Back-up singers now stars
In 1978, American pop singer Nicolette Larson had a hit single called Lotta Love, a song that was written by Neil Young. This song became her first charting single and gave her career a huge boost.
Before that hit single, Nicolette Larson featured prominently on Young’s albums American Stars in Bars (1977) and Comes a Time (1978).
Prior to working with Neil Young, Larson had been a backing singer for American band Commander Cody and she had also worked with Emmylou Harris. Sadly, Larson passed away in 1998.
Playing her song Lotta Love on my Coast Breakfast show recently got me thinking about the number of backing singers that have gone out on their own and become successful. A recent TV Documentary called 20 Feet from Stardom brought several backing singers into the limelight and built their own successful music careers. I thought I would take a look at a few well known ones.
Before Whitney Houston became a mega star, she was a back-up singer for Chaka Khan and the legendary Lou Rawls.
Mariah Carey started out singing background vocals for a salsa singer called Brenda Starr, who would later go on to helping Carey land a recording contract with Columbia Records and forge a very successful career as a solo artist.
Before Cher rocketed to fame in 1965 as one half of Sonny & Cher, she sang back-up vocals on multiple records including the Ronettes’ Be My Baby and the Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin.
While Elton John was struggling to build his music career in the 1960s he sang background for an English band called The Scaffold, who had a huge hit called Lily the Pink (Remember that?).
He also played piano for a number of artists including The Hollies.
Sheryl Crowe started out as an elementary school music teacher then went on to tour with Michael Jackson as a back-up vocalist in the 1980s. She also sang back-up vocals for Stevie Wonder, Belinda Carlisle and Don Henley.
At 13 Alecia Beth Moore, or as we now know her, Pink, was a regular back-up singer on the Philadelphia club scene. By 1995 she had her own all girl group called Choice. It was around then she adopted the name Pink and not long after that she went solo.
Gwen Stefani started out as a back-up singer in the band No Doubt, and sadly when the band’s lead singer committed suicide in 1987, she was promoted to lead singer.
Singer songwriter and actor John Legend was a backing singer on Alicia Key’s 2003 hit song You Don’t Know My Name as well as singer back-up for Kanye West.
Long before Luther Vandross became a successful soul singer, he was a pivotal member of David Bowie’s backing band. He was then in his early 20s and not only backed Bowie but also sang with Chic, Dianna Ross and Chaka Khan.
And a mention here of a Legendary New Zealand singer, Suzanne Lynch. In the 60s she and her sister Judy were very successful here as The Chicks. She moved to London after marrying fellow entertainer Bruce Lynch and worked as a backing singer, becoming part of Cat Stevens’ vocal group and appeared on several of his albums. One song that Suzanne features prominently in is Oh Very Young where she sang solo and background vocals.
They are just a few that have made the move to the front of the stage.
Before Whitney Houston became a mega star, she was a back-up singer . . .