Toni Basil

One-Hit Wonders: Where Are They Now

Basil gained renown for her hit "Mickey" in '82, but she also starred in critically acclaimed films like 'Easy Rider' and 'Five Easy Pieces.' (Promotional Photo)

More from this Slideshow

0 of 0

The Divinyls The "I Touch Myself" duo went on to provide music for such amazing films as 'Super Mario Brothers' in '93. Singer Christina Amphlett revealed that she had MS in 2007. (Getty Images)
Vicki Sue Robins... Vicki Sue Robinson made a big splash with her '76 hit, "Turn The Beat Around." She lost her battle with cancer in 2000. She was just 45 years old. (Promotional Photo)
Spandau Ballet Spandau Ballet took New Romanticism to new heights with "True," but the Kemp brothers found a new career, acting in films like 'The Krays.' (Getty Images)
Gary Glitter Gary Glitter's hit "Rock & Roll, Pt. 2" was banned in the NFL after he was imprisoned for inappropriate sexual contact with minors. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Bobby McFerrin Bobby McFerrin made a name for himself with his happy-go-lucky hit "Don't Worry Be Happy" in '88. He spends most of his time conducting orchestras. Contrary to popular urban myth, he did not commit suicide. (Promotional Photo)
The Cardigans The Cardigans burst on the scene with "Lovefool," which was featured in 'William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet' in '96. The band continues to make music. (Rolling Stone/Rhapsody)
Falco Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus" made him an overnight star. The singer lost his life in a car crash at age 40. (Promotional Photo)
Jamie Walters The "How Do You Talk To An Angel" star became a certified paramedic in the Los Angeles Fire Dept. in 2004. (Promotional Photo)
Nick Gilder The "Hot Child In The City" singer continues to make music in his native Canada. (Album Cover/Promotional Photo)
Frankie Goes To ... After "Relax," Frankie Goes To Hollywood suffered the fate of countless bands with bitter infighting breaking them apart. An attempted reunion fell apart in 2003. (Promotional Photo)
Big Country Big Country never regained popularity after "In A Big Country" was a hit. Lead singer Stuart Adamson hanged himself in a Honolulu hotel in December 2001. (Promotional Photo)
The Verve Since "Bittersweet Symphony," the Verve have broken up and reunited three times. Richard Ashcroft also pursued a solo career in the meantime. (Rolling Stone/Rhapsody)
Billy Paul The "Me & Mrs. Jones" singer was involved with the legendary Philly Sound of the seventies, but hasn't done much music since. (Promotional Photo)
Modern English Modern English scored a hit with "I Melt With You" in '82. They split in '86, only to reform in the early '90s. (Rolling Stone/Rhapsody)
The Vapors After just two albums, the "Turning Japanese" singers pursued other careers. (Promotional Photo)
Meredith Brooks The "Bitch" singer recently recorded an album of children's music. (Rolling Stones/Rhapsody)
Starland Vocal B... Unable to replicate the success of "Afternoon Delight" Starland Vocal Band's main couple divorced in '81. (Promotional Photo)
Cheryl Lynn "Got To Be Real" proved the high point of Cheryl Lynn. She contributed to the film, "Shark Tale.' (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)
Buster Poindexte... David Johansen gained acclaim for "Hot Hot Hot," but he's always been the frontman for seminal punk act the New York Dolls. (Promotional Photo)
EMF EMF have broken up and reunited twice. Unbelievable! (Promotional Photo)
Terry Jacks After "Seasons In The Sun," Terry Jacks became an outspoken environmentalist. (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)
Musical Youth The "Pass The Dutchie" singers were slated for a reunion tour in 2001, but plans were derailed by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)
Rob Base & DJ EZ... A VH1 special revealed that the duo behind "It Takes Two" are actually still active! (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)
M After "Pop Musik," M transformed into Robin Scott's musical vehicle. He's recently done work inspired by African sounds. (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)
Suzi Quatro "Stumblin' In" star Quatro appeared on Happy Days as Fonzie's girlfriend. She's also done vocal work on 'Bob the Builder.'(Rolling Stone/Rhapsody)
Kajagoogoo The "Too Shy" stars broke up in '86, but reunited for VH1 in 2004.(Rolling Stone/ Rhapsody)
Devo Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh has made a living working on soundtracks for the likes of Wes Anderson and others after "Whip It." (Rhapsody)
Chumbawumba Punks Chumbawumba had a hit with "Tubthumping," but didn't quit. They've been making music ever since.
Wild Cherry Wild Cherry singer Rob Parissi went on to become a DJ in Wheeling, WV after his '76 hit "Play That Funky Music."
Gary Numan The "Cars" star has recently appeared on NIN farewell tour. Numan continues to make music.
Thomas Dolby After taking a break, "She Blinded Me With Science" returned to music in 2006. (Promotional Photo
Iron Butterfly Since "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida " became a hit in '68, two original members of the band have died.
Sinéad O'Connor The tempestuous "Nothing Compares 2 U" star has since been ordained, has come out as a lesbian and then retracted it, and announced that she suffers bipolar disorder on Oprah in 2007. (Rhapsody)
Twisted Sister Twisted Sister suffered a slow and lingering death after the success of "We're Not Gonna Take It." (Rolling Stone/Rhapsody)
Sugarhill Gang Sugarhill Gang scored rap's first #1 with "Rapper's Delight." They've kept a low profile since then, reuniting in '99. (Rolling Stone/Rhapsody)
Question Mark An... Question Mark's home burned down in 2007, killing his prized breeding dogs. (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)
Deee-Lite After "Groove Is In The Heart," Towa Tei left the group and the rest of the band pursued their own DJ careers. (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)
Van McCoy Van McCoy scored a hit with "The Hustle" in 1975, but died of a heart attack just four years later. (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)
Sir Mix-A-Lot Sir Mix-A-Lot continues to make music, but has never regained the fame "Baby Got Back" brought him. (Promotional Photo)
Debby Boone The "You Light Up My Life" singer has made a career writing children's books with her husband. (Promotional Photo)
Nina Hagen Nina followed her hit "99 Luftballoons" with small parts in film and voiceover work. (Promotional Photo)
Gerardo Would you believe the "Rico Suave" rapper discovered Enrique Iglesias? (Promotional Photo)
A-Ha The "Take On Me" stars just wrapped up a farewell tour after a long and successful career. (Rolling Stone/Rhapsody)
Vanilla Ice Since "Ice Ice Baby" hit the airwaves, Robert Matthew Van Winkle aka Vanilla Ice has unsuccessfully tried to reinvent himself, each attempt proving more embarrassing than the last. (Rolling Stone/Rhapsody)
Baha Men You've probably hear Baha Men's hit "Who Let The Dogs Out" as often today as you did ten years ago when it was released. They're still making music, probably because they can live handsomely on the royalties alone.
Toni Basil Basil gained renown for her hit "Mickey" in '82, but she also starred in critically acclaimed films like 'Easy Rider' and 'Five Easy Pieces.' (Promotional Photo)
Right Said Fred Right Said Fred are best known for their 1991 hit "I'm Too Sexy," but did you know they're still making albums? (Rolling Stone/Rhapsody)
Dexy's Midnight ... Dexy's Midnight Runners scored a #1 hit with "Come On Eileen," but weren't treated kindly by critics on their follow-up album in '85. Lead singer Kevin Rowland left the band to pursue an ill-fated solo career in '88, struggling with drug addiction before reuniting with the band in 2003. (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)
Soft Cell Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond had unbelievable success with 'Tainted Love.' He never had a hit again in the States, but has had a 30-year career that has produced a body of critically acclaimed music. In 2004, he was nearly killed in a motorcycle crash, but made a miraculous recovery shortly thereafter. (Promotional Photo)
Los Del Rio Best known for their 1995 smash hit 'The Macarena,' Los Del Rio have continued to make music, releasing 'Quinceañera Macarena' in 2008. (Promotional Photo/Album Cover)