The Beach Boys
Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson originally had humble beginnings as a garage band but when it became clear that the boys (along with cousin Mike Love and their friend Al Jardine) were better than your average group, their father Murray Wilson stepped in to manage them. By 1963, the music lovers had become a sensation, as their music became the soundtrack to the laid-back, West Coast, surfing culture.
The Beach Boys had some incredible hits, including 1966’s “Good Vibrations.” Brian Wilson was the lead singer but it was Carl who took over as the band leader till the later 1970s. Tragically, Dennis Wilson drowned in 1983 and Carl died of lung cancer in 1998, leaving Brian as the only surviving Wilson brother. When all members were still around, they had a cumulative worth of $245 million.
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin (whose real name was Walden Robert Cassotto) possessed the classic, all-American good looks that made the girls want him and the guys want to be him. Darin first broke into the industry as a songwriter for Connie Francis, but eventually went solo with the 1958 smash hit “Splish Splash.” After that, Darin’s career grew rapidly, but as everything appeared successful on the outside, his personal life began to unravel.
Darin suffered with his mental health and took a much-needed step away from the limelight. In the ‘70s, Bobby was back in the public eye and appearing on television, but his health began to decline rapidly. Sadly, he passed away in 1973 at the age of thirty-seven from complications following a heart operation.
Frank Sinatra
With a velvety voice, inviting smile, and sky-blue eyes, Frank Sinatra sang his way into legendary status. Sinatra was not only striking and talented but also charismatic. He had always had a passion for singing, but his solo career didn’t come to fruition until 1940 when he had his first hit with “Polka Dots and Moonbeams.”
By 1941, Sinatra was one of the most famous men in the world, dubbed “Swoonatra” and “’ Ol’ blue eyes” by the media. Over the years, the New Jersey native had hits with songs like “The Best Is Yet to Come,” “My Way,” and “I Get A Kick Out of You” which have become iconic songs that have lasted through the decades.
Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson first got a taste of the big time when he starred alongside his family on the radio and TV show "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." Along with his “boy next door” good looks, this opportunity helped to launch Nelson’s career in the entertainment industry, allowing him to eventually break away to form a solo career as an actor and a singer.
His 1957 song, “Poor Little Fool” was the first-ever number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1959 he starred opposite Dean Martin and John Wayne in Rio Bravo and made various tv appearances. While Nelson was one of the most recognizable faces throughout the ‘60s, his popularity began to fade by the start of the next decade. The star tragically passed away in a plane crash in 1985.
Shaun Cassidy
Shaun Cassidy first entered the public eye in 1977 on “The Hardy Boys Mysteries.” Also a talented musician, Cassidy signed a contract with Warner Bros and his first album went multi-platinum, spawning the number one single “Da Doo Ron Ron.” In his early years as an actor, he also worked on Broadway and in London’s West End.
As with many teen idols though, Cassidy found that his young stardom was growing dim but, in a savvy, showbusiness move, he began to focus on doing behind-the-scenes work and went on to write and produce for tv shows such as “American Gothic” and “Roar.” Today, Cassidy is a wonderful example of how to successfully reinvent a career in the entertainment industry.