Saturday Hustle looks at eight artistes who went solo and found success.

Beyoncé

As one-third of the R&B female group Destiny’s Child, frontwoman Beyoncé Knowles commanded the most attention. After the group spawned many hit albums and singles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Knowles ventured out as a solo artiste, releasing her debut album Dangerously In Love in 2003, which proved an immediate success. Three hit solo albums ensued, as well as an acting career for the now 31-year-old Knowles.

Diana Ross

Multiple Grammy Award winner Diana Ross was the lead singer for the iconic girl group The Supremes before leaving in 1970. She launched a wildly successful solo career that would see several hit singles including Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand) and I’m Coming Out. Ross also took to the big screen as an actress and scored an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for 1972’s Lady Sings The Blues, and went on to act in several other films.

George Michael

George Michael formed the pop duo Wham! with high school friend Andrew Ridgeley in 1981 and had instant success with hit songs Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Careless Whisper. He released his first solo album Faith in 1987, which to date has sold 25 million copies.

Gwen Stefani

Stefani is the sole female member of the rock and ska band No Doubt that includes Tom Dumot, Tony Kanal, Adrian Young, Stephen Bradley and Gabrial McNair. The band achieved worldwide fame in 1995 and helped to launch a ska revival in the global music scene. Stefani released her first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby in 2004 which featured the number onesingle Hollaback Girl. She released a second solo album, The Sweet Escape, in 2006.

Lionel Richie

Sixty-three-year-old Lionel Richie was a member of the hit R&B group The Commodores, which was formed in 1968. The group had chart success with such songs as Brick House, Easy and Three Times A Lady. In 1982, he released his self-titled solo album, which featured three hit singles including the chart-topping hit Truly. Richie would go on to have several top 10 hits and a very successful career as a songwriter for other music artistes.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is recorded by the Guiness World Records as the most successful entertainer of all time. At only age 5, he joined the family group the Jackson Brothers singing back up, and three years later he was sharing the spotlight on the lead vocals. The group topped the charts with hits such as I’ll Be There and I Want You Back. Jackson later launched his solo career with chart topping hits such as Thriller, Beat It and Bad.

Sting

In 1977 Sting joined the group The Police who recorded five chart-topping albums, one of which included the number one hit Every Breath You Take. He later moved on to his solo career, and with each album varied his musical style, incorporating distinct elements of jazz, reggae and classical, to name a few. He recorded many hits such as Roxanne and Fragile and is known for his philanthropist work around the world.

Justin Timberlake

Timberlake started his career on the Disney Channel, and later joined the group N’Sync. Their first album N’SYNC released in 1996 sold 11 million copies. After three albums with the group, he recorded his debut solo album Justified, which only made it to number 2 on the Billboard charts. After Timberlake’s last album Future, Sex, Love Sounds, he decided to focus more on his acting career, starring in movies such as The Social Network.