John Legend
He sure has lived up to his name and indeed become legendary. But the hit singer who first tasted huge success with the romantic ballad All of Me and then went on to give us hit tunes like the recent Love me Now and soulful duets like Like I'm Gonna Lose You with Meghan Trainor, first started singing backup vocals for popular artists like Alicia Keys, Kanye West and Fort Minor. He also played piano on Lauryn Hill’s “Everything is Everything.” The singer has since won a bounty of big awards like the Grammys and Golden Globe.
Dido
Currently missing in action, the British singer-songwriter started her career as a backup singer in her brother’s band. Peter Edge of Artista Records noticed them after their demo collection Odds & Ends. He signed Dido in late 1996 and negotiated a co-sign deal with her brother’s independent label, Cheeky Records. Three years later Didi released her debut album No Angel which did extremely well, selling over 21 million copies worldwide. She followed it up with Life for Rent in 2003 and soon became the all time favorite singer of many.
Gwen Stefani
The Hollaback Girl began as a backup singer of No Doubt. However after lead singer John Spence committed suicide, Gwen stepped into his shoes and the band went on to give the world hit tunes like Don't Speak and Underneath it All. Gwen then decided to launch her solo career when the band went on hiatus and her songs like Rich Girl and Misery from the hit movie Trolls remain ever popular.
Mariah Carey
This diva is one of music's biggest icons and that isn't going to change anytime soon as yet even despite her recent New Year debacle. Mariah however began as a backup singer for Brenda K and after her demo wound up in the hands of record executive Tommy Mottola, she was then signed on to Columbia Records. She went on to release her self titled debut album and with four singles becoming chart busters. Mariah has since sold over 200 million records worldwide, and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Dave Grohl
The Foo Fighter band member first began as a drummer and back up singer for popular grange band Nirvana. However following the death of Kurt Cobain and the dissolution of Nirvana, Grohl formed Foo Fighters in 1994. The band has since established itself as a popular group winning plenty of Grammys and selling over 12 million albums in the US alone.
Elton John
This legendary singer-songwriter first began by singing background vocals for the comedy, poetry, and music group The Scaffold in Liverpool, England in the early 1960s. He even played piano for bands like The Hollies before finding success with his second album and a song called “Your Song”. Today he has plenty of hit singles to his name with tunes like Candle in the Wind, Crocodile Rock and Don't Go Breaking my Heart continuing to feature on many a playlist.
Sheryl Crow
Like John Legend, Sheryl Crow was fortunate enough to begin with the best. She sang background for greats Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Dan Henley. She then went on to release her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club in 1993 and won herself three Grammy Awards for the album. Since then success seems to have followed this singer everywhere.
Whitney Houston
Yes, music great, the late Whitney Houston also who began by singing backup for artists like Lou Rawls and Jermaine Jackson. She also sang backup on Chaka Khan’s smash hit “I’m Every Woman.” In fact the singer then released her own cover of the tune for The Bodyguard soundtrack, and the song hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Plus one cannot forget the powerful vocals on the epic tune“I Will Always Love You.” That tune can still give you goosebumps every time you listen to it.
Phil Collins
Phil Collins first got his foot in the door when he began singing backups for Peter Gabriel in Genesis. When Gabriel left the band Collins stepped up and the band’s success continued. Phil Collins also pursued a very successful solo career with tunes like Another day in Paradise and Wild World.
Cher
Another legendary singer, Cher had the good luck of being able to provide backup vocals on some of the most epic songs of the 1960s! She sang background vocals for the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin.’ She finally caught her break in 1965 in the duo Sonny & Cher.
