The Top 10 1970s Artists

1.Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder became 20 years old in 1970. Stevie was a veteran of the industry, having been a professional recording artist signed to Motown since 1961. Stevie Nicks recorded eight studio albums in the 1970s, with five songs hitting number one in the US and many more cracking the Top 40. Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, You Haven’t Done Nothing, I Wish, and Sir Duke were all number one singles in the 1970s.

Stevie Wonder won 12 Grammy Awards between 1970 and 1979, accounting for more than half of his career total of 22 Grammy Awards.

Stevie Wonder Circa 1973

2.Led Zeppelin

Hard rock, blues rock, folk rock, and heavy metal are among the genres.

Led Zeppelin was a four-piece rock band from the 1970s who had a 12-year career from 1968 to 1980. Unfortunately, the band disbanded after drummer John Bonham died in October 1980. After a long night of drinking the night before, the cause of death was asphyxiation from vomit. The band recorded eight studio albums in all, six of which came out in the 1970s. Led Zeppelin was nominated for five Grammy Awards between 1970 and 1979, but never won. The band did, however, win five Grammys between 1999 and 2014, four of which were Grammy Hall of Fame awards and the fifth for Best Rock Album in 2014.

Led Zeppelin on stage Chicargo Statium 1975

3. Bee Gees

Pop, soul, disco, and soft rock

The Bee Gees were a pop music group formed by brothers Robin, Barry, and Maurice Gibb in 1958. The group’s biggest hits were in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Bee Gees were influential in the disco music era from the mid-to-late 1970s. Between 1970 and 1979, they published nine studio albums, six of which charted in the top 50 on the Billboard 200. “Spirits Having Flown,” their album from 1979, reached number one. During this time, they also released 35 singles.Twelve of their tracks charted in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, with eight of them reaching number one. They were elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Following Maurice Gibbs’ death in 2003, Barry and Robin decided to retire the band after 45 years.

Bee Gees performing on the TV show “The Midnight Special” 1973

4.Rod Stewart

Rock, pop, blue-eyed soul, blues rock, and folk rock are among the genres.

Roderick, Sir David Stewart is a singer and songwriter from the United Kingdom. Over 100 million recordings have been sold globally. Queen Elizabeth knighted him in 2016.

Stewart began his solo career in the early 1970s while concurrently performing with the 1970s band The Faces. Between 1970 and 1979, Stewart recorded eight studio albums, six of which charted in the top ten on the Billboard 200. The songs “Every Picture Tells a Story” and “Blondes Have More Fun” both reached the top of the charts.

Rod Stewart recorded 32 singles in the 1970s, 14 of which reached the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Reason to Believe,” “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright),” and “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” all reached number one in the US Top 40.

Rod Stewart has been nominated for 15 Grammy Awards but has only won one. Rod Stewart was elected into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1994 and then again as a member of the Faces in 2012.

Rod Stewart, Norway November 1976

5.The Spinners

R&B, smooth soul, Philly soul, Detroit soul, Doo Wop are some of the genres.

The Spinners, also known as the Detroit Spinners and the Motown Spinners, are an American R&B group.

During the 1970s, the Spinners recorded eleven albums, two of which charted in the top ten of the Billboard 200. “New and Improved” reached number nine, while “Pick of the Litter” reached number eight. “Spinners,” “Mighty Love,” and “New and Improved,” all of which reached number one on the US Top R&B Charts, were all hits for the Spinners.

The Spinners produced 28 singles between 1970 and 1979. The only single to reach number one was “Then Came You (with Dionne Warwick).”

The Spinners received their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2015. They were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1976.

The Spinners — The Rubberband Man record cover

6. James Taylor

Country folk, folk rock, rock, pop, soft rock, blues, Christmas music

American singer-songwriter James Taylor Taylor’s self-titled debut album was released on Apple Records before he moved to Warner Bros. Records in 1970. Throughout his career, James Taylor has sold over 100 million albums globally.

James Taylor put out eight studio albums between 1970 and 1979. Six of them cracked the Billboard 200’s top ten. The most popular song was “Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon,” which reached number two.

James Taylor made 21 singles throughout the 1970s. The Billboard Hot 100 listed his track “You’ve Got a Friend” at number one in 1971.

James Taylor has awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Williams College after winning five Grammy Awards.

James Taylor publicity photo circa 1979

7.Steely Dan

Jazz rock, soft rock, R&B, and pop rock are among the genres.

Steely Dan is an American rock band founded in 1972 by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. They ceased performing live shows in 1974 and became a studio-only band, selling over 40 million records worldwide.

“Can’t Buy a Thrill,” Steely Dan’s debut studio album from 1972, reached number 17 on the Billboard 200. During the 1970s, the duo recorded five more studio albums, two of which reached the Billboard 200’s top ten. “Pretzel Logic” reached number eight, while “Aja” reached number three.

During the 1970s, Steely Dan produced 16 singles. Two of their tracks charted in the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten. “Do it Again” came in at number six, while “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” came in at number four.

Steely Dan — Rikki Don’t Lose That Number record cover

8.Grand Funk Railroad

Hard rock genres

Don Brewer, Mark Farner, and Mel Schacher formed the initial lineup of Grand Funk Railroad, an American hard rock band. They formed in 1969 and had tremendous success in the 1970s.

Between 1970 and 1979, Grand Funk Railroad released nine studio albums, seven of which charted in the top ten on the Billboard 200. The most successful album of the 1970s was “We’re an American Band,” which reached number two on the Billboard 200.

During the 1970s, Grand Funk Railroad recorded 20 songs, four of which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. Their singles “We’re an American Band” from 1973 and “The Loco-motion” from 1974 both reached number one.

Grand Funk Railroad — We’re An American Band record cover

9.Rufus (featuring Chaka Khan)

R&B, soul, funk, smooth soul, disco, and other genres

Rufus was a Chicago-based American funk band that laid the foundation for Chaka Khan’s renowned musical career.

Rufus’ album “Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan” reached number 7 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums charts in 1975.

Rufus’ three songs from the same album, “Jive Talkin’,” “Dance Wit Me,” and “Sweet Thing,” all reached the Top 40 in the United States.

Rufus’ songs “Tell Me Something Good” in 1974 and “Ain’t Nobody” in 1983 both earned Grammy Awards.

Rufus & Chaka Khan — You Got the Love record cover

10.America

Soft rock, folk rock, and pop rock

Despite the fact that Dewey Bunnel, Gerry Beckley, and Dan Peek founded the band in London in 1970, America is an American rock band.

The band’s self-titled debut album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in 1971. During the 1970s, America issued seven more studio albums, three of which charted in the top ten on the Billboard 200.

America’s debut hit, “A Horse With No Name,” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. During the 1970s, America issued 24 more songs, including “Sister Golden Hair,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975.

America received a Grammy Award for Best New Artist of the Year in 1972.

Promotional photo of America, September 1976