use of its dark
imagery Tony Iommi’s heavy guitar riffs
and Osborne’s powerful and sadistic
vocals
in 1979 however Osbourne left the band
and jumped headfirst into a full-fledged
solo career
though he has since returned to Sabbath
the Prince of Darkness continues to rock
out with a solo work as well
my name say my name no one is around you
say baby
I love you number three Beyonce
Destiny’s Child borrowing a page from
the PlayBook laid out by Diana Ross and
The Supremes Beyonce Knowles was on
every pop radio station in the 90s with
the hit ban Destiny’s Child after the
group’s breakup Beyonce became a
household name dominating the pop charts
and the silver screen her huge success
with Destiny’s Child seemed impossible
to beat but with chart toppers like
crazy and love
and single ladies
she has obviously cemented herself
forever on her own terms in the pop
music Canada’s number two Michael
Jackson the Jackson 5 the undisputed
king of Pop was not always a solo act
before he became one of the most famous
and successful entertainers ever Michael
was part of the Jackson 5 which broke on
to the music scene in 1967 as a family
act of five brothers but when the world
got tired of grooving to tracks like ABC
Michael broke off on his own his sixth
solo effort thriller is the best-selling
album of all time
although he experienced a fall from
grace in his later years Jackson lives
on through his music as a pop-culture
icon among icon
before we unveil our top picks here are
a few honorable mentions
don’t tell me
number one Paul McCartney the Beatles
they are – pop music what Star Wars is
to the movies they represent everything
that we love about it
although all of the X Beatles released
solo efforts including John Lennon we
chose Paul McCartney as our number one
spot as it was his songwriting ability
and vocal talent that carried over into
a solo career the best after working on
his other band wings his later solo
efforts have left a lasting impression
on us with this artist tomorrow’s aren’t
just as important as the yesterday’s
do you agree with our list what solo
acts that were previously successful in
bands did we miss
the more musical top 10s published every
day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
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