3 Pop Stars Who Found New Life as Solo Artists in the 1970s
The article highlights three performers who became prominent solo pop artists during the 1970s after first finding fame through groups or television. It presents Diana Ross, Donny Osmond and David Cassidy as examples of artists who successfully built individual careers in an era dominated by popular rock bands.
– Diana Ross first became known as the lead singer of Motown group The Supremes, whose debut album arrived in 1962; she released her first solo LP in 1970.
– Donny Osmond began in family group The Osmonds, which issued its debut album in 1968; his solo debut, The Donny Osmond Album, followed in 1971, and he released two albums annually for three consecutive early-1970s years.
– David Cassidy gained public recognition through television musical sitcom The Partridge Family before launching a solo career; his debut album, Cherish, came out in 1972, followed by five more albums during the decade.
- Three stars successfully shifted from groups or television to solo pop careers.
- Diana Ross launched her solo career in 1970.
- Donny Osmond and David Cassidy became prolific 1970s solo artists.
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In the 1970s, many singers who were already familiar to the public began recording under their own names. A solo career allowed an artist to develop a separate musical identity from a group, family act or television role, while still drawing on an existing audience.
Diana Ross had become famous with The Supremes, one of Motown’s best-known vocal groups, before beginning her solo recording career in 1970. Donny Osmond was first part of The Osmonds, a family pop group, while David Cassidy was associated with the television series The Partridge Family, in which music was a central feature.
The decade is often closely linked with rock bands, but pop music also had room for individual performers with strong public profiles. Solo albums, singles, television appearances and touring gave established singers several ways to reach audiences and sustain careers outside their original acts.