One-hit wonders who have found success behind the scenes

Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images It’s not every day that a song comes out that is so indisputably catchy it somehow manages to defy genre lines, language barriers, and borders. It’s the track you can’t help but know every lyric to, whether you owned the album or not, simply because the song was everywhere. Of course, that kind of success can be incredibly difficult to replicate, sometimes dooming the artist behind the song to slide down from the top of the charts to the dreaded status of “one-hit wonder.” The one-hit wonders of the world are often overlooked for the contributions they made in the time their songs ruled the pop culture scene. These artists created something that found a place in people’s hearts, whether it was because their songs were incredibly danceable or because the artists’ heartbreaks were similar to their own. Whatever the reason, they left a lasting impression. In an industry that’s constantly evolving, artists are expected to be able to produce high-ranking hit after hit, and if they can’t, they find themselves pushed into obscurity–at least on the surface. However, many artists who may not have achieved comparable commercial achievements in the spotlight have managed to shine their light in other ways, often unknowingly to the public who once adored them. Behind the scenes, many of your favorite one-hit wonders have been solid success stories: from building robust investment portfolios to writing for acclaimed TV shows to composing hit songs that spent weeks topping the same Billboard charts they weren’t able to re-climb themselves. Wanting to pay homage to the musical artists who have scored the soundtracks to our lives, Stacker has put together a list of iconic one-hit wonders who have gone on to have impressive careers despite not exactly recreating the chart-topping success of their first big hit. The 20 artists on this list were selected not only because of the ranks they reached on the Billboard charts but also the legacy their hit has left behind. Read on to see some of the artists who you might have thought were one and done, but who are actually thriving. ‘Ridin” by Chamillionaire John Ricard // Getty Images Chamillionaire had a hit on his hands when he released his single “Ridin'” in 2005. The song, about police officers attempting to pull him over for excessive reasons, proved to be a relevant message that resonated with fans. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 2006 and stayed on the charts for an impressive 31 weeks. The song also made Chamillionaire a Grammy winner in 2006. In the decade that followed, he continued to release music under his own record label, Chamillitary Entertainment, but he wasn’t able to replicate the success of “Ridin’.” Meanwhile, he’s built an impressive investment portfolio. He was an early investor in Lyft and Maker Studios, an online video talent agency that Disney later bought, and in 2015, he joined venture capital firm Upfront Ventures. As of August 2023, Chamillionaire’s net worth is estimated to be $50 million. ‘What’s Up?’ by 4 Non Blondes Paul Natkin // Getty Images Music in the ’90s was known for its grungy garage-band sound and powerful vocals to match. The one-hit wonders 4 Non Blondes followed that trend early and perfectly with their 1992 song “What’s Up?” The smash hit peaked at the #14 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Though the band could never reproduce the single’s success, lead singer Linda Perry, who wrote the chart-topper, went on to become a renowned songwriter outside of 4 Non Blondes. Working behind the scenes, she was responsible for some of the biggest hits of the early 2000s, including Pink’s “Get the Party Started” and Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful,” which earned her the first of five Grammy nominations. ‘Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)’ by Looking Glass Bobby Bank // Getty Images Thanks to one-hit wonders Looking Glass, Brandys everywhere had their own theme song in the 1970s. In the summer of ’72, their hit “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” started climbing up the charts, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August. Though they did manage another top 40 hit with “Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne” in 1973, the band broke up the following year. Original lead singer and guitarist Elliot Lurie, who wrote “Brandy,” embarked on a solo career, which also failed to match up to Looking Glass’ earlier hits. Lurie did, however, find success with a new behind-the-scenes career. He continued writing and producing music, but for film and TV, eventually becoming the head of the music department at 20th Century Fox in 1985. He’s continued working on music for movies, serving as supervisor for TV shows including “Nash Bridges” and “Lizzie McGuire” and films like “Something’s Gotta Give” and “Spanglish,” to name a few. ‘Rico Suave’ by Gerardo Paul Natkin // Getty Images Before the Latin explosion of the late ’90s, there was Gerardo, who many consider one of the first successful crossover Latino artists in the U.S. His hit song “Rico Suave,” co-written by Gerardo himself, was an ode to his Latin lover persona. The term is still used to this day to refer to a smooth-talking person. The track peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1991, and was one of the first mainstream hits to feature lyrics in both English and Spanish. “Rico Suave” made Gerardo a household name, but it was nearly impossible to recreate that success, so he took a step out of the spotlight. Instead, Gerardo spent his time focusing on elevating other artists as an A&R executive at Interscope Records. He is credited with bringing Enrique Iglesias to the U.S. and with signing Bubba Sparxxx, of “Ms. New Booty” fame. He’s moved around since then, working at Univision Records and Spotify. ‘Baby Got Back’ by Sir Mix-a-Lot Raymond Boyd // Getty Images The ’90s were a renaissance for hip-hop with hit after hit making its way into the mainstream. And there’s no better example of that than Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” which took over the airwaves and spent five weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1992. The song’s highly danceable beat was part of that success, as were the lyrics that praised the more ample parts of a woman’s body, which were not often given public praise due to the beauty standards of the era that exalted thinness. The massively successful track also scored Sir Mix-a-Lot a Grammy win for Best Rap Solo Performance. Though he still releases music and performs from time to time, Sir Mix-a-Lot has shifted to a more behind-the-scenes career as an entrepreneur. He had a radio show in Seattle from 2017 to 2019 and he also has a clothing line. ‘Mickey’ by Toni Basil Frazer Harrison // Getty Images Walt Disney may have first made Mickey a household name, but Toni Basil and her infectious song gave the name a whole new meaning. The single hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 and stayed bouncing around the charts for 27 weeks. “Mickey” was Basil’s only top 40 hit, but it left quite an impression and is widely considered one of the most iconic songs of the decade. Basil’s music video for the song certainly cemented its legacy for two reasons: The concept of having a music video was still pretty novel in 1982, a year after the launch of MTV; and it featured cheerleader-inspired dance routines choreographed by Basil herself. After “Mickey,” Basil continued flourishing behind the scenes as a choreographer, something she’d been doing for years as a dancer on late-night shows and in movies like “American Graffiti.” She’s since choreographed tours for David Bowie, Tina Turner, and Bette Midler, and for a variety of major movies from “That Thing You Do!” in the ’90s to the Legally Blonde movies in the 2000s to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” in the 2010s. ‘Pump It Up’ by Joe Budden Bennett Raglin // Getty Images Joe Budden has managed to stay relevant over the years–but not because of his music. His 2003 song “Pump It Up” was a major hit in hip-hop, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot Rap charts and #38 on the Hot 100. The song also earned Budden a Grammy nod. While he had a few other songs that found middling success, none of them measured up to “Pump It Up.” Budden made his way back to the limelight in epic fashion with his self-titled podcast in 2015, which became a massive hit. Budden proved to have a quick mouth and a lack of a filter that drew fans and star-studded guests alike. Many consider “The Joe Budden Podcast” to be one of the most influential hip-hop podcasts of all time. ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ by Bobby McFerrin Vinnie Zuffante // Getty Images When it comes to one-hit wonders, few have been as ubiquitous as Bobby McFerrin’s a cappella classic “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. It spent two weeks at the top spot and another 24 weeks in all. The hit was beloved for McFerrin’s upbeat message, which also helped the song bridge the generational gap as a family-friendly tune both parents and kids could enjoy. The success led to McFerrin winning three Grammy Awards for the song in 1989, adding to his trophy collection that had included prior wins for jazz and children’s performances. After “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” McFerrin continued working behind the scenes as a vocal coach and collaborator with artists like Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, and Chick Corea. He has also gone on to collaborate with numerous renowned philharmonics and symphonies, and won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2023. ‘B—-‘ by Meredith Brooks Phillip Faraone // Getty Images In addition to grunge, hip-hop, and Latin music, the ’90s brought another even more specific genre to the mainstream: the Lilith Fair aesthetic, which was fueled by an influx of women singers such as Alanis Morissette, Sarah McLachlan, and of course, the iconic one-hit wonder Meredith Brooks. Her rage-tinged ballad of empowerment “B—-” had a stronghold on the charts in 1997, sticking around for 30 weeks on the Hot 100 and peaking at #2. The song’s brash lyrics sent the message that Brooks was more than just a two-dimensional plaything, redirecting the meaning of the insult used in the title; plus, it earned her two Grammy nominations in 1997. While she’s continued to make her own music in the decades since, Brooks has stepped into a behind-the-scenes role acting as a mentor, songwriter, and producer for other artists–like Hilary Duff, Katy Perry, and Bebe Rexha–with her own production company, Kissing Booth Music. Brooks was honored for her work in 2022 with the She Rocks Icon Award from the Women’s International Music Network. ‘Just a Friend’ by Biz Markie Christopher Polk // Getty Images In the ’90s, Biz Markie did indeed have what was needed with his smash hit “Just a Friend,” which peaked at #9 on the Hot 100 chart in 1990. While it was Markie’s only top 40 hit, the song is still considered one of the most well-known hip-hop tracks ever written. Markie never stopped making music of his own, but he also parlayed his success into a layered behind-the-scenes career in the entertainment industry. Not only did he collaborate with other artists such as the Beastie Boys and Will Smith, but he flourished as a voice actor for video games, TV, and film. His voice can be heard in the game “Def Jam Vendetta,” in the movie “Men in Black II,” and on the groundbreaking kids’ television show “Yo Gabba Gabba,” a modern-day “Sesame Street” that infused hip-hop into the educational lessons. Markie died in 2021 at 57, but his signature sound lives on. ‘Graduation (Friends Forever)’ by Vitamin C Jeff Kravitz // Getty Images Vitamin C left her mark with one of the most saccharine-sweet send-offs into one-hit wonderland: her 2000 single “Graduation (Friends Forever).” If you know anyone who graduated high school or college or went to prom in the past two decades or so, you’re probably intimately familiar with the song, which peaked at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her slightly earlier single, “Smile” managed to perform even better, hitting #18 in 1999, but it lacked the same level of pop culture fame as “Graduation (Friends Forever).” Nevertheless, it would admittedly be more accurate to call Vitamin C a two-hit wonder. These songs weren’t her first foray into the spotlight either; under her real name, Colleen Fitzpatrick, she played Amber von Tussle in John Waters’ 1988 cult classic “Hairspray,” well before it became a musical on stage and screen. After making it big in the mainstream, however, Fitzpatrick took a step back from center stage. Not only has she produced songs for artists such as Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus, but she became vice president of music at Nickelodeon in 2012 and then moved on to become an executive at Netflix in 2019. ‘Epic’ by Faith No More Mick Hutson // Getty Images Faith No More’s single “Epic” hit the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1990, peaking at #9. The alternative metal band did have two other songs that cracked the Hot 100, but neither came close to the success of “Epic.” Though the band didn’t have more than one mainstream hit, their influence has been felt for decades since. That’s due, in large part, to Mike Patton, Faith No More’s lead singer and songwriter. When the band broke up in 1998, Patton continued working in the industry, co-founding his own label, Ipecac Records, in 1999, which focuses on experimental and avant-garde music. He also collaborates with a wide variety of artists spanning genres, from Björk to Dan the Automator to The Melvins. Eventually, Faith No More reunited in the 2000s and released a new album in 2015–but they still couldn’t manage to outdo “Epic.” ‘If I Could Go’ by Angie Martinez Matthew Eisman // Getty Images Angie Martinez is a household name in hip-hop for two major reasons: First, she’s one of the longest-running radio DJs who’s uplifted hip-hop artists through her platform in New York, and secondly, her early ’00s hit “If I Could Go.” The heavy East Coast influence, combined with the homage to Martinez’s Latina roots, primed the single for success, as did the fact that it launched during the aforementioned Latin explosion of the late ’90s and early ’00s. The track peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 2002. While she never had another single that reached the same success, Martinez’s seminal role in hip-hop earned her a spot on the “Ladies Night” remix of Lil’ Kim’s “Not Tonight,” featuring Missy Elliot, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Da Brat. Martinez has also continued to work behind the scenes in the music industry. She currently hosts her own podcast, “In Real Life With Angie Martinez,” as well as “The Angie Martinez Show” on iHeartRadio. She also released a Latin cookbook in 2015 and her own memoir in 2017, which became a New York Times Bestseller. ‘Tubthumping’ by Chumbawamba