The term “One Hit Wonder” refers to an artist or band who rose to prominence thanks to a single song and then faded from view. Even though many people who technically fall into the One Hit Wonder category went on to write, perform, and produce music after their One Hit Wonder song, they never again achieved the somewhat iconic status that their One Hit Wonder song provided them for a brief period of time. Songs One Hit Wonder bands frequently become emblematic of the era in which they were recorded, and they are frequently included in compilation albums commemorating the period.
Although some bands have only one hit that reaches the top 40 of the Billboard charts, they are not considered One Hit Wonders. A band that produces an alternative style of music may not receive the same amount of airplay as other bands, but they are still extremely popular. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, for example, each had only one such documented hit.
In the case of Hendrix and Joplin, their lives were cut short far too soon to produce enough music to propel them higher up the Billboard charts. As a punk/new wave band, Siouxsie and the Banshees had a modest amount of success, but they didn’t get much airplay. Although the Grateful Dead only had one hit, their influence in the music world was enormous. Concerts the Grateful Dead continued until Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995.
The true One Hit Wonder does not become known as a band or an artist. Instead, they are most commonly associated with a single song. After their one hit, the One Hit Wonder usually fades into obscurity.
One Hit Wonder bands and artists can be traced back to the 1950s. They’re usually associated with the era’s most popular music. So a rock and roll artist from the 1950s would be associated with rock and roll, while a disco artist from the 1970s would be associated with disco. Heavy metal and new wave artists are common among 1980s One Hit Wonders.