These brothers only rose to prominence thanks to the established star power of “The Sonny & Cher Show.” Less than a year later, in 1975, the brothers had their own variety show, “The Hudson Brothers Show.” They later moved on to children’s programming with “The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show.”
The same year they began their variety show, they had two songs – out of four – that made it to the Billboard Hot 100: “Rendezvous” and “Lonely School Year.” The musical talent didn’t stop there – one of the brothers, Bill, met and married Goldie Hawn in 1975 when Hawn was pregnant with their daughter, none other than actress Kate Hudson.
Willie Aames (1960s – 1970s)
During the sixties, Willie Aames was a child actor who had plenty of big appearances, including on “Gunsmoke,” perhaps one of the biggest shows of the decade. When he reached adulthood in the seventies, he had spots on “Cannon,” “Medical Center,” and “The Waltons.”
He was the first actor to play Felix Unger's son, Leonard, on “The Odd Couple,” a role that fellow teen star Leif Garret would take over. Aames starred in “Eight Is Enough” as Tommy Bradford from 1976 until 1981. After that, he became an ordained minister and appeared as the Christian superhero Bibleman in a video game series of the same name from 1995 until 2004.
Andy Gibb (1970s- 1980s)
British-born singer Andy Gibb had star power in his family. He was the younger brother of Bee Gees members Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, but he didn't need to be part of the family act to get his own fame. His first album “Flowing Rivers” proved he had the musical chops, and he got his first number one song, “I Just Want to Be Your Everything,” when he was nineteen years old.
Three more top twenty singles followed the hit, and then Gibb fell into addiction and depression. When he turned thirty, he attempted a comeback but died just a few days later due to myocarditis – inflammation and weakness of the heart due to substance abuse.
The Beach Boys (1960s – 1970s)
The year they released their second album, “Surfin' U.S.A.,” was also one of the last years the Beach Boys were a pure pop group. Their sun-and-fun sound had them dismissed by most critics, yet teens loved the sounds of their songs. With distinguishing vocal harmonies and musical ingenuity, they became one of the most influential acts of the rock era.
They were one of the few American bands who maintained their standing during the British Invasion in the sixties. Their 1966 album “Pet Sounds” and its single “Good Vibrations” made them rock innovators. Though members have passed away or quit, the band continues to perform.
Mark Wynter (1960s – 1970s)
While he began his entertainment career as Terry Lewis, he decided to switch to Mark Wynter to avoid confusion with famous comedian Jerry Lewis. Wynter placed fourth in the 1961 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, but that didn't stop him.
He recorded a cover version of the Jimmy Clanton hit “Venus in Blue Jeans,” which helped him find big success, though none of his other musical outputs would reach the same heights. His musical career continued until 1968, at which point he developed into an actor in films, musicals, and plays – he even appeared in the 1978 “Superman” movie.