The Bee Gees were formed in 1958, and their first song was recorded in 1965 - but their signature hit, “Stayin’s Alive”, is from 1977
Cher - what’s her signature song? 1965’s “I Got You Babe”, or 1998’s “Believe”?
Bertie Higgins was 36, old for a pop singer, when he had his only US top 40 hit, Key Largo.
Speaking of “Hallelujah,” Leonard Cohen was about 50 when his original came out. It was from his 7th album.
Chuck Berry’s only #1 hit was My Ding-a-Ling. Released in 1972 (though recorded earlier). 20 years into his career and well after his classic rock era.
Personally, his signature song will always be “Suzanne,” from his debut album.
Aerosmith’s first single to chart was “Dream On” in 1973. Their first single to hit #1 on the Billboards was “I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing,” in 1998.
Their signature song is certainly Dream On though.
I’m interested; in fact I was going to post the same song.
“Rainbow in the Dark” was pretty far along in Dio’s career after he’d already had some success in multiple prior bands.
The other Leonard Cohen songs I associate with him (“First We Take Manhattan” and “Everybody Knows”) came out even after that.
I believe Bonnie Raitt’s signature song is a cover of Something to Talk About. It was released when she was 41 years old.
“Keep On Loving You” is REO Speedwagon’s signature song. It was on the group’s ninth album, the first album and the first single to go top twenty.