The names of many of these “forgotten” artists are at least somewhat familiar to me. But I had never once heard of Brook Benton.
Benton was a singer-songwriter who recorded many hit R&B, soul, and rock singles and penned many more for other artists. While he was active from 1958 through 1978, most of his success came during the first half of the 60s.
His breakthrough hit was 1959’s ‘It’s Just a Matter of Time,’ which made it to #3 on the Hot 100. The song was initially intended for Nat King Cole, but Benton was convinced to record it himself.
That started a run of success that included seven more Top 10 hits and 23 more in the Top 40.
His biggest hit was a 1961 cover of ‘The Boll Weevil Song,’ a Charley Patton Delta Blues tune, which made it all the way to #2. It was also the first ever #1 on Billboard’s newly created Easy Listening chart.
Someday, someway
You’ll realize that you’ve been blind
Yes, darling, you’re going to need me again
It’s just a matter of time
[Verse 2]
Go on, go on
Until you reach the end of the line
But I know you’ll pass my way again
It’s just a matter of time
[Verse 3]
After I gave you everything I had
You laughed and called me a clown
Remember, in your search for fortune and fame
What goes up must come down
[Verse 4]
I, I know, I know
That one day, you’ll wake up and find
That my love was a true love
It’s just a matter of time
Meet Me In Montauk 
I too have never heard of him or any of his songs. Perhaps frequent reader/occasional commenter Peg has?
I’m familiar with Benton’s version of “Rainy Night in Georgia” (written by Tony Joe White, which I hadn’t known) – it reached #4 on the Hot 100 in 1970 and, according to Wikipedia, the RIAA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA certified the single gold for sales of one million copies. In 2004, it was ranked #498 on the List of Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone%27s_500_Greatest_Songs_of_All_Time. It’s a beautiful performance.
This frequent reader and commenter has definitely heard of Brook Benton. Love his voice