One Hit Wonders - Where Are They Now? Singers and Bands from the 60s and 70s


The bands of our youth. We can put their songs on today and be thrown back in an instantaneous time machine to our past. We can recall who we had a crush on, where we were going to school, the awkward and exciting feelings of our hormone-drenched adolescence.... If you ever wondered where your flagship favorite singers and bands are today, well, let's take a look at some -






10cc was a 1970s rock band from England that became memorable for some songs, particularly "I'm Not in Love." The original band lasted from 1972-1976. The members said they were tired of the songs being written and felt they had become stale and safe. Soon after in 1977, they reformed with some of the members and added new ones.  The band was quick to admit that after 1978, things slid downhill and an important member was seriously injured in a car crash in 1979. In 1983, they took a break and did separate projects. In 1991, four members reunited. They released and album and went on tour in 1993, but were only well received in a few countries. Some members reunited again in 1999 and toured in 2006. Here is the band's SITE today. 




The epitome of the 1960s, Petula Clark got us going with songs like "Downtown" that stuck in our head and made us compelled to sing along.This versatile and devoted British singer began her career entertaining during WWII. She went on to sing in French and English but hit notoriety for "Downtown" in the 1960s. Born in 1932, this talented lady was still on tour in 2017! Now that's a career!



Randy VanWarmer had a 1979 ballad that tugged at the breakup heartstrings. "Just When I Needed You Most." Ironically, the song was a hit when my father died when I was 16. And, VanWarmer said he had written the song after his father died. He was a talented songwriter who wrote for many pop stars like the Oak Ridge Boys. Sadly, Randy died in Seattle in 2004 of leukemia. His ballad lives on for many of us and has a different meaning for each person. I still can't hear the song without sobbing.




In 1968, a fantastic earworm song was released. "Build Me Up Buttercup" by The Foundations was a classic immediately. This British soul band was active from 1967 to 1970. This multiracial band was the first one to make a #1 hit in the UK. Even though they were Brits, The Foundations did a great imitation of Motown sound in an era that wanted more. Clem, who did lead vocals, passed away. Band members reformed a few times in attempts to get something going. When the movie "Something About Mary" was released and featured the song, members got together with some new members and tried to make a go of it, but key members could not stay put long enough to make a new name for themselves. 

It wasn't the 1970s without England Dan and John Ford Coley. The American duet hit the charts in 1976 with "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight." The duo split in 1980 and England Dan (Danny Seals) went on to perform as "Dan Seals" in the country music arena. The two were actually schoolmates back in Texas. Something not many people know is that England Dan "Danny Seals" was the younger brother of Seals from the popular duet "Seals and Crofts." Sadly Seals died of lymphoma in 2009. Coley did television and film appearances and later co-produced for some big acts like Eddie Money. 

If you're an astute collector of vintage, you might still have these songs on 45-records or maybe on snazzy 8-track, but one thing is for sure, the sound of them can still send us reelin' in the years.


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