Top 10 Musicians with Successful Band and Solo Careers

Though their bands may’ve first made them famous, 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 10 Musicians found success both in a band and in their solo careers.

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 after leaving the band.

Coming in at number ten 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 “Slowhand” 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 work as well as a Lifetime Achievement Grammy for his time with Cream.

Known for pioneering the trend of new wave, The Police stepped onto the scene with a blend of rock that was inspired by punk, reggae and a hint of jazz. Frontman Sting’s iconic vocals however also did him well when he made the transition from the trio to a solo act. With a solo career lasting nearly thirty years and even a few appearances in film to his name, Sting has earned a solid spot at number nine.

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 & The Supremes. Ross’ solo career proved she was one of the first female black powerhouse musical acts, which produced such hits like “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.

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 10. Collins’ rise to solo fame reached its peak in the ‘80s though, and he even made musical and acting appearances on TV.

With his impressive solo career and acting resume, Ice Cube had potential to make the list. Our decision to go with the Doctor comes back to their shared roots. The release of N.W.A.’s premiere album Straight Outta Compton in 1988 marked the beginning of the infectiously popular gangsta rap genre. However, it was Dre who won a Grammy for his solo effort in 1992, and continued on to become one of the most recognized producers in the industry, developing records that launched the careers of Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Eminem.

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 for the boy band N Sync, Timberlake’s career saw several Grammy nominations before the pop group’s demise. His solo career blossomed in the post-‘90s pop world, and JT is currently one of the most successful singers today, and has a flourishing acting career to go along with it.

In the late ‘60s 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 Osbourne’s powerful and sadistic vocals. In 1979 however, Osbourne left the band and jumped head first into a full-fledged solo career. Though he has since returned to Sabbath, the Prince of Darkness continues to rock out with his solo work as well.

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 band 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 in Love” and “Single Ladies”, she has obviously cemented herself forever on her own terms in the pop music canon.

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 into the music scene in 1967 as a family act of 5 brothers, and the occasional guest appearance by their younger sister Janet. 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 icons.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

- George Michael
Wham!

- Gwen Stefani
No Doubt

- Lauryn Hill
Fugees

- Cher
Sonny & Cher

- Stevie Nicks
Fleetwood Mac

They are to pop music what “Star Wars” is to the movies… they represent everything that we love about it. Although all of the ex-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 his 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, tomorrows are just as important as the yesterdays.

Did you agree with our list? What solo acts that were previously successful in bands did we miss. For more top tens about your top musical artists, subscribe to Watchmojo.com.