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15 bestselling musicians of the '70s, then and now

The 1970s saw an experimental phase of music, with eclectic sounds and new artists flooding the airways. It is impossible to encompass all the music of this decade into a single genre. Folk, funk, rock 'n' roll, heavy metal, country, jazz, R&B, and disco were all synonymous with the sound of music at that time.

Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey, and Don Felder of the rock band the Eagles pose for a portrait in 1977. -

15 bestselling musicians of the '70s, then and now

Music from the '70s combined poetic songwriting, experimental instruments, wild costumes, and thrilling stage performances. Record companies were more open to supporting up-and-coming artists than established bands with a proven track record.

The social and political upheaval of the 1970s brought protests to many of America's streets and college campuses and is reflected in the music of the decade's early years. The technological advancements of the late '70s expanded the options in the studio, allowing musicians more creative expression.

Using historicalBillboardcharts and other top song and album lists from the 1970s,Stackerspotlighted 15 of the bestselling musicians of the decade. This list demonstrates the diverse sound of the 1970s with artists like the funky Al Green to slow jazz sung by the beautiful voice of Carole King and rock classics from the likes of the Eagles.

Read on to learn where the bestselling artists were in their lives when they rode the top of the charts and what they are doing today.

American singer Al Green poses for a portrait wearing red jacket while hugging a lamp post in London in 1971. -

Al Green: Then

The soulful voice behind hits like "Let's Stay Together" and "Love and Happiness," Al Green became one of the most successful artists of the 1970s. However, in 1979, the R&B singer fell offstage during a concert in Cincinnati, which he took as a sign from God that it was time to step away from his music career and devote himself to the church.

Singer Al Green performs onstage during the Once Upon a Time in L.A. music festival at the Banc of California Stadium in 2021. -

Al Green: Now

In 1982, Green's career took a turn when he co-starred opposite Patti LaBelle in the Broadway musical "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God." While he has continued to express his spiritual devotion as a minister in Memphis, Tennessee, in 2008, he released "Lay It Down," an R&B album produced by Questlove. And in 2018, Green debuted a cover of "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," hisfirst new recording in a decade.

Bob Dylan: Then

Prolific songwriter Bob Dylan started in the 1960s with humble coffeehouse gigs in New York City's Greenwich Village. Still, it didn't take long for him to get noticed once record companies saw past his average guitar playing and unrefined voice and started paying closer attention to his lyrics. The folk singer soared to the top of the charts in the 1970s with albums like "Blood of the Tracks" and "Desire."

Bob Dylan performs during Farm Aid at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center in 2023 in Indiana. -

Bob Dylan: Now

Dylan has since been honored with numerous awards, including 38 Grammy nominations and, controversially, The Nobel Prize in literature, which he belatedly accepted in a private ceremony after several months of uncertainty. Today, Dylan is still touring, though he famously refuses to play his greatest hits from early in his career, instead opting for more recent compositions. "A Complete Unknown," a Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet as the iconic singer, opened in December 2024 tostrong reviews, and earned eightAcademy Award nominations, though it didn't win any at the March 2, 2025 ceremony.

Carole King, playing the piano and singing in the 1970s. -

Carole King: Then

A gifted musician, writer, and composer, Carole King started as a young songwriter in the late 1950s and wrote such hits as "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "The Loco-Motion." In 1971, she released "Tapestry," which would become one of the bestselling albums of the decade and jump-start her bright career as a solo, award-winning artist.

Carole King at the 2019 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. -

Carole King: Now

King has released over two dozen studio albums and continued performing into the 2010s, alone and with her good friend and fellow musician, James Taylor. In 2014, a Broadway musical debuted based on King's life and music, "Beautiful: A Carole King Musical," which ran until 2019. In 2022, King earnedGrammy AwardandGolden Globenominations for co-writing the song "Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)" for the Aretha Franklin biopic "Respect."

Cher: Then

This pop goddess' career started as one half of the dynamic married duo Sonny & Cher, who occupied the stage and TV screens in the early '70s. Offscreen, Cher created the solo album "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" in 1971, which became a hit and signaled the beginning of a career apart from Sonny Bono.

Cher attends the Los Angeles special screening of -

Cher: Now

Since going solo, Cher's fame has only grown as an artist, producer, author, actor, and television personality. She has become known for her iconic performances in "The Witches of Eastwick" and "Moonstruck," and starred in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" in 2018. In March 2023, Cher reported she was working on two new albums, and in September of that year, she announced her first holiday album, "Cher Christmas." Then, in September 2024, she released "Forever," herlatest greatest hits album, and in November, the first volume of"Cher: The Memoir"hit bookshelves. Thesecond half of the memoiris set to be released Nov. 18, 2025.

Diana Ross: Then

Diana Ross left Motown Records' girl group, the Supremes, in 1970 when she started her much-anticipated solo career. In one of her first releases, she eases the listener into the opening chorus with her iconic honeyed voice and steadily crescendos until she knows she has everyone bobbing their head, then belts out the famous line, "Ain't no mountain high enough." The song reached #1 in the United States.

Diana Ross performs onstage at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 2nd Annual Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in 2022 in Los Angeles. -

Diana Ross: Now

In the late '80s, Ross returned to her Motown roots and balanced her music aspirations with a burgeoning acting career. Ross has continued to record albums and received a Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Grammy nomination in 2023. She has also maintained her stage presence, withmultiple shows scheduledaround the world in 2026.

The Eagles perfom in an outdoor concert. -

Eagles: Then

Formed in Los Angeles in 1971, this groovy rock band cut hits like "Take It Easy" and "Hotel California," reminiscent of the West Coast, laid-back lifestyle. The Eagles' compilation record "Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)'' topped the charts for several weeks straight, and is one of the bestselling compilation albums of all time.

Musicians Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley and Joe Walsh of The Eagles perform onstage during 'An Evening with The Eagles' at The Forum in 2018 in Inglewood, California. -

Eagles: Now

In 2016, founding band member Glenn Frey died, leading the band to temporarily retire. Shortly after, they reunited and began performing again. In 2020, the Eagles released "Live From the Forum MMXVIII." Shortly after former bassistRandy Meisner died in 2023, the remaining Eagles embarked on The Long Goodbye Tour. The following year, the Eagles kicked off aresidency at the Las Vegas Spherein September 2024. Though lead guitaristSteuart Smith retiredin January 2025 due to Parkinson's disease, the group continues to perform today, withfurther showsscheduled into May 2026.

Earth, Wind and Fire perform in the 1970s. -

Earth, Wind & Fire: Then

With 90 million records sold worldwide, this group reached fans across multiple continents with its cross-cultural sound. Earth, Wind & Fire led the funk and disco charge of the 1970s with tracks like the groovy "Boogie Wonderland," "Fantasy," and the innovative sampling of "Brazilian Rhyme (Beijo)."

Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey, and Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire perform at Chase Center in 2023 in San Francisco. -

Earth, Wind & Fire: Now

Earth, Wind & Fire's founder and lead singer, Maurice White, died in 2016, but many of the members of the band's original lineup continue to perform together. The group currently has showsscheduled across the U.S.through October 2026.

Frankie Valli performs onstage in the 1970s. -

Frankie Valli: Then

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were a staple of the early rock 'n' roll doo-wop years with famous tracks like "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry." Valli's smooth voice and songs about young love captured the ears of kids and adults alike, and in 1975, the band peaked with the hit song, "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)."

Frankie Valli performs onstage during the Pre-GRAMMY Gala in 2023 in Los Angeles. -

Frankie Valli: Now

Today, the frontman continues to record, releasing his latest album, "A Touch of Jazz," in 2021. The following year, with a new lineup, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons embarked on a tour of the U.S. and U.K. In February 2025, Valli was honored with aLifetime Achievement Awardat the Grammy Awards. Hecontinues to tourwith the Four Seasons today and is slated to perform across the U.S.through June 2026.

Gladys Knight and the Pips perform onstage in the 1970s. -

Gladys Knight & the Pips: Then

This R&B family band from Atlanta produced half of the Top 40 hits between 1961 and 1977. The 1973 album "Imagination" featured their biggest hit, "Midnight Train to Georgia." The group continued to produce hits through the '80s.

Gladys Knight performs on stage in 2020 in Hollywood, Florida. -

Gladys Knight & the Pips: Now

The group has since received inductions to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The Pips retired in 1989, but Gladys Knight successfully continued a solo recording and performance career andstill toursacross the U.S., with shows scheduled through July 2026.

Pink Floyd in a publicity still from 1971. -

Pink Floyd: Then

Pink Floyd's innovative psychedelic sounds, political lyrics, and crisp guitar riffs created the bestselling album of the decade: "Dark Side of the Moon." After crafting 15 studio albums, the band broke up acrimoniously.

David Gilmour playing the guitar on stage in 2019 in London. -

Pink Floyd: Now

Tensions still run high between some of the former band members, particularly between David Gilmour and Roger Waters, over disputes about the continued use of the name and performance of the songs. The year 2023 marked 50 years since the release of "Dark Side of the Moon." Many former Pink Floyd musicians still tour today.

The Rolling Stones in performance on a white set. -

The Rolling Stones: Then

The Rolling Stones were at the center of rock 'n' roll in the '70s, with numerous hit albums like "Some Girls," "Sticky Fingers," and "Black and Blue." In a 1972 interview, when asked if he could see himself performing when he was 60, Mick Jagger said, "Yeah, easily."

Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards perform in Milan in 2022. -

The Rolling Stones: Now

The Rolling Stones released their newest album in 2022, the first since band member Charlie Watts died in 2021. Though Mick Jagger is now on the other side of 80, the group continues to tour today and electrify audiences with the same energy as in the 1970s. In February 2025, the Rolling Stoneswon a Grammy Awardfor Best Rock Album.

Sly and the Family Stone perform onstage in the 1970s. -

Sly and the Family Stone: Then

Sly and the Family Stone was the first racially integrated band to make it big. The group incorporated this inclusiveness into its music, with sound ranging from funk, R&B, and psychedelia, and often touched on political and social issues of the decade in its lyrics.

Sly Stone makes an appearance with The Family Stone in 2015 in New Jersey. -

Sly and the Family Stone: Now

Sly Stone, the group's lead singer who fell out of the public eye by the mid-1980s,published a memoirin 2023 discussing the group's fame in the '70s and his struggles with stardom and addiction. Stonepassed away in June 2025, though the "first family of funk" carries on his legacy by performing today, withappearances scheduledthrough 2026.

The Steve Miller band performs onstage in the 1970s. -

Steve Miller Band: Then

This band took the money and ran in the 1970s. After Steve Miller broke his neck in a car accident in the early '70s, he spent some time away from the public eye, recovering and reinventing himself. After he reemerged, the rock group produced numerous platinum hits that are now staples of the decade, like "The Joker" and "Fly Like An Eagle."

Steve Miller Band performs on stage in 2019 in New York City. -

Steve Miller Band: Now

The Steve Miller Band has stayed together, except for a few lineup changes, and has toured consistently throughout the decades. The band most recently released new music in 2011 and has performed across the U.S. with the likes ofDef Leppard, Journey,andThe Eagles, though the Steve Miller Band shocked fans in July 2025 by unexpectedlycanceling all upcoming tour datesdue to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

Stevie Wonder in 1971 singing and playing the piano on stage. -

Stevie Wonder: Then

This music prodigy was discovered at the age of 12 and signed to Motown shortly after. Stevie Wonder created back-to-back masterpieces in the mid-1970s. His mastery of the synthesizer brought electronic sound to the mainstream and inspired other musicians. Over the course of the decade, he won more Grammys than any other Motown artist.

Stevie Wonder performs during the 65th GRAMMY Awards in 2023. -

Stevie Wonder: Now

Though he no longer tours, Stevie Wonder's activism and support of numerous charities continue today, as does his musical influence. In the '80s, he led a campaign to make Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a national holiday with the release of his song "Happy Birthday." In August 2024, Wonderreleased his first new songin years, a cry for unity called "Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart?"

Willie Nelson performs onstage in 1979. -

Willie Nelson: Then

The story of Willie Nelson can be put simply: a humble songwriter-turned-country legend. He emerged as a performer in the 1970s and recorded hits like "If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time)" and "Good Hearted Woman." In 1976, he collaborated with other country musicians on an album called "Wanted! The Outlaws," which went platinum.

Willie Nelson performs in 2022 in North Carolina. -

Willie Nelson: Now

While Nelson's legacy as a figure who redefined country music looms large, Nelson is still performing in his 90s. He wasinducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Famein 2023, and in 2024, he wasfeatured on Beyoncé's country album"Cowboy Carter." Also in 2024, hereleased his 153rd album, "Last Leaf on the Tree." Nelson is also an advocate for rural and farm communities, as well as for making the country music genre more inclusive.

Additional writing by Cu Fleshman, Louis Peitzman, and Eliza Siegel. Copy editing by Lois Hince and Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Abigail Renaud and Ania Antecka.

byCUSTOS CAELORUM

in

April 22, 2026

15 bestselling musicians of the '70s, then and now

The 1970s saw an experimental phase of music, with eclectic sounds and new artists flooding the airways. It is impossible to encompass ...

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