20 Artists Who Never Made It Big but Inspired Everyone Who Did

Vashti Bunyan

Vashti Bunyan’s gentle voice might have floated off into obscurity if it weren’t for a strange twist of fate. Her 1970 album, Just Another Diamond Day, barely made a ripple when it was released. It was so quiet and simple—almost a whisper compared to the wild sounds of the era. Yet decades later, musicians like Joanna Newsom and Devendra Banhart cite Bunyan as a guiding light, her delicate folk style the blueprint for a new generation of indie artists. Bunyan spent years away from music, only to find her work had become a cult classic, cherished for its sincerity and warmth. The album’s rediscovery in the 2000s led to a new recording contract and a string of concerts, proving that sometimes the world just takes a little longer to catch up. Her story is living proof that quiet perseverance and authenticity can echo through time, even if no one seems to be listening at first.

Nick Drake

Nick Drake’s music is like a rainy afternoon—melancholic, beautiful, and often overlooked. During his short life, his albums never sold more than a few thousand copies, and he was plagued by depression and self-doubt. But after his death at just 26, a slow-burning appreciation grew for his intricate guitar work and deeply personal lyrics. Today, artists from Elliott Smith to Bon Iver reference Drake as a major influence, and his album Pink Moon is now considered a classic. In 2018, Pink Moon even charted in the UK nearly 50 years after its release, a testament to how his sound has seeped into the DNA of modern folk and indie music. Drake’s gentle voice and haunting songs have inspired countless musicians to embrace vulnerability, showing that sometimes, the truest art comes from the quietest corners.

Arthur Russell

Arthur Russell was the sort of musical chameleon who could never stand still. A cellist, composer, and producer, he bounced between New York’s avant-garde scene, disco clubs, and minimalist experiments in the 1970s and ’80s. His albums sold poorly in his lifetime, but in the decades since his death, Russell’s work has become essential listening for forward-thinking artists. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem and indie icon Sufjan Stevens both point to Russell’s fearless blending of genres as a direct influence. His unfinished recordings and demos are now pored over by fans and musicians alike, and in 2023, a box set of his unreleased work sparked renewed interest in his legacy. Russell’s willingness to break the rules and follow his instincts has made him a hero to anyone who dreams of creating something new and strange.

Sixto Rodriguez

Sixto Rodriguez’s story feels almost mythic—a Detroit singer-songwriter who released two albums in the early 1970s that disappeared without a trace in the US. Unbeknownst to him, his protest songs became anthems for anti-apartheid activists in South Africa, where he was believed dead or vanished. The 2012 Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man finally brought Rodriguez the recognition he deserved, revealing how his music quietly inspired a generation fighting for freedom. In South Africa, Rodriguez was bigger than Elvis, a voice of hope and rebellion. When he finally toured there decades later, he was greeted by arenas full of teary-eyed fans. His story is a stunning reminder that sometimes the world’s biggest impact happens when you’re not even aware of it.

Judee Sill

Judee Sill’s life reads like a tragic novel—troubled childhood, brushes with addiction, and a relentless pursuit of spiritual meaning. Her two albums in the early 1970s, loaded with lush arrangements and poetic lyrics, went mostly unnoticed. Yet those who listened closely were stunned by her depth. Fleet Foxes, among others, have cited Sill as a profound influence, drawn to her complex harmonies and mystical storytelling. In the 2010s, a wave of reissues and tributes brought her work to new ears, with critics hailing her as “one of the best singer-songwriters you’ve never heard.” Sill’s music, both haunting and hopeful, continues to inspire artists who refuse to settle for easy answers.

Moondog

Moondog, known as the Viking of 6th Avenue, was a fixture on New York City’s streets in the 1950s and ’60s. Blind, dressed in homemade Viking garb, and composing wild, rhythmic pieces on the sidewalk, he was dismissed by many as an eccentric oddball. But his music—rooted in classical traditions, jazz, and the sounds of the city—caught the ears of minimalist giants like Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Moondog’s unique approach to rhythm and structure laid the groundwork for much of what we now call minimalist music. In recent years, his compositions have been performed by orchestras around the world, and his influence is cited in documentaries and retrospectives. Moondog’s story is a testament to following your own beat, no matter how strange it seems to everyone else.

Connie Converse

Connie Converse is one of folk music’s great mysteries. She wrote and recorded intimate, confessional songs in the 1950s—years before Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell would define the genre—but never found an audience. In 1974, disheartened, she packed up her belongings and disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a handful of homemade recordings. It wasn’t until the 2000s that her music was rediscovered by collectors and fans, who were struck by her vulnerability and insight. Modern songwriters now look to Converse as a pioneer of confessional songwriting, her work echoing in the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and Adrianne Lenker. Each new listener finds something heartbreakingly familiar in her voice—a reminder of all the stories that almost slipped through the cracks.

Daniel Johnston

Daniel Johnston’s songs were raw, sometimes awkward, but always honest. Despite his struggles with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, he created hundreds of lo-fi tapes and albums that captured the hearts of fans and musicians alike. Kurt Cobain famously wore a shirt with Johnston’s artwork at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, bringing Johnston’s music to a wider audience. Beck, Tom Waits, and countless indie acts have cited Johnston’s fearless vulnerability as an inspiration. His 1983 album Hi, How Are You? was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2020, cementing his place in music history. Johnston’s legacy is a powerful reminder that authenticity and emotional truth can matter more than technical perfection.

ESG

ESG—Emerald, Sapphire & Gold—formed in the South Bronx in the late 1970s and created a sound that was impossible to pigeonhole: a mix of funk, punk, and early hip-hop. Despite limited mainstream attention, their minimalist grooves became a secret weapon for DJs and producers. ESG’s tracks have been sampled by everyone from the Beastie Boys to Wu-Tang Clan and have appeared in more than 600 songs, according to WhoSampled. Their music remains a staple in dance clubs and hip-hop tracks, even as the band itself stayed largely in the shadows. ESG’s story is a powerful example of how innovation on the margins can reshape the mainstream, even if credit is slow to arrive.

The Raincoats

The Raincoats emerged from the late ’70s London punk scene and immediately set themselves apart with their unconventional sound and DIY ethos. Their records were noisy, dissonant, and defiantly unpolished—qualities that turned off mainstream listeners but attracted a dedicated cult following. Kurt Cobain championed them in the ’90s, helping spark a reissue of their albums and a new wave of appreciation. The Raincoats’ embrace of imperfection and their refusal to conform to industry expectations made them icons for feminist musicians and the riot grrrl movement. Their influence is still felt today in the worlds of indie rock and punk, where artists continue to draw strength from their fearless experimentation.

Blaze Foley

Blaze Foley’s songs are filled with grit and longing, the kind of music that feels lived-in and real. He spent most of his life playing in dive bars and honky-tonks, struggling with alcoholism and homelessness. Despite his hardships, Foley wrote songs that touched the hearts of fellow musicians; his tracks have been covered by Merle Haggard, John Prine, and Willie Nelson. In the years since his tragic death in 1989, Foley’s reputation has only grown, with tribute albums and a 2018 biopic starring Ethan Hawke introducing him to new fans. His life may have been messy, but his music—achingly honest and unvarnished—continues to inspire those searching for truth in song.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was called “the godmother of rock and roll,” but during her heyday in the 1930s and ’40s, she was often dismissed as just a gospel singer. Her electric guitar playing was revolutionary, blending church music with blues and swing in a way that paved the road for Chuck Berry, Elvis, and Little Richard. For decades, her contributions were overlooked, but recent years have seen a surge in recognition—she was finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Tharpe’s energetic performances and blazing guitar solos helped invent rock and roll, inspiring generations of musicians to follow her lead.

Linda Perhacs

Linda Perhacs lived a double life as a dental hygienist and a psych-folk visionary. Her only album, Parallelograms, released in 1970, was a commercial flop—barely noticed outside a small circle of psychedelic music fans. But as the decades passed, experimental musicians and crate-diggers unearthed her recordings, finding inspiration in her ethereal soundscapes and unconventional song structures. By the 2000s, Perhacs was being cited as a key influence by artists like Animal Collective and Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter. She returned to music in her seventies, releasing new albums and playing festivals, her once “lost” masterpiece now a touchstone for dreamers everywhere.

Death (Detroit proto-punk band)

Long before punk had a name, a trio of African-American brothers in Detroit called Death were making loud, fast, and fearless rock music. Their recordings from the early 1970s were rejected by record labels for being too raw and aggressive. The band broke up, and their music was forgotten—until a 2009 reissue of their tracks sent shockwaves through the punk and indie worlds. Now, Death is hailed as one of the true pioneers of punk, influencing everyone from Bad Brains to Jack White. The rediscovery of their music not only changed the band’s life, but also rewrote the history of American rock to include their vital, overlooked chapter.

Betty Davis

Betty Davis was a funk hurricane—wild, sensual, and way ahead of her time. As the ex-wife of Miles Davis, she introduced him to Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, but her own solo albums in the early 1970s were too provocative for mainstream audiences. Her fierce vocals and untamed sound would later influence Prince, Erykah Badu, and countless neo-soul and funk artists. After vanishing from the music scene for decades, Davis’s work was rediscovered and praised for its boldness and originality. Today, she’s celebrated as a cult icon, her music finally finding the audience it always deserved.

R. Stevie Moore

R. Stevie Moore is often called the godfather of home recording, producing hundreds of albums in his bedroom since the 1970s. His lo-fi, experimental approach predated the indie DIY movement by decades, making him a hero to artists like Ariel Pink and Mac DeMarco. Moore’s prolific output—over 400 albums—has earned him a rabid cult following, even as he remains largely unknown outside underground music circles. His fearless experimentation and disregard for commercial trends have made him an inspiration for anyone who dreams of making art on their own terms.

Chris Bell (of Big Star)

Chris Bell helped form Big Star, a band whose melodic power pop would become legendary—just not in their own time. After leaving the group, Bell recorded a solo album filled with aching beauty and vulnerability, but it went unreleased until after his death in a car crash at age 27. Today, Big Star is regularly cited by R.E.M., The Replacements, and countless indie bands as a primary influence, and Bell’s solo work is treasured for its emotional honesty. Each year, new listeners discover his music, finding comfort and inspiration in his longing melodies and heartfelt lyrics.

Townes Van Zandt

Townes Van Zandt is a songwriter’s songwriter—revered by his peers, but largely unknown to mainstream audiences. His poetic, often tragic country songs have been covered by Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and Gillian Welch, yet he spent much of his life playing to small crowds and struggling with addiction. Van Zandt’s music is a study in contradiction: simple yet profound, sorrowful yet comforting. In recent years, documentaries and tribute concerts have brought his story to new audiences, and his influence can be heard in the work of modern Americana and folk musicians everywhere.

The Shaggs

The Shaggs might be the most unlikely cult band in history. Three sisters from rural New Hampshire, they recorded an album in 1969 so amateurish and off-kilter that some called it “the worst album ever made.” But over time, The Shaggs’ outsider art aesthetic won over musicians like Frank Zappa and Kurt Cobain, who praised their sincerity and unfiltered creativity. Their music has been reissued and analyzed by critics, and their story adapted into a musical. For some, The Shaggs represent the purest form of self-expression—proof that you don’t have to be “good” to be unforgettable.

Jackie Shane

Jackie Shane was a soul singer and transgender pioneer performing in the 1960s, a time when being openly queer was virtually unheard of in music. Her electrifying stage presence and stirring voice made her a sensation in Toronto, but she never broke through to mainstream stardom. Decades later, Shane’s work was rediscovered and celebrated with a Grammy-nominated box set in 2018, introducing her to a new generation of fans. Shane’s boldness and authenticity have made her a role model for LGBTQ+ artists, and her influence can be heard in the work of modern soul and R&B performers who embrace their identity with pride.