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Description of Teen Idols

 
Like the modern Teen Beat phenomenon, Teen Idols is a category based more on public persona than musical genre. From Frankie Avalon to David Cassidy, these performers were as famous for their charisma and physical attractiveness as they were for their songs. Though the music all shares an emphasis on melodic and rhythmic hooks, the specific style tends to mirror the rock and pop trends of the individual star's moment.
 

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Teen Idols Key Artists

 
Bay City Rollers

Plaid-wearing Scottish
group whose
teen-oriented, Bubblegum
pop garnered them a
Saturday morning TV sho...

Bobby Sherman

In the early '70s, Bobby
Sherman's flashy smile and
shag haircut propelled him
into the hearts of teens, and
onto the charts!

Del Shannon

Del Shannon's biggest hit,
"Runaway," secured the
songwriter a perpetual spot
on Oldies radio playlists. Del
Shannon's No. 1 hit "Runa...

Dion

With their soulful hits "I
Wonder Why" and "A
Teenager In Love," Dion and
the Belmonts helped put
Bronx on the doo-wop ma...

Fabian

Fabian was the very
definition of the term "teen
idol." The face of late 1950s
pop music, he had hits in
radio, TV and film. His car...

Frankie Avalon

Original pretty boy singer
Avalon helped fashion the
teen idol mold before he
left to party on the beach
with Annette.

Nancy Sinatra

This comely daughter of a
superstar jumped into a pair
of boots and walked to the
top of the charts during the
late 1960s. Sinatra's music...

Pat Boone

In the 1950s, Pat Boone was
the safe, mainstream
answer to Elvis Presley's
sex-drenched rock 'n' roll.
Boone's version of "Tutti F...

Paul Anka

Anka's pure pop Brill
Building genius is as
American as apple pie. His
music did its best to
preserve the values of th...

Rick Nelson

First known for his role on
'50s TV show "Ozzie and
Harriet," Nelson became a
top Teen Idol, playing
catchy Rockabilly. Rick N...

Shelley Fabares

Shelley Fabares' one hit,
the timeless "Johnny
Angel," arrived in 1962. She
was also a regular on "The
Donna Reed Show."

The Jackson 5

The family outfit took the
U.S. by storm in the '70s,
launching scores of
imitators and solo Jacksons
in the process. Between...

The Monkees

America's answer to the
Beatles found success with
teens on T.V. and in the
charts, thanks to a crack
team of songwriters. The...

The Osmonds

With hits on both radio and
TV, and a cute youngster
(Donny) up front, the
Osmonds ruled the early
1970s. The Osmonds' imag...

The Partridge Family

As a group, the Partridge
Family may have been
fictional, but the music's
popularity with teenagers
was very real. The P-Fam...

Tom Jones

This open-shirted Welsh
wailer helped define 1960s &
'70s show biz. His
exuberant live act involved
a shower of bras and knic...

Tony Orlando

Tony Orlando is best known
for the '70s AM staple "Tie a
Yellow Ribbon 'Round the
Ole Oak Tree." Before
hitting it big, Tony Orland...

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