Male Pop Musicians

Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwoʻole began his career as part of the Makaha Sons. He later went solo with the albums Ka 'Ano'I and Facing Future and also lent his support to the Hawaiian independence movement. His ever-increasing weight caused him chronic issues and eventually led to his death at 38.

Composer, singer, songwriter, and record producer, Danny Elfman is best known for his association with the new wave band Oingo Boingo. He has written over 100 feature film scores and has composed music for numerous TV shows and stage productions. He is the recipient of two Emmy Awards and one Grammy and has been nominated for the Academy Award.

Nick Carter is an American singer, musician, and actor. Best known for his association with the popular vocal group the Backstreet Boys, Carter achieved popularity as a teen idol throughout the mid and late-1990s. Also known for his charity work, Nick Carter has been playing an important role in raising awareness about the environment and its oceans.

Canadian musician, composer, and arranger David Foster is a prominent figure in the international music scene and has worked with the likes of  Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna. The winner of 16 Grammy Awards, he has also been nominated for the Academy Awards thrice. He launched the David Foster Foundation to help sick children.

Regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time, Elvis Costello is a British singer-songwriter. Often counted among British cultural icons, Costello is also known for his humanitarian efforts; a prominent member of the Jazz Foundation of America, Costello has played a crucial role in saving the lives of many elderly blues and jazz musicians in America.

Lebanese-born British singer Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., also known as Mika, had moved to France as an infant and to Britain later, as his family escaped the war-torn Lebanon. Known for tracks such as Grace Kelly, he also earned a Grammy nomination for his single Love Today.

Italian composer and record producer Giovanni Moroder, also known as the Father of Disco, produced Take My Breath Away, the Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning track by Berlin, which was part of the Top Gun soundtrack. His scores for Flashdance and Midnight Express, too, won Academy Awards.

Dead or Alive lead vocalist Pete Burns was a legendary musician of the 1980s. The son of a Holocaust survivor mother, he had a troubled childhood and quit school. He made his androgynous looks and his bisexuality his signature style. Plagued with surgery-related health issues, he died of a cardiac arrest at 57.

Sting is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. Credited with co-founding the popular rock band, The Police, Sting played an important role in the band's success from 1977 to 1984 during which he served as the band's bassist, lead singer, and principal songwriter. Also known for his work as an activist, Sting has shown interest in political and social issues.

English musician, singer, and songwriter, Ringo Starr, gained international fame as the drummer for the rock band, the Beatles. Raised by a single mother, he had a difficult childhood. He sought solace in music and it became his vocation. After finding success with the Beatles, he embarked on a solo career as well.

Tony Hadley is a British singer-songwriter and radio presenter. He is best known for his association with the New Romantic band Spandau Ballet where he was the lead singer. Tony Hadley is also well-known for his humanitarian efforts; he is a patron of many charitable organizations like Shooting Star Chase, The Huntington's Disease Association (HDA), and The Lowe Syndrome Trust.

Mexican singer and actor Diego Boneta rose to prominence starring in the 2012 American jukebox musical comedy film Rock of Ages. Boneta then furthered his acting career featuring in several films and television series, particularly playing the titular character in the Spanish-language American biographical television series Luis Miguel: The Series. Boneta has also released the studio albums Diego and Indigo.

Born Thomas Neuwirth, Austrian singer, recording artist, and drag queen faced discrimination as a child because of his sexual orientation.  Around the age of nineteen, he embarked on his singing career, shortly developing the drag persona of a bearded woman called Conchita Wurst, gaining international attention when he won Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with his song Rise Like a Phoenix.

Known as the king of Mexican rodeo, for performing in concerts on horseback, Mexican singer Joan Sebastian won the highest number of Grammy awards from his country. Over 20 of his songs made it to the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. An actor, too, he was seen in the telenovela Tú y yo.

Colin Hay is an Australian-American musician, actor, singer, and songwriter. Known for his work with popular bands like Men at Work, Hay's music has been immortalized by actor-director Zach Braff, who has used his music in many of his own works. In 2020, Hay was honored at the APRA Awards with the Distinguished Services Award for his contribution to music.

Kang Min-hyuk is a South Korean singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He is best known for his association with the popular rock band CNBLUE, for which he plays the drums. Also known for his philanthropic efforts, Kang Min-hyuk donated 10 million won to help those affected by forest fires in Sokcho and Goseong County.