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Legendary Singer-Songwriter Neil Sedaka Dead at 86

Neil was one of the few artists from the original oldies era (50s and pre-Beatles 60s) who managed to have a second successful career in the 70s. Paul Anka was another.
Frankie Valli also, and Chuck Berry's only #1 song was in 1972.

The list is pretty long actually. Start with Elvis, whose career effectively came to a halt in 1963 until his NBC TV concert in 1968. He continued having hits until he died. Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis reinvented themselves as country stars in the 70s.
 
The list is pretty long actually. Start with Elvis, whose career effectively came to a halt in 1963 until his NBC TV concert in 1968. He continued having hits until he died. Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis reinvented themselves as country stars in the 70s.
Ray did his country album in 1962.
 
You (BigA and Vchimp) are both right. Ray Charles had a big top 40 hit in late 1963 with Lucky Old Sun, which was more country than pop or R&B, but it sold like a pop hit. Then a decade or so later, he segued into the country market, presumably because he and his management and label saw more long term potential with that audience.
 
You (BigA and Vchimp) are both right. Ray Charles had a big top 40 hit in late 1963 with Lucky Old Sun, which was more country than pop or R&B, but it sold like a pop hit.

The reason it sold like a pop hit was that Ray was on ABC Records, and their radio promo staff was mainly for pop radio. Country radio in the early 60s was regional, and nowhere near what it is now. These were business decisions, not based on genre. If you look at the pop charts at that time, you'll also see Buck Owens, Ray Price, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard. That's how country music got to the people. Ten years later, things were different.
 


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