Hollywood Actors Who Are Also Chart Topping Singers

Iconic singers like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Mick Jagger tried acting with mixed results. Other celebrities like Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty) and Jennifer Lopez JLO (American Idol) are first known for acting, then later respected for their musical talent. Although most Hollywood actors earn fame and fortune on the silver screen, or on TV, the recording studio beckons seductively to those with vocal power to score hit songs. The simple truth is many big name actors create memorable moments on film and on television, yet they're often forgotten for their hit songs.

David Soul

You probably know actor David Soul best as Detective Ken Hutchinson, or plain Hutch. from the hit 1970's crime drama, "Starsky & Hutch." Soul also starred as Ben Mears in Stephen King's chilling television miniseries "Salem's Lot", directed by Tobe Hooper of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" fame. This soulful actor is also an accomplished musician with several hit songs to his credit, including "Don't Give Up On Us", which spent a week at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977. In 2004, Soul rerecorded his big hit, after supposedly hearing the Owen Wilson version while riding an elevator.

Vicki Lawrence

She's best known as the mama you loved to hate on "The Carol Burnett Show", and in her own sitcom "Mama's Family", but Vicki Lawrence is also a talented singer. Lawrence believed in her hit, "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia", when nobody else did - even her husband, Bobby Russell, who wrote the tune. Big singers like Cher turned down the chance to record the song, so Lawrence did it herself. It went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, and hit 6 on US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.

Patrick Swayze

Despite dozens of big movies, Patrick Swayze will forever be known for his starring roles in "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost." Acting opposite Jennifer Grey as the dashing dance instructor Johnny Castle, and opposite Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg as the ill fated, phantom avenger, Sam Wheat, Swayze excelled in both of the versatile roles. On the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack, Swayze wrote and recorded 'She's Like The Wind', which reached number 3 on Billboard Hot 100.

Kris Kristofferson

In movies as diverse as "Blade II" opposite Wesley Snipes, or co-starring with Barbara Streisand in 1976's "A Star Is Born", Kris Kristofferson reminds us what a good actor he is, but he's also an accomplished singer and songwriter. Kristofferson has found more success writing songs for others, most notably penning the classic 'Me and Bobby McGee' for former girlfriend, the legendary Janis Joplin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_Give_Up_on_Us_(song)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_the_Lights_Went_Out_in_Georgia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She's_Like_the_Wind

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me_and_Bobby_McGee