Top 20 Male Singers Who Fell Off the Map

During the fifth season of “American Idol,” Taylor Hicks emerged as a talented individual that defied expectations. His eventual win secured him a chance at major label success. Along with the release of some successful singles and a few studio albums, Hicks also tried his hand at musicals, appearing in “Grease.” He’s since made various television appearances, worked a residency in Las Vegas, and opened a restaurant in Alabama. Aside from the odd track, the artist recorded less music following his shift to his independent label. His more recent presence on programs like “The Kelly Clarkson Show” showcased his newer work, such as “Porch Swing.” With this in mind, there’s hope for the singer to focus more on recording in the foreseeable future.

In the ‘90s and mainly 2000s, Baby Bash arrived on the scene with his entertaining brand of hip hop. His career really took off after the release of his third album “Tha Smokin' Nephew.” Two more studio albums followed that decade, with the rapper collaborating with the likes of Frankie J, Akon, and others over the years. Once we entered the 2010s, Bash kept working with exciting musicians, even though his popularity had seemingly peaked. He got some modest attention for his “Bashtown” album, but failed to reach chart success in subsequent efforts. Bash hasn’t put out his own solo music since 2016, but he’s popped up as a featured artist as recently as 2020.

As part of NSYNC, JC Chasez became a fan-favorite for his vocal abilities. The group’s dissolution gave him the potential to break out into a solo career. While he made an attempt to establish himself with one studio album, Chasez never attracted as big an audience as the boy band did with his own music. Deciding to take a step back from a singing career, he became a judge on “America’s Best Dance Crew.” After the mid-2000s, fans would only hear his voice on songs in infrequent releases, often as a guest or when NSYNC would perform. Shifting his priorities to the studio, Chasez has however turned into a prolific songwriter and producer in the industry.

Recognized for his talent at a young age, Tevin Campbell was mentored by the likes of Quincy Jones and Prince, and thrived. The 1990s gave him multiple hit albums and singles such as “Can We Talk.” With a voice beyond his years, Campbell rivaled other contemporary R&B acts for his ability to release ballads and crowd-pleasing tracks. His third and fourth albums didn’t reach the same heights, though, and his career waned by the end of the decade. The 21st century has seen him deliver some performances, a compilation album, and appear as a feature on songs. But his last solo studio album came in 1999. Nevertheless, many will always celebrate as the voice of Powerline from 1995’s “A Goofy Movie.”

This singer’s debut album included a number of hits. Its most prominent and highest-charting track was “Wishing Well.” The single captivated audiences with its mix of pop and soul elements. The star, known back then as Terence Trent D'Arby, didn’t stop recording, but passing trends and other artists usurped him after his later records didn’t quite meet expectations. In the 2000s, he changed his name to Sananda Maitreya, distancing himself from his previous work. He didn’t stop working during that time either. He has a dozen studio albums under his belt, with most of the later releases failing to make a major impact.

Whether you loved the song itself or were into its use in other media, we can all agree that “Return of the Mack” was a force of nature in the 1990s. Mark Morrison enjoyed tremendous success from this single. He eventually attracted attention from the likes of Death Row Records, so it’s safe to say the R&B singer was steadily rising within the industry. He collaborated with a slew of artists throughout the years, but didn’t deliver a sophomore studio album until 2006. By this point, his popularity had faded and he had encountered various legal setbacks. His subsequent works have also largely flown under the radar. Commercials have since helped revive Morrison’s most well-known track, providing a welcome bit of nostalgia.

From the early 1990s, David Gray showed promise as a compelling singer and songwriter. It took the release of his smash-hit “White Ladder” album to really get people listening, though. The release took him around the world with hits like “Babylon” and “Please Forgive Me.” His later “Life in Slow Motion” album was also well-received. Though he has continued to release good music at a relatively steady pace, he hasn’t seen as much success as he did at the turn of the century. Gray did later go on tour for the 20th anniversary of “White Ladder,” though. Meanwhile, his many albums have spanned genres, featuring rock, electronia, and folk influences that remain underrated.

If you were listening to the radio in 2004, you probably remember Howie Day’s single “Collide.” The song propelled him to stardom for a brief moment towards the middle of the decade. He also delivered hits like “She Says,” but nothing could quite compete with “Collide” and its use in all kinds of television shows from the era. Over the years though, the singer has mostly spent time in the news because of his run-ins with the law. His subsequent musical releases received less widespread attention, and a series of legal problems clouded his reputation, including separate incidents of assault.

In the early 2000s, Daniel Bedingfield appeared ready to take the music world by storm. His single "Gotta Get Thru This," which he also wrote and co-produced, was a breakthrough for him. The singer showed off his wide-ranging talents as the decade progressed, as evidenced by ballads like “If You’re Not the One,” the singer showed off his wide-ranging talents. After his second album in 2004, he mainly did some behind-the-scenes work in between the occasional release. The pop star has written for many other artists, and notably worked as a judge on the New Zealand version of “The X-Factor.” His younger sister Natasha also has an illustrious career, becoming an even more famous member of the family.

Wally De Backer, better known by the stage name Gotye, was a sensation in the early 2010s. The Australian musician was the talk of 2011 after the release of “Somebody That I Used to Know.” Naturally, this Grammy-winning hit had people wondering about his next release. Instead of profiting from the international solo fame long-term, though, De Backer prioritized other musical ventures. His work with rock band The Basics and his own labels became his main focus. As of 2023, he’s yet to create another solo studio album to follow up 2011’s “Making Mirrors” under the Gotye name. But many are hoping that the singer will someday return to the mainstream spotlight.

Signed to Motown at 10, by 14 O'Donis was already opening for the likes of Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Ne-Yo.When he caught Akon’s ear, it really seemed as if he was going to be making the leap to the big leagues, and sure enough, in 2008 he released “What You Got” featuring Akon, peaking at

By the time Jesse McCartney was a tween, he had already established himself as an actor on “All My Children”, and as a singer in Dream Street. When he struck out solo with his debut album, McCartney officially became a teenage heartthrob and household name. “Beautiful Soul” went platinum and earned him a number of Teen Choice awards. But he’s never really recaptured that level of fame or public interest again. He’s released multiple albums since then, all of which have performed respectably, was on “The Masked Singer,” and has continued to act, but for many, he remains most associated with the 2000s.

You might not remember this Canadian singer-songwriter by name, but we bet you know all the words to the chorus of his 2005 hit song “Bad Day”. It reached number 1 on a variety of charts, including the all-important Billboard Hot 100. Thanks to the song being used in a number of ad campaigns, Powter became an international music sensation. Despite releasing a number of follow-up singles, however, Powter was never able to recapture the magic or success he experienced with “Bad Day”. Still, he remains part of the music industry, and even recently put out an electronic version of “Bad Day” with Agent Zed.

This Mexican-American singer experienced success in both English and Spanish in the late ‘90s into the 2000s, first as a member of Kumbia Kings, and later as an even bigger solo artist. He scored a number of hit singles over the years, but he hasn’t made a significant impact on English-language charts since his 2006 album, “Priceless.” While his influence in this regard has since waned, he actually earned a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album in 2013 with “Faith, Hope y Amor.” Still, his 2017 album, “Eleven”, failed to chart, much like what came before it, 2011's “Courage.”

There’s no denying that Mario is talented, and made quite a name for himself in the industry. His singing skills – showcased at talent shows – caught the attention of producers and record labels, before the age of 15. His debut album made him a hit with many, and his follow-up went platinum, catapulting the young star to the forefront of the R&B genre. Since then, he’s remained active in the industry, even starting an independent record label dubbed New Citizen LLC. Still, his music releases haven’t made the same sort of waves they used to.

In 1999, this R&B artist took the world by storm with his solo debut, “Unleash the Dragon.” “Thong Song” was an insanely catchy hit, and was followed up by “Incomplete”, which went to

“Mambo No. 5”, unlike mambo's one through four, ruled the airwaves in 1999, and as such, remains in the mind of many a ‘90s kid. Bega’s very first single was a reinterpretation of Cuban musician Dámaso Pérez Prado’s original 1949 song. This modern take took Bega from an unknown to a global sensation. “Mambo No. 5” was so massive, though, that it easily overshadowed everything else Bega released. Given that he charted with a few more songs over the next couple of years, he can’t reasonably be called a one-hit wonder, but most people associate him primarily with the tune.

In the ‘90s, this R&B star was a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. After performing with the group Swing Mob, he went solo, churning out a series of huge albums, the first two of which went double platinum, the next two platinum and gold respectively. Though he has continued to produce music and chart, Ginuwine’s later offerings have been much quieter successes. It’s been a while since his last major album drop, and though he competed on “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2018, Ginuwine isn’t as prominent in the industry these days.

This singer made a huge impression with his debut single “Beautiful Girls” in 2007. Not only did it hit

This English singer-songwriter first found success at home in 2006 with “I Just Wanna Know”. With his follow-up album, “Rokstarr,” Cruz took the world by storm. It spawned a total of seven singles, all of which made an impression on both sides of the Atlantic. “Dynamite” was particularly successful in the US. His follow up album “TY.O”, performed well internationally but made little impact in America. And since then… he’s largely been quiet. He’s released some singles, and notably co-written a song with David Guetta, but he certainly isn’t in the spotlight like he once was.