Artists who had disappointing solo careers

For every Michael Jackson who left The Jacksons, there have been plenty of recording artists who were successful in a previous incarnation -- usually, the lead singer or key person of a group -- who pursued a solo career that did not measure up. Let's discuss these artists who fell short of expectations.

Najee said:

I guess if we're going with '90s soul artists, I'm going to nominate Aaron Hall. The former lead singer for GUY was a vocal and stylistic inspiration for acts like R. Kelly and Joe, to say the least. But outside of "Don't Be Afraid," he never came close to achieving more than marginal success.

At this moment, it's hard for me to think of another high-profile artist whose career was as spectacularly underwhelming as The Nasty Man's.
[Edited 1/21/07 18:44pm]

On second thought ...

Another consideration could be James "J.T." Taylor, the former lead singer for Kool & The Gang who was the front man for arguably the most successful R&B band in the 1980s. Outside of his initial ballad with Regina Belle ("All I Want Is Forever"), he produced three rather poor-selling albums and only one other hit single ("Long Hot Summer Night" from the "Feel the Need" album).
[Edited 1/21/07 18:47pm]

I would say that Mick Jagger had a really disappointing solo career. There were huge expectations for his album "She's The Boss" but it only had one really big hit, "Just Another Night."

Susanna Hoffs was considered the most marketable member of the Bangles due to her sexy eyes and gorgeous figure, yet when she released her first solo album after the Bangles had initially broken up, it stiffed big time.

Sisqo was on the verge of having a huge solo career, but when "The Thong Song" blew up, most people took him for a novelty act, especially those who weren't aware of his work in Dru Hill.

Jermaine Jackson was co-leadsinger of J5 and had some success as a soloperformer but given that he was compared to a young M. Gaye in the 70's I don't think his carrier turned out the way many expected.

Dee Dee Ramone

glenn hughes

Najee said:

On second thought ...

Another consideration could be James "J.T." Taylor, the former lead singer for Kool & The Gang who was the front man for arguably the most successful R&B band in the 1980s. Outside of his initial ballad with Regina Belle ("All I Want Is Forever"), he produced three rather poor-selling albums and only one other hit single ("Long Hot Summer Night" from the "Feel the Need" album).
[Edited 1/21/07 18:47pm]

Najee said:

On second thought ...

Another consideration could be James "J.T." Taylor, the former lead singer for Kool & The Gang who was the front man for arguably the most successful R&B band in the 1980s. Outside of his initial ballad with Regina Belle ("All I Want Is Forever"), he produced three rather poor-selling albums and only one other hit single ("Long Hot Summer Night" from the "Feel the Need" album).

Where'd the funk go mofo?!?!

Howard Hewitt---When he left Shalamar for a solo career,it looked like he was on his way to bigger and better things.There were a few hits,but he never really became the big solo superstar that many people predicted.

El DeBarge---Everybody thought that when he left DeBarge,he would become as big as Michael Jackson.It didn't happen.He released several albums,had a few hits but sadly,his popularity faded by the 90s.I think it's largely because of less-than-brilliant material.He needed a super producer like Quincy Jones...someone who could take him to the next level.

James 'JT' Taylor

Dawn Robinson of EnVogue

Philip Bailey---Despite the fact that he is an awesome vocalist,he never really established himself as a solo artist.Sure,he had that massive rock/pop hit "Easy Lover" with Phil Collins in 1984,but there weren't any other big hits after that,and he will forever be known as Earth Wind and Fire's lead singer.

SoulAlive said:

MissFee Got Her Own
"By lookin in her eyes
Knowin she can do for herself
Makes me wanna give her my wealth
Only kinda girl I want
Independent queen workin for her throne
I love her cause she got her own"

Oh yeah...Maurice was the lead singer of EW&F throughout most of their career.But he hasn't toured with the band since 1994 (due to health problems),so Philip is the current lead singer.

SoulAlive said:

MissFee Got Her Own
"By lookin in her eyes
Knowin she can do for herself
Makes me wanna give her my wealth
Only kinda girl I want
Independent queen workin for her throne
I love her cause she got her own"

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Where'd the funk go mofo?!?!

speaking of Dawn Robinson...I recall a Vibe interview she did right before her first solo album was released.She was gloating at the fact that Envogue's recent CD flopped...but then her own CD was released out and sold about 5 copies,lol...


she's a funny character...talented but bitchy

some more...

Bobby Brown---Yes,'Don't Be Cruel' was a monster hit in 1988/89,but his follow-up albums went nowhere.If he hadn't married Whitney Houston in 1992,we wouldn't have even heard about in the media anymore.He would have faded away completely.

Coco from SWV---I bet most of you didn't even know that she had a solo career...lol...her solo album in 1999 flopped big time.It's a shame because she really is a good singer.It was a huge mistake for SWV to break up when they still popular.In recent years,they attempted a reunion but alas,it's too late.

Michael Cooper---former lead singer of Con Funk Shun

SoulAlive said:

speaking of Dawn Robinson...I recall a Vibe interview she did right before her first solo album was released.She was gloating at the fact that Envogue's recent CD flopped...but then her own CD was released out and sold about 5 copies,lol...


she's a funny character...talented but bitchy

I wouldn't go as far as to say that Chaka lost it. But she certainly lost a part of her forever that she didn't gain back when she became solo.

Thing is with the Rufus days, they played things that suited and complimented her voice,,,while Arif Mardin was a great producer, he didn't know what do with her, he kept her in that BUSY production which didn't do shit IMO. Her 1st 3 albums with him were good, but after 1982, she kinda lost something, and eventually started to go with the motions, being under WB wasn't a funny thing either becoz they exploited her talent.

I know the dumb bitch wanted to do the jazzy thing thats why she left the band, but I find her stuff with them FAAAAAR more improvisational than the stuff she did when she became solo IMHO.

Mazerati said:

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Where'd the funk go mofo?!?!

Agnetha's solo career outside of ABBA was the worst.


[Edited 1/22/07 16:26pm]

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Where'd the funk go mofo?!?!

SoulAlive said:

Let be real, the solo career of Vanity was 80's trash!!!

The solo careers of Vince Neil & Tommy Lee (Motley Crue) was a mistake.

TonyVanDam said: