Artists Whose First Hit Was Their Biggest--Part 15

We continue with great examples of artists who worked on their craft so hard that when they finally hit it big, that first hit was the biggest they would ever have:

Gentrys

"Keep On Dancing"

Here's a band from Memphis, Tennessee who reached the Top 5 in 1965.  They are officially a One-Hit Wonder, as they never hit the Top 40 again.

Barbara George

"I Know (You Don't Love Me No More"

This singer enjoyed an even earlier hit than the Gentrys, taking this song to #3 in 1962.

Gerry and the Pacemakers

"Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying"

Here's another song from the British Invasion, a group signed by Beatles manager Brian Epstein in 1962.  They played the same areas of Liverpool and Hamburg, Germany that the Beatles did.  Two years later, this song by Gerry & the Pacemakers caught on, hitting #4.  They were able to land two more Top 10's, but nothing as good as their first.

Nick Gilder

"Hot Child In The City"

This London-born artist moved to Canada and founded the group Sweeney Todd.  When that group disbanded, he released a solo album, which contained this monster hit in 1978.  It not only went to #1 but sold over two million copies.

Terry Gilkyson and the Easy Riders

"Marianne"

Here's another folk group who scored their one and only big hit in 1957.

Glass Tiger

"Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)"

This group enlisted the help of fellow Canadian Bryan Adams on this #2 smash in 1986.  Their follow-up, "Someday", reached #7, the only other Top 10 Glass Tiger enjoyed.

Lesley Gore

"It's My Party"

The recently departed Lesley Gore hit #1 right out of the box with this smash in 1963.  She went on to chalk up 19 hits including four Top 10's, all in succession.  Her next-biggest was "You Don't Own Me", close to her first big hit but not quite.

Charlie Gracie

"Butterfly"

A regular on Dick Clark's Bandstand, Charlie Gracie climbed to #1 in 1957 with this one.  He scored a #16 song later in the year but people remember him for his first.

Billy Grammer

"Gotta' Travel On"

Billy Grammer was a respected session musician who regularly performed on The Jimmy Dean Show in 1957 and 1958.  He got as high as #4 with this one, the only big hit he ever had on his own.

Eddy Grant

"Electric Avenue"

Eddy Grant scored one of The Top #2 Songs of the Rock Era* with this Platinum song in 1983.  He was able to post another Top 40 song, but nothing near as good as this one.