The top two most successful acts of the 80's were enthroned by a king (Michael Jackson: The King of Pop) & a queen (Madonna: The Queen of Pop). The number 4 most successful act was (a) Prince. In the midst of all the royalty was the number 3 most successful act of the decade, although not royalty, they may be considered a treasure to say the least.
Hall & Oates, formed in 1972, had already amassed 7 Top 40 hits in the 70's, including a #1 hit with 'Rich Girl' in '77. They are the most successful 'duo' in american recorded history and actually charted more Top 40 hits (22) than both MJ (18) & Madonna (19) in the 80s!
From Wikipedia: They specialized in a fusion of Rock & Roll and Rhythm & Blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul." Critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine and J. Scott McClintock write, "at their best, Hall & Oates' songs were filled with strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them by incorporating elements of new wave and hard rock."
Although my favorite track by Hall & Oates is 'Sara Smile' from '76, 'Maneater' was always a favorite from the 80s.
Oh, and by the way... Elton John gets a royalty honorable mention for being the #8 most successful act of the decade. Sir Elton was actually knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in February of 1998!
