Rockwell

The son of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Jr., Rockwell (real name Kenneth Gordy) signed with his father's label and came out of the box with a #1 hit, the more-than-slightly paranoid dance cut, "Somebody's Watching Me."  It wasn't Rockwell's faux British accent that made the cut a hit, but was an at-peak Michael Jackson, who absolutely nailed the infectious refrain on the cut (the song received a second life in 2009 via a Geico insurance commercial). Unfortunately, the album of the same name was nowhere near as exciting, and the derivative second single, "Obscene Phone Caller," barely cracked the top 40.

Rockwell's two subsequent Motown albums were DOA, and his star faded as quickly as it rose.

By Chris Rizik