Sitcoms that launched music careers - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tvje · 12-06-2003, 07:40 PM

Let' think of and discuss, sitcoms that launched music careers. What future music stars had acting jobs on a sitcom, and went on to music stardom. And more particully lets talk about sitcoms that showcased this future stars as singers.

Two that come to mind are Janet Jackson and Marquous Houstan.

Janet Jackson of course was on "Good Times", "Diff'rent Strokes", and "Fame". "Fame" was the only show that showcase her singing ability. But I do recall a couple of episodes of "Diff'rent Strokes" that her charactered sang.

Marquous Houstan has some of you may or may not know, was on the sitcom "Sister Sister". Marquous is not as famous as Janet nor his "Sister Sister" is as popular and well known as the three Janet sitcoms. Anyway I have watched "Sister Sister" reruns on Disney, and I have notice there are so many episode that Marquous' character sings. I find that a little erridating, at least "Fame" it made more scence. But it seemed to me that the "Sister Sister" the writers scrambled to find ways or excuses to get Marquous' character to sing.

At least it is better, than "The Brady Bunch" trying to launch the Brady kids as a singing group, and finding excuses to allow them to sing.

Dean Winchester · 12-06-2003, 07:46 PM

one of the most famous was Rick Nelson from Ozzie And Harriett.

Others that come to mind...
Jasmine Guy from A Different World (she scored 2 hit singles in the early 90's)
Joey Lawrence from Blossom (didn't last long)
Katey Sagal has also had a fairly successful music career as a backup vocalist. She sang backup on a few of Olivia Newton-John's hits from the 80's (I know she did on Soul Kiss) and some other stuff

tvje · 12-06-2003, 08:02 PM

Speaking of Jasmine Guy, her former Different World co star Cree Summer is currently using a show the animated Rugrats spinoff "All Grown Up" to try to launch a music carrer. (I know she released an album because it was mention on th E! special "More 80's Child Stars ").

jarri · 12-06-2003, 08:11 PM

When Sister Sister aired, Marques Houston was already a singer. He was a member of the group Immature(now IMX). The show did not launch his career. They had him sing to promote the group's second album release.

tvje · 12-06-2003, 08:42 PM

Well, it depends on how you define launch. You could still say that "Sister Sister" helped launch Marques Houstan's solo carrer.

I also mentioned Janet Jackson, she already had a record contract, and already released two albums when she joined the cast of "Fame."

Janice · 12-06-2003, 08:43 PM

Tina Yothers of Family Ties sang on the show, and now has a band.

I don't know if Jim Nabors was already an established singer when he appeared on The Andy Griffith Show or Gomer Pyle, but what a voice he had.

Would Ricky Nelson qualify?

tvje · 12-06-2003, 09:08 PM

Another thought about Marques Houston and his role on "Sister Sister." Why did they protray his character has an annoying loser neighbor or a Urkel type of character for most of the series? Wouldn't that image hurt his music carrer,, especially in a group like Immature which is suppose to attract a lot of female fans.

AtlantaBravesFan29 · 12-06-2003, 11:42 PM

Patty Duke made an album in 1965 and did some singing on her show(The Patty Duke Show).
Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams did an album together.
Micheal McKean and David Lander also did an album together as well.
Anson Williams made a solo album as did Donny Most.
Shelly Fabares and Paul Petersen from the Donna Reed Show had solo hits(Shelly with Johnny Angel and Paul with She Can't Find Her Keys and My Dad)

James · 12-07-2003, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tvje
At least it is better, than "The Brady Bunch" trying to launch the Brady kids as a singing group, and finding excuses to allow them to sing.

Personally I like the Brady kids singing.

Brian · 12-07-2003, 06:44 PM

David Cassidy in The Partridge Family.

Tammy · 12-07-2003, 10:06 PM

What about The Monkees? Their first single was #1 before the show debuted, but they really took off during the show's 1st run.

treky · 12-08-2003, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BravesFan712002
Patty Duke made an album in 1965 and did some singing on her show(The Patty Duke Show).
Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams did an album together.
Micheal McKean and David Lander also did an album together as well.
Anson Williams made a solo album as did Donny Most.
Shelly Fabares and Paul Petersen from the Donna Reed Show had solo hits(Shelly with Johnny Angel and Paul with She Can't Find Her Keys and My Dad)

Henry Winkler also sang once on an episode of "Happy Days". The fact that he didn't do it again (at least, as far as I know) tells you what he was like!!!

Jack Klugman & Tony Randall made an album during the run of "The Odd Couple". (one of the songs was called-and I swear, I'm not making this up-"When bannana peels are falling dear, I'll come sliding back to you")

Butch Patrick-Eddie on "The Munsters"-recorded a rock and roll version of the shows theme once, in the 60s.

Desi Arnez was already established as a band leader when "I Love Lucy" debuted, but he recored a version of the show's theme on a record in 1953, and sang it on the show once.

Andy Griffith recorded his shows theme for a record album in the early 60s called "Music From THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW" (or something like that)

musicradio77 · 12-10-2003, 10:23 PM

Here's are some TV stars went from sitcoms to recording stars:

1. Bill Cosby recorded several albums in the 60's through the 80's before he starred as Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show".
2. Hilary Duff went from "Lizzie McGuire" to a singing star. Her first album "Metamorphosis" was #1 on the album charts.
3. Jim Nabors from "Gomer Pyle" went from actor to singing. He made terrific albums during the 60's and early 70's.
4. The Partridge Family was a family group from TV stars to recording artists. Their only #1 hit was "I Think I Love You" in 1970 was a success.
5. The Olsen Twins went from "Full House" to a recording artists. Their first album "Brother For Sale" was a success and continued on right until "Greatest Hits 3" in 2002.

David · 12-10-2003, 10:42 PM

i dont think anyone has said this .... but

Will Smith- Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

treky · 12-11-2003, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrooklynGuy78
Here's are some TV stars went from sitcoms to recording stars:

1. Bill Cosby recorded several albums in the 60's through the 80's before he starred as Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show".
2. Hilary Duff went from "Lizzie McGuire" to a singing star. Her first album "Metamorphosis" was #1 on the album charts.
3. Jim Nabors from "Gomer Pyle" went from actor to singing. He made terrific albums during the 60's and early 70's.
4. The Partridge Family was a family group from TV stars to recording artists. Their only #1 hit was "I Think I Love You" in 1970 was a success.
5. The Olsen Twins went from "Full House" to a recording artists. Their first album "Brother For Sale" was a success and continued on right until "Greatest Hits 3" in 2002.

Bill Cosby starred with Robert Culp in "I Spy" in the 60s, while he was making those albums.

And, Jim Nabors already had a singing & comedy career BEFORE he started playing Gomer Pyle.

And, David Cassidy was the only member of "The Partrige family" who actually sang. The actual music was done by some studio musicans.

12-06-2003, 07:40 PM	#1
tvje Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Posts: 1,402	Sitcoms that launched music careers Let' think of and discuss, sitcoms that launched music careers. What future music stars had acting jobs on a sitcom, and went on to music stardom. And more particully lets talk about sitcoms that showcased this future stars as singers. Two that come to mind are Janet Jackson and Marquous Houstan. Janet Jackson of course was on "Good Times", "Diff'rent Strokes", and "Fame". "Fame" was the only show that showcase her singing ability. But I do recall a couple of episodes of "Diff'rent Strokes" that her charactered sang. Marquous Houstan has some of you may or may not know, was on the sitcom "Sister Sister". Marquous is not as famous as Janet nor his "Sister Sister" is as popular and well known as the three Janet sitcoms. Anyway I have watched "Sister Sister" reruns on Disney, and I have notice there are so many episode that Marquous' character sings. I find that a little erridating, at least "Fame" it made more scence. But it seemed to me that the "Sister Sister" the writers scrambled to find ways or excuses to get Marquous' character to sing. At least it is better, than "The Brady Bunch" trying to launch the Brady kids as a singing group, and finding excuses to allow them to sing.
	__________________ tvje

12-06-2003, 08:11 PM	#4
jarri Happily divorced Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 20, 2003 Location: New Castle County, DE Posts: 255	When Sister Sister aired, Marques Houston was already a singer. He was a member of the group Immature(now IMX). The show did not launch his career. They had him sing to promote the group's second album release.
	__________________ Lady J I Love the 80s!

12-07-2003, 10:06 PM	#11
Tammy MonkeeGroupies Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 04, 2001 Location: Monkeeland Posts: 263	What about The Monkees? Their first single was #1 before the show debuted, but they really took off during the show's 1st run.
	__________________ Visit Monkeeland! PromoSquad.com

12-10-2003, 10:23 PM	#13
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	Here's are some TV stars went from sitcoms to recording stars: 1. Bill Cosby recorded several albums in the 60's through the 80's before he starred as Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show". 2. Hilary Duff went from "Lizzie McGuire" to a singing star. Her first album "Metamorphosis" was #1 on the album charts. 3. Jim Nabors from "Gomer Pyle" went from actor to singing. He made terrific albums during the 60's and early 70's. 4. The Partridge Family was a family group from TV stars to recording artists. Their only #1 hit was "I Think I Love You" in 1970 was a success. 5. The Olsen Twins went from "Full House" to a recording artists. Their first album "Brother For Sale" was a success and continued on right until "Greatest Hits 3" in 2002.
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

12-10-2003, 10:42 PM	#14
David mcphee. Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 30, 2003 Location: jacksonville, FL. Posts: 28,115	i dont think anyone has said this .... but Will Smith- Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
	__________________ v. 39 - katharine and chris elliott, you rock.

12-06-2003, 07:46 PM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	one of the most famous was Rick Nelson from Ozzie And Harriett. Others that come to mind... Jasmine Guy from A Different World (she scored 2 hit singles in the early 90's) Joey Lawrence from Blossom (didn't last long) Katey Sagal has also had a fairly successful music career as a backup vocalist. She sang backup on a few of Olivia Newton-John's hits from the 80's (I know she did on Soul Kiss) and some other stuff

12-06-2003, 08:02 PM	#3
tvje Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Posts: 1,402	Speaking of Jasmine Guy, her former Different World co star Cree Summer is currently using a show the animated Rugrats spinoff "All Grown Up" to try to launch a music carrer. (I know she released an album because it was mention on th E! special "More 80's Child Stars ").

12-06-2003, 08:42 PM	#5
tvje Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Posts: 1,402	Well, it depends on how you define launch. You could still say that "Sister Sister" helped launch Marques Houstan's solo carrer. I also mentioned Janet Jackson, she already had a record contract, and already released two albums when she joined the cast of "Fame."

12-06-2003, 08:43 PM	#6
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Tina Yothers of Family Ties sang on the show, and now has a band. I don't know if Jim Nabors was already an established singer when he appeared on The Andy Griffith Show or Gomer Pyle, but what a voice he had. Would Ricky Nelson qualify?

12-06-2003, 09:08 PM	#7
tvje Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Posts: 1,402	Another thought about Marques Houston and his role on "Sister Sister." Why did they protray his character has an annoying loser neighbor or a Urkel type of character for most of the series? Wouldn't that image hurt his music carrer,, especially in a group like Immature which is suppose to attract a lot of female fans.

12-06-2003, 11:42 PM	#8
AtlantaBravesFan29 Atlanta Braves Fan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Location: Pleasanton,TX--40 Miles South Of San Antonio Posts: 1,859	Patty Duke made an album in 1965 and did some singing on her show(The Patty Duke Show). Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams did an album together. Micheal McKean and David Lander also did an album together as well. Anson Williams made a solo album as did Donny Most. Shelly Fabares and Paul Petersen from the Donna Reed Show had solo hits(Shelly with Johnny Angel and Paul with She Can't Find Her Keys and My Dad)

12-07-2003, 06:44 PM	#10
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	David Cassidy in The Partridge Family.