80s Music Artists A–Z
The most important 80s music artists include Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Whitney Houston, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Duran Duran, Run-DMC, George Strait and R.E.M. This A–Z guide covers dozens more across pop, rock, new wave, hip-hop, R&B, country and dance, with one song by each in the free player.
How to use this A–Z
This is a quick reference to the artists who shaped the 1980s, one letter at a time. Each letter names three to five artists from different corners of the decade, with a line on why each one mattered and one song to hear. Press play above and the whole alphabet plays in order, from a-ha to ZZ Top. For the 25 essential bands of the decade, see our main guide to 80s bands.
Artists are filed the way a record store would file them. Solo artists go under their surname, so Bryan Adams is under A and Michael Jackson is under J. Bands go under their first word, ignoring "The".
What this list leaves out
No list of 80s artists can be complete, so this one aims for range rather than size. Some of the decade's biggest names are missing on purpose because they have their own pages. Solo women such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper and Janet Jackson are on our 80s female singers page. Rock bands like Bon Jovi, Journey and Def Leppard are covered in our guide to 80s rock bands.
Every song here is different from the ones on our other pages, and every one follows our song selection rules.
A: a-ha, ABC, Bryan Adams, Alabama, Rick Astley
Norway's a-ha sang a James Bond theme, "The Living Daylights", in 1987. ABC, from Sheffield, made glossy, dramatic pop in gold suits. Canada's Bryan Adams had six Top 15 hits from Reckless alone. Alabama were the biggest group in country music. Rick Astley's deep voice sold millions of records with producers Stock Aitken Waterman.
Signature tracks: The Living Daylights (a-ha), Poison Arrow (ABC), Run to You (Bryan Adams), Dixieland Delight (Alabama), She Wants to Dance with Me (Rick Astley)
B: The B-52's, Beastie Boys, Blondie, Bobby Brown
The B-52's, from Athens, Georgia, went from cult party band to "Roam", a No. 3 hit in 1989. The Beastie Boys were punks from New York who made the first rap album to top the Billboard 200. Blondie opened the decade with three US No. 1s. Bobby Brown left New Edition and made Don't Be Cruel, the best-selling album of 1989.
Signature tracks: Roam (The B-52's), No Sleep Till Brooklyn (Beastie Boys), The Tide Is High (Blondie), Every Little Step (Bobby Brown)
C: The Cars, Chicago, Phil Collins, Culture Club
The Cars mixed new wave synths with rock guitars, and "You Might Think" won the first MTV Video of the Year award. Chicago reinvented themselves as a ballad band. Phil Collins was the busiest man in pop, a solo star and the singer of Genesis at the same time. Culture Club and Boy George were one of the defining acts of the MTV era.
Signature tracks: You Might Think (The Cars), Hard Habit to Break (Chicago), In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins), Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (Culture Club)
D: DeBarge, Depeche Mode, Thomas Dolby, Duran Duran
DeBarge were a family group from Michigan who gave Motown some of its last big 80s hits. Depeche Mode went from bright synth-pop to stadium-sized gloom. Thomas Dolby was a producer and technology enthusiast who made synth-pop with a sense of humour. Duran Duran were the definitive MTV band, and "The Reflex" was their first American No. 1.
Signature tracks: Who's Holding Donna Now (DeBarge), Just Can't Get Enough (Depeche Mode), Hyperactive! (Thomas Dolby), The Reflex (Duran Duran)
E: Echo & the Bunnymen, Erasure, Eric B. & Rakim, Eurythmics
Echo & the Bunnymen made moody, dramatic guitar rock in Liverpool. Erasure paired Vince Clarke's synths with Andy Bell's big voice. Eric B. & Rakim changed rap forever: Rakim's calm, complex rhymes set a new standard. Eurythmics, with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, moved easily from synth-pop to soul and rock.
Signature tracks: Lips Like Sugar (Echo & the Bunnymen), Chains of Love (Erasure), I Know You Got Soul (Eric B. & Rakim), Would I Lie to You? (Eurythmics)
F: Falco, Fleetwood Mac, Glenn Frey
Austria's Falco rapped in German, and "Rock Me Amadeus" became the first German-language song to top the Hot 100. His earlier "Der Kommissar" became an American hit in English for the band After the Fire. Fleetwood Mac reunited for Tango in the Night. Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey found a new sound through the TV show Miami Vice.
Signature tracks: Der Kommissar (Falco), Little Lies (Fleetwood Mac), You Belong to the City (Glenn Frey)
G: The Gap Band, Genesis, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
The Gap Band, three brothers from Tulsa, made some of the hardest-hitting funk of the decade. Genesis grew from a progressive rock band into a pop-rock hit machine, and "Mama" was one of their biggest British hits. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were hip-hop pioneers, and "The Message" made rap a way to report on real life.
Signature tracks: Early in the Morning (The Gap Band), Mama (Genesis), Freedom (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five)
H: Hall & Oates, Don Henley, The Human League
Daryl Hall and John Oates were the most successful duo of the decade, with five No. 1 singles between 1981 and 1984. Eagles drummer Don Henley made "The Boys of Summer", whose black-and-white video won MTV's Video of the Year. The Human League, from Sheffield, gave synth-pop one of its first great hits with "Don't You Want Me".
Signature tracks: Private Eyes (Daryl Hall & John Oates), The Boys of Summer (Don Henley), Human (The Human League)
I: Billy Idol, Inner City, INXS
Billy Idol, a London punk, became an MTV star with a sneer and a raised fist, and his live version of "Mony Mony" went to No. 1 in 1987. Inner City, led by Detroit techno pioneer Kevin Saunderson, took club music into the pop charts. Australia's INXS reached their peak with Kick in 1987, led by Michael Hutchence.
Signature tracks: Mony Mony (Billy Idol), Good Life (Inner City), New Sensation (INXS)
J: Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Elton John, Howard Jones
Michael Jackson made Thriller, still the best-selling album of all time, and followed it with Bad, which had five No. 1 singles. Billy Joel tried a new style on almost every album, from 50s doo-wop to rock. Elton John came back strong with "I'm Still Standing". Howard Jones built his hits on stage with banks of keyboards.
Signature tracks: The Way You Make Me Feel (Michael Jackson), Uptown Girl (Billy Joel), I'm Still Standing (Elton John), No One Is to Blame (Howard Jones)
K: Big Daddy Kane, Evelyn King, Kool & the Gang
Big Daddy Kane was one of the smoothest and fastest rappers of the golden age. Evelyn "Champagne" King moved from disco to sleek 80s R&B, and "Love Come Down" topped the R&B chart. Kool & the Gang had been a funk band since the 60s and became a pop hit machine in the 80s with singer James "J.T." Taylor.
Signature tracks: Smooth Operator (Big Daddy Kane), Love Come Down (Evelyn King), Cherish (Kool & the Gang)
L: Huey Lewis, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, LL Cool J, Kenny Loggins
Huey Lewis and the News were the dependable bar band that conquered America. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, from New York, helped create freestyle and topped the Hot 100 with "Head to Toe". LL Cool J was rap's first teen idol. Kenny Loggins became the king of the movie soundtrack, with "Footloose" and "Danger Zone".
Signature tracks: The Heart of Rock & Roll (Huey Lewis and the News), Head to Toe (Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam), Going Back to Cali (LL Cool J), Footloose (Kenny Loggins)
M: Madness, John Mellencamp, Men at Work, George Michael
Madness, from London, went from ska to "Our House", their only American Top 10 hit. John Mellencamp wrote about small-town Indiana. Australia's Men at Work had the No. 1 single and album in America at the same time. George Michael left Wham! and made Faith, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Signature tracks: Our House (Madness), Small Town (John Mellencamp), Who Can It Be Now? (Men at Work), Father Figure (George Michael)
N: Willie Nelson, New Order, N.W.A
Willie Nelson was country's biggest star in the early 80s, as an actor as well as a singer. New Order rose from Joy Division and fused rock with dance music; their "Blue Monday" became the best-selling 12-inch single ever released. N.W.A, from Compton, made Straight Outta Compton and brought West Coast gangsta rap to the world.
Signature tracks: Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground (Willie Nelson), Bizarre Love Triangle (New Order), Express Yourself (N.W.A)
O: Billy Ocean, OMD
Billy Ocean, born in Trinidad and raised in London, had a run of American No. 1s starting with "Caribbean Queen", which won him a Grammy. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, from the Wirral near Liverpool, were early synth-pop pioneers. They reached their widest audience with "If You Leave", from the film Pretty in Pink.
Signature tracks: Caribbean Queen (Billy Ocean), If You Leave (OMD)
P: Pet Shop Boys, Pretenders, Prince, Public Enemy
Pet Shop Boys brought wit and elegance to synth-pop. Chrissie Hynde's Pretenders were one of the great bands of the post-punk era. Prince played nearly every instrument on his records and made Purple Rain, a film, album and tour all in one. Public Enemy made rap loud, political and dense with samples.
Signature tracks: It's a Sin (Pet Shop Boys), Brass in Pocket (Pretenders), Purple Rain (Prince), Don't Believe the Hype (Public Enemy)
Q: Quarterflash, Queen
Q is a short letter for the 80s. Quarterflash, from Portland, Oregon, featured Rindy Ross on vocals and saxophone, and "Harden My Heart" reached No. 3. Queen were one of the world's biggest bands. The video for "I Want to Break Free", with the band dressed as housewives, was a joke in Britain and caused an uproar in America.
Signature tracks: Harden My Heart (Quarterflash), I Want to Break Free (Queen)
R: R.E.M., Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Run-DMC
R.E.M. grew from college radio favourites to arena headliners. Lionel Richie left the Commodores and became one of the best-selling singers in the world. Kenny Rogers crossed from country to pop better than anyone. Run-DMC were the first rap group to earn a gold album and to be played on MTV.
Signature tracks: Stand (R.E.M.), Say You, Say Me (Lionel Richie), Through the Years (Kenny Rogers), King of Rock (Run-DMC)
S: Simple Minds, Bruce Springsteen, Starship, George Strait
Simple Minds, from Glasgow, grew from art-rock to anthems. Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. produced seven Top 10 singles. Starship, the descendant of Jefferson Airplane, had three No. 1 hits in the late 80s. George Strait led country back to its roots, and Ocean Front Property was the first country album to enter the chart at No. 1.
Signature tracks: Alive and Kicking (Simple Minds), Glory Days (Bruce Springsteen), We Built This City (Starship), Ocean Front Property (George Strait)
T: Talking Heads, Tears for Fears, Thompson Twins, Randy Travis
Talking Heads were art-school rockers who made brilliant dance music. Tears for Fears turned deep thoughts into huge hits on Songs from the Big Chair. Thompson Twins, who were neither twins nor named Thompson, were a colourful synth-pop trio. Randy Travis's rich baritone helped launch country's neotraditional movement in 1986.
Signature tracks: And She Was (Talking Heads), Head over Heels (Tears for Fears), Doctor! Doctor! (Thompson Twins), Diggin' Up Bones (Randy Travis)
U: U2, UB40, Ultravox, UTFO
U2 grew from Dublin post-punks into the biggest band in the world. UB40, from Birmingham, took reggae into the pop charts, and their cover of "Red Red Wine" went to No. 1 in America in 1988, five years after it first came out. Ultravox made grand, orchestral synth-pop. UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne" set off dozens of answer records.
Signature tracks: Angel of Harlem (U2), Red Red Wine (UB40), Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (Ultravox), Roxanne, Roxanne (UTFO)
V: Van Halen, Luther Vandross, Suzanne Vega
Van Halen stayed on top of hard rock through a change of singer. Luther Vandross was the finest R&B balladeer of his generation, and "Stop to Love" was his first R&B No. 1. Suzanne Vega, a New York folk singer, reached No. 3 with "Luka", a quiet song about a child who is being abused, told in the child's voice.
Signature tracks: Finish What Ya Started (Van Halen), Stop to Love (Luther Vandross), Luka (Suzanne Vega)
W: Wang Chung, Whodini, Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder
Wang Chung told America to "everybody Wang Chung tonight" and reached No. 2. Whodini, from Brooklyn, were among the first rap acts to go gold. Steve Winwood, a star since the 60s, had his biggest solo run in the 80s. Stevie Wonder kept making hits all decade, and "Part-Time Lover" went to No. 1 in 1985.
Signature tracks: Everybody Have Fun Tonight (Wang Chung), Freaks Come Out at Night (Whodini), While You See a Chance (Steve Winwood), Part-Time Lover (Stevie Wonder)
X: XTC
X is the hardest letter. XTC, from Swindon in England, stopped touring in 1982 and became a studio band with some of the cleverest songs of the decade. "Dear God" started as a B-side and became a college radio hit in America, and argued over, in 1987. The Los Angeles punk band X also deserves a mention.
Signature tracks: Dear God (XTC)
Y: Yazoo, Dwight Yoakam, Young MC
Yazoo paired Vince Clarke's synths with Alison Moyet's bluesy voice, and "Situation" was a big American club hit. They were called Yaz in the US. Dwight Yoakam brought hard-edged honky-tonk country back from Los Angeles bars. Young MC wrote raps for Tone Lōc and then had his own hit with "Bust a Move".
Signature tracks: Situation (Yazoo), Guitars, Cadillacs (Dwight Yoakam), Principal's Office (Young MC)
Z: Zapp, ZZ Top
Zapp, led by Roger Troutman and his brothers from Dayton, Ohio, made the talk box the sound of 80s funk, and West Coast rappers sampled them for years. ZZ Top, a Texas blues trio, added synthesizers and drum machines on Eliminator, and their videos made them MTV stars. That makes a good way to end the alphabet.
Signature tracks: More Bounce to the Ounce (Zapp), Gimme All Your Lovin' (ZZ Top)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the most popular music artists of the 80s?
By sales and chart success, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins and Janet Jackson were the biggest solo stars. Among groups, U2, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Hall & Oates led the way.
Who was the best-selling artist of the 1980s?
Michael Jackson. Thriller, released at the end of 1982, is the best-selling album of all time, and his follow-up, Bad, produced five No. 1 singles in a row in 1987 and 1988.
Which 80s artists were from Canada?
Bryan Adams was the biggest. Loverboy, Corey Hart, Glass Tiger, Men Without Hats, Rush, Anne Murray and k.d. lang also had major 80s hits.
Why are Madonna and Whitney Houston not on this A–Z?
The biggest solo women have their own page, 80s female singers, with two songs each. This A–Z features other artists, so the two pages can be played one after the other without repeats.
How are artists sorted in this list?
The way a record store files them: solo artists by surname, and bands by their first word, ignoring "The". So Phil Collins is under C and The Cars is also under C.
Last updated: September 25, 2026