17 Musicians You Never Would've Guess Started Out in the Background
Started from the bottom now they're here.
Grammy winning singer Mariah Carey sang background vocals for Brenda K. Starr during the late 1980s.
This multi-talented lady started her career as a background artist for Uptown Records in 1989.
The country-folk singer began her career touring with Michael Jackson in the late 1980s, singing backing vocals for the King of Pop.
The iconic singer sang backing vocals on multiple records before rising to fame in 1965. She sang on the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" and the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin.’”
Before blessing the world with classic hits like "Tiny Dancer" and "Rocket Man," Elton John sang background vocals for the comedy, poetry and music trio The Scaffold, as well as for The Isley Brothers, Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles. He also played piano for other artists, such as The Hollies.
While Gwen Stefani is known as the front woman of No Doubt, she actually joined the band as a backup singer. After lead singer John Spence tragically committed suicide in 1987, Stefani took the spotlight.
P!nk took the Philadelphia club scene by storm when she was just 13 years old, singing backup, dancing and writing songs.
John Legend has sang backing vocals on several famous artists' songs, including Alicia Keys' 2003 song "You Don't Know My Name" and Kanye West's remix of Britney Spears' song, "Me Against the Music."
The British rocker sang backing vocals for Genesis before becoming the lead singer after Peter Gabriel left the band in 1975.
Before he became the Foo Fighter's frontman, Dave Grohl played drums and sang backing vocals for Nirvana.
Before slaying "I Will Always Love You," Whitney Houston began her career as a backup singer for Chaka Khan and Lou Rawls.
Angie Stone, who has worked with Mantronix and Lenny Kravitz, co-wrote several songs with D'Angelo and was also a backup singer for him.
Before joining The Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald was a backup singer for Steely Dan.
Keri Hilson started her career singing backup for Britney Spears... and even wrote two of her songs on her album Black Out.
Sevyn has sang backing vocals on a few Chris Brown songs.
Lenny Kravitz's sang backing vocals on Madonna's "Justify My Love."
Christina Milian co-wrote and sang backing vocals on Jennifer Lopez's hit song, "Play."