Acts in Top 40 at least two decades after their Top 40 debut

[jlthorpe]

I was thinking how amazing it was that there were so many acts who had Top 40 hits in the 60s (or earlier) that were still having Top 40 hits in the 80s. I was also thinking that later decades (especially the 2000s) probably did not have as many acts with such chart longevity. So I decided to make a list of those acts just to see what the breakdown was. The list is not comprehensive; just what I could piece together from memory (and checking out some Billboard charts and Wikipedia). I included acts that were in groups in prior decades but solo in later decades (such as Phil Collins, who hit the Top 40 in the 70s with Genesis and the 90s as a solo act), but I did not include acts who were in groups in later decades but hit as group members or solo acts in earlier decades (so Ted Nugent and Tommy Shaw were not included for D a m n Yankees). Some of the acts didn't have that long a span (Cheap Trick's first Top 40 hit was 1979 and last was in 1990, I believe). Some hit the Top 40 solely due to re-entries of earlier hits (Bill Haley and the Comets in the 70s, Ben E. King in the 80s) or as featured acts on another artist's hit (Dobie Gray in the 00s). I'm also going by the Billboard Hot 100, but if an act only hit R&R or Mediabase, I'll include a single asterisk next to their name. If an act only charted with previously-released songs (such as Christmas songs, songs that have a resurgence in popularity, or songs that chart due to the artist's death), I'll include a double asterisk.

1960s (first hit Top 40 in the 1940s or earlier)

The Ames Brothers
Louis Armstrong
Eddy Arnold
Nat "King" Cole
Perry Como
Bing Crosby **
Vic Damone
Ella Fitzgerald
Burl Ives
Kitty Kallen
Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra
Stan Kenton
Frankie Laine
Peggy Lee
Mantovani and His Orchestra
Dean Martin
The Mills Brothers
Patti Page
Les Paul
Louis Prima
Tex Ritter
David Rose and His Orchestra
Frank Sinatra
Mel Torme
Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra
Margaret Whiting

1970s (first hit Top 40 in the 1950s or earlier)

Paul Anka
Brook Benton
Chuck Berry
Jerry Butler
Johnny Cash
Ray Charles
Perry Como
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Jimmy Dean
Dickie Goodman
Bill Haley and His Comets **
Wilbert Harrison
The Impressions
Ben E. King
Jerry Lee Lewis
Al Martino
Johnny Mathis
Curtis Mayfield
Johnny Nash
Rick Nelson
Elvis Presley
Cliff Richard
Neil Sedaka
Sylvia
Conway Twitty
Jerry Wallace
Andy Williams

1980s (first hit Top 40 in the 1960s or earlier)

Herb Alpert
Paul Anka
Louis Armstrong **
Marty Balin
The Beach Boys
The Beatles
Bee Gees
Gary U.S. Bonds
James Brown
Felix Cavaliere
Ray Charles
Sonny Charles
Chubby Checker
Cher
Eric Clapton
The Contours **
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Burton Cummings
Roger Daltrey
Neil Diamond
John Fogerty
Four Tops
Aretha Franklin
Marvin Gaye
Barry Gibb
Robin Gibb
Larry Graham
George Harrison
The Hollies
The Isley Brothers
Jermaine Jackson
Michael Jackson
The Jacksons
Mick Jagger
Tommy James
Jefferson Starship/Starship
Tom Jones
Eddie Kendrick
Ben E. King **
Carole King
The Kinks
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Patti LaBelle
Led Zeppelin
John Lennon
Lulu
Johnny Mathis
Paul McCartney
Bill Medley
Sergio Mendes
Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork of The Monkees
The Moody Blues
Aaron Neville
Wayne Newton
Roy Orbison
Peaches and Herb
Robert Plant
Elvis Presley
Billy Preston
Cliff Richard
Smokey Robinson
Kenny Rogers
The Rolling Stones
Linda Ronstadt
Diana Ross
The Rovers
David Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin
Neil Sedaka
Bob Seger
Del Shannon
Paul Simon
Simon and Garfunkel
Frank Sinatra
Spinners
Dusty Springfield
Ringo Starr
John Stewart
Barbra Streisand
Pete Townshend
Tina Turner
Dionne Warwick
The Who
Don Williams
Steve Winwood
Stevie Wonder

1990s (first hit Top 40 in the 1970s or earlier)

Aerosmith
Bad Company
The Beatles
Bee Gees
Boston *
David Cassidy
Peter Cetera
Ray Charles
Cheap Trick
Cher
Chicago
Eric Clapton
Jimmy Cliff
George Clinton
Joe Cocker
Nat "King" Cole
Natalie Cole
Phil Collins
David Crosby *
Kiki Dee *
Eagles
Earth, Wind and Fire *
Roberta Flack
Fleetwood Mac
Foreigner *
The Four Seasons
Aretha Franklin
Genesis
Lou Gramm
Daryl Hall and John Oates
Heart
Don Henley
Ernie Isley
Ronald Isley
Billy Joel
Elton John
Quincy Jones
Journey
Chaka Khan
KISS
Gladys Knight
Meat Loaf
John Mellencamp
Bette Midler
Steve Miller Band *
Joni Mitchell
Eddie Money
Aaron Neville
Olivia Newton-John
Donny Osmond
Jimmy Page
Robert Palmer
Ray Parker Jr.
Steve Perry
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Poco
Prince
Queen
Lionel Richie
The Righteous Brothers
The Rolling Stones
Linda Ronstadt
Santana
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Spinners
Bruce Springsteen
Rod Stewart
Sting
Barbra Streisand
Styx
The Temptations
John Travolta
Tina Turner
Van Halen
Barry White
Steve Winwood
Stevie Wonder *
Ronnie Wood
Tammy Wynette

2000s (first hit Top 40 in the 1980s or earlier)

Aerosmith
Babyface
Bon Jovi
Jimmy Buffett
Cameo
Cher *
De La Soul
Enya
Marvin Gaye
Dobie Gray
Guns N' Roses
Whitney Houston
INXS
The Isley Brothers
Janet Jackson
Michael Jackson
Kenny G
LL Cool J
Madonna
Metallica
Kylie Minogue
Willie Nelson
New Kids on the Block
Dolly Parton
Elvis Presley *
Rakim
R.E.M. *
Kenny Rogers
Santana
Carly Simon
Will Smith
Sting
U2
Luther Vandross
Uncle Charlie Wilson
"Weird Al" Yankovic

2010s (first hit Top 40 in the 1990s or earlier)

Christina Aguilera
Alabama
Marc Anthony
Gene Autry **
Mitchell Ayres **
Backstreet Boys *
Beyoncé
Big Boi *
Bon Jovi **
Bono
David Bowie
Jimmy Buffett
Busta Rhymes
Mariah Carey
Kenny Chesney
Nat "King" Cole **
Perry Como **
Bing Crosby **
Rivers Cuomo
Billy Ray Cyrus
Dr. Dre
The Edge
Missy Elliott
Eminem
Sara Evans
Jose Feliciano **
Fergie (hit R&R in 1990s)
The Fontane Sisters **
Cee Lo Green
Bobby Helms **
Whitney Houston * **
Enrique Iglesias
Burl Ives **
Alan Jackson
Michael Jackson
Mick Jagger
Jay-Z
R. Kelly
Brenda Lee **
Lil Wayne
Jennifer Lopez
Madonna
Dean Martin **
Matchbox 20
Paul McCartney
Tim McGraw
No Doubt
Ozzy Osbourne
Brad Paisley
Elvis Presley **
Prince **
Queen **
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Otis Redding
The Ronettes **
Kelly Rowland
Darius Rucker
Charlie Sexton
Shaggy *
Snoop Dogg
Snow
Britney Spears
Gwen Stefani *
Timbaland
Justin Timberlake
TLC
Train
Steven Tyler
Usher
U2
Wham! **
Andy Williams **
"Weird Al" Yankovic

2020s (first hit Top 40 in the 2000s or earlier)

Adele
Jason Aldean
Andrews Sisters **
Gene Autry **
Mitchell Ayres **
Dierks Bentley
Chuck Berry **
Beyoncé
Justin Bieber
The Black Eyed Peas
Chris Brown
Luke Bryan
Mariah Carey **
Kenny Chesney
Kelly Clarkson **
Coldplay
Nat "King" Cole **
Perry Como **
Bing Crosby **
Billy Ray Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Jason Derulo
DJ Khaled
DMX **
Drake
Eminem
Jose Feliciano **
50 Cent
Fleetwood Mac **
The Fontane Sisters **
Selena Gomez
Donny Hathaway **
Bobby Helms **
Burl Ives **
Michael Jackson **
Jay-Z
Jeremih
Elton John
Jonas Brothers
Ke$ha *
Alicia Keys *
Kid Cudi
Lady Antebellum
Lady Gaga
Miranda Lambert
Brenda Lee **
Aaron Lewis
Lil Wayne
Demi Lovato
Darlene Love **
Maroon 5
Dean Martin **
Paul McCartney **
M.I.A.
Mark Morrison *
Nas
Nelly
OneRepublic *
Ray Parker Jr. **
Katy Perry
Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers **
Pitbull *
Elvis Presley **
Rihanna
The Ronettes **
Rick Ross
Shakira *
Blake Shelton
Gwen Stefani
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Kanye West
Wham! **
Andy Williams **
Pharrell Williams
Chris Young

[freakyflybry]

Ray Charles hit in 1989-90 on the Quincy Jones song "I'll Be Good To You", which also qualifies Chaka Khan for the 90's list. Chaka also qualifies through "Missing You" in 1996, which also had Gladys Knight on it, qualifying her too.

Peter Cetera hit solo in 1992 with "Restless Heart".

Steve Perry also charted solo in 1994 with "You Better Wait".

Foreigner hit CT40 in 1995 with "Until The End Of Time".

The Eagles had two top 40 hits in the 90's.

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John made CT40 in 1996 with the Grease megamix.

Stevie Wonder made AT40 in 1998 with "True To Your Heart", a collaboration with 98 Degrees.

Aretha Franklin made the top 40 on the Hot 100 in 1998 with "A Rose Is Still A Rose".

Kylie Minogue, U2 and Enya had hits in the 00's; all had hit back to the 80's.

R.E.M. ("The Great Beyond"), Elvis Presley ("A Little Less Conversation") and Cher ("Song For The Lonely") all made AT40 in the 00's.

Michael Jackson made the top 40 in the 10's with "Hold My Hand".

No Doubt made the top 40 in the 10's with "Settle Down".

Steven Tyler made the top 40 in the 10's with "(It) Feels So Good".

[jlthorpe]

Thanks. I added them all to the list (also added Earth, Wind and Fire to the 90s list since they hit AT40 with "Sunday Morning").

[freakyflybry]

Van Halen had several top 40 hits in the 90's as well.

The Four Seasons returned to the top 40 in 1994 with "December 1963 (Oh What A Night)".

[jlthorpe]

Added.

Also, can you tell me if Huey Lewis hit AT40 with "Cruisin'"? If so, I can add him to the 2000s.

[freakyflybry]

Boston hit AT40 in 1994 with "I Need Your Love" as well.

Sept 27, 2012 12:28:50 GMT -5 jlthorpe said:

Added.

Also, can you tell me if Huey Lewis hit AT40 with "Cruisin'"? If so, I can add him to the 2000s.

It made the AC chart but not AT40.

[freakyflybry]

Burton Cummings first hit in the 60's with the Guess Who and had a solo top 40 in 1981.

The Steve Miller Band had a CT40 hit in 1993 with "Wide River".

Led Zeppelin had "Fool In The Rain" in 1980.

[woolebull]

Mick Jagger hit this year in the Top 40, so at the least he fits the criteria for the 2010's and up.

[johnnywest]

Under the 2010s, Fergie sang backup for Martika in 1989, then lead for Wild Orchid in the '90s, then joined the Black Eyed Peas in 2003, went solo in 2006, and had more hits with the Peas until 2011.

[johnnywest]

It was mentioned on AT40 in 2010 that Rivers Cuomo had exactly 3 Top 40 hits and all of them landed in 3 separate decades:

1995 - Buddy Holly - Weezer
2005 - Beverly Hills - Weezer
2010 - Magic - B.o.B. f/Rivers Cuomo

[jlthorpe]

Mick Jagger and Rivers Cuomo have been added. I don't believe Fergie was credited on the Martika single, but Wild Orchid did hit CT40 in the 90s and Fergie was featured on a single in the 2010s, so I added her with a note.

[woolebull]

Sept 27, 2012 22:28:27 GMT -5 johnnywest said:

It was mentioned on AT40 in 2010 that Rivers Cuomo had exactly 3 Top 40 hits and all of them landed in 3 separate decades:

1995 - Buddy Holly - Weezer
2005 - Beverly Hills - Weezer
2010 - Magic - B.o.B. f/Rivers Cuomo

I loved when "Carrie" by Cliff Richard debuted in April of 1980 on the top 40, he became the first artist to have a song in four decades and he did it in just over 20 years and only, at the time, five songs!

[johnnywest]

It probably deserves as asterisk, but Hank Williams, Jr. had his first country hit in 1964. In 2008, he was featured on the song "Bartender Song (Sittin' At A Bar)" by Rehab. AT40 played the version featuring Hank Williams, Jr. at least once.

[freakyflybry]

There are two more cases I can think of that might qualify, and both involve Janet Jackson.

In 1997, she sampled Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" on "Got Til It's Gone", which made the top 40 on CT40. And in 2001, she sampled Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" on "Son Of A Gun" (Carly re-recorded her parts there.)

Both should qualify if Joni/Carly got label credit on their respective singles.

[jlthorpe]

freakyflybry, it looks like you were right about Joni and Carly. Both added.

johnnywest, I couldn't find where Hank hit the pop Top 40 any time except for that AT40 appearance you mentioned.