Paths To Fame
Before arenas, tours, and fame, there were tiny stages and hopeful beginnings. Some stories sound almost ordinary, while others feel like sparks waiting to ignite. Either way, each step carved the path to stardom.
David Bowie
After two years of commercial failure, David Bowie wrote "Space Oddity" in early 1969, inspired by Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Released five days before the Apollo 11 moon landing, the song became his first hit.
Tina Turner
Anna Mae Bullock was spotted at 17 while watching Ike Turner's band perform at a St Louis club in 1956. After boldly grabbing the microphone to sing during intermission, Ike invited her to join the group. She then became “Tina Turner”.
Phillies Records, Wikimedia Commons
Frank Sinatra
The 24-year-old’s early hits, such as "I'll Never Smile Again" with Dorsey, established his signature phrasing and breath control. By 1942, screaming teenage fans at the Paramount Theater launched "Sinatramania," beginning his solo career.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Lady Gaga
Before becoming Lady Gaga, Stefani Germanotta performed at open mic nights in New York's Lower East Side while studying at NYU. She was briefly signed to Def Jam Records in 2006 but was dropped after just three months.
Jay-Z
This singer started as a protege of rapper The Jaz in the late 1980s, appearing on the track "The Originators" in 1990. Unable to secure a record deal, he co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 to release his debut album.
The Jaz aka Jaz-O ft. Jay-Z - The Originators by UPROXX
Bruno Mars
Peter Hernandez started performing as an Elvis Presley impersonator at age four in his family's shows in Waikiki. He moved to Los Angeles after high school in 2003, initially struggling as a songwriter before adopting the Bruno Mars persona.
The Evolution of Bruno Mars (1990-2021) by Fittt_Viccc
Diana Ross
This icon auditioned for Motown in 1960. Berry Gordy initially rejected them for being too young, but they persisted by hanging around. Renamed the Supremes in 1961, they struggled until "Where Did Our Love Go" catapulted them to superstardom.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Marvin Gaye
Thanks to Harvey Fuqua, we got to witness Marvin Gaye’s masterpieces. He married Berry Gordy's sister Anna in 1963, helping secure his Motown contract. His early recordings as a background singer led to solo success with “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”.
photo by-J. Edward Bailey, Wikimedia Commons
Billy Joel
Billy Joel's early career in the 1960s captures a young New Yorker who was initially influenced by classical music but shifted to rock after seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. He joined The Echoes at 16.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Carole King
King was already an accomplished songwriter in New York's Brill Building by age 18. She co-wrote massive hits for other artists before launching her solo career. With partner Gerry Goffin, the star penned classics like “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Eric Clapton
Did you know that Clapton earned the nickname "God" for his guitar skills? This man began his legendary career with the Yardbirds in 1963 at age 18, replacing Top Topham. His blues-purist approach clashed with the band's pop direction.
Stevie Nicks
Before joining Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks formed the duo Buckingham Nicks with her boyfriend, Lindsey Buckingham, in the early 1970s. When Fleetwood Mac heard their track "Frozen Love" in 1974, they invited both musicians to join the band.
Klaus Hiltscher, Wikimedia Commons
Freddie Mercury
Born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar, future Queen frontman Freddie Mercury crafted his first band, the Hectics, while attending boarding school in India. After moving to London in the late 1960s, he joined Tim Staffell and Roger Taylor in the band Smile.
Christopher Hopper; Distributed by Elektra Records, Wikimedia Commons
Justin Timberlake
At age twelve, Justin Timberlake joined the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in 1993. After the show ended, he became a founding member of NSYNC in 1995 at just fourteen years old.
Johnny Cash
After military service, this individual auditioned for Sam Phillips, only to be told to “go home and sin, then come back with a song I can sell”. He returned with "Cry! Cry! Cry!" and "Hey Porter" in 1955.
Sun Records, Wikimedia Commons
Dolly Parton
Monument Records initially marketed 19-year-old Dolly Parton as a bubblegum pop singer in 1965. Well, after her song "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" became famous with Bill Phillips in 1966, the label finally allowed her to record country music.
PRINCESS THEATER - Raising the Curtain, Wikimedia Commons
Bruce Springsteen
Legendary producer John Hammond, who had discovered Bob Dylan and Billie Holiday, signed Bruce Springsteen to Columbia Records after hearing him audition with just an acoustic guitar in May 1972. Hammond believed he'd found “the new Dylan”.
Uhlemann, Thomas, Wikimedia Commons
Bob Dylan
At the beginning of his career, Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman) was a young, 19-year-old folk singer immersed in the vibrant New York City folk scene around 1961. Early photos show Dylan often with his acoustic guitar and harmonica.
Rowland Scherman, National Archives and Records Administration, Wikimedia Commons
Elton John
Elton John was still moonlighting as a session pianist while recording his debut album Empty Sky. It never charted in the UK, but "Skyline Pigeon" became the first song he and Bernie Taupin got truly excited about.
Bert Verhoeff for Anefo, Wikimedia Commons
Kanye West
Before achieving fame as a solo artist, this man was well-known as a talented producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, contributing to major albums like The Blueprint in 2001. His personal style during this period reflected a “preppy” Y2K aesthetic.
Kanye West at Fat Beats Aug 1996 by itsdjeclipse
Barbra Streisand
Her first album, The Barbra Streisand Album, was recorded when Streisand was virtually unknown outside New York theater circles. The album won two Grammy Awards, including Best Album of the Year, making her the youngest achiever.
Al Ravenna, World Telegram staff photographer, Wikimedia Commons
Ray Charles
Initially copying Nat King Cole's style, Charles released his first single, "Confession Blues," in 1949 for Swingtime Records. His breakthrough came when he developed his unique blend of gospel, blues, and R&B at Atlantic Records in the early 1950s.
Hugo van Gelderen / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons
James Brown
Working as a street performer in Georgia, young Brown formed the Flames in 1954 while still a teenager. His explosive stage presence caught the attention of talent scout Ralph Bass, leading to his 1956 debut “Please, Please, Please”.
James Brown - Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - I Feel Good by Djemouls Soulparadise
Elvis Presley
A shy 19-year-old truck driver with slicked-back hair walked into Sun Studio on July 5, 1954, for what became rock and roll's birth. Elvis Presley accidentally turned Arthur Crudup's blues number "That's All Right" into something revolutionary.
Madonna
Madonna persuaded Danceteria DJ Mark Kamins in the early 1980s to play her demo song "Everybody" for the audience. Due to the favorable response, Kamins was sent directly to Sire Records, where she was signed immediately.
Madonna - Borderline (Official Video) [HD] by Madonna
Michael Jackson
Before becoming the King of Pop, young Jackson rehearsed rigorously under his father Joseph's strict discipline in Gary, Indiana. The Jackson 5 signed with Motown on March 11, 1969, achieving four consecutive number-one hits.
Bernie Ilson, Inc., public relations, New York., Wikimedia Commons
Prince
Warner Bros gave 19-year-old Prince unprecedented creative control in 1977. For his debut "For You," Prince obsessively played all 27 instruments himself, layering 46 vocal tracks on the opening song alone. The perfectionist approach left him a self-described “physical wreck”.
Allen Beaulieu; Distributed by Warner Bros. Records., Wikimedia Commons
Whitney Houston
Clive Davis discovered 19-year-old Whitney Houston performing in a New York nightclub in 1983 and signed her to Arista Records, believing she had crossover potential to become a superstar. Her debut album was finally out on Valentine's Day 1985.
Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All (Official 4K Video) by Whitney Houston
Stevie Wonder
At the age of 11, Stevie Wonder performed his original composition, "Lonely Boy," for Ronnie White of the Miracles, which led to his signing with Motown's Tamla label in 1961 as “Little Stevie Wonder”. His breakthrough came with “Fingertips”.
William Morris Agency (management)/Photo ny James Kriegsmann, New York,, Wikimedia Commons
Aretha Franklin
Her first single, "Today I Sing the Blues," reached the R&B top 10, but Columbia struggled to capture her gospel roots for six years. She finally found her true voice at Atlantic Records in 1967.
Atlantic Records (Life time: Published before 1978 without a copyright notice), Wikimedia Commons
Cher
At just 16, Cherilyn Sarkisian met Sonny Bono in 1962 when he was working for producer Phil Spector. She started as a backup singer before becoming half of Sonny & Cher, whose 1965 hit "I Got You Babe" made them global superstars.
Joop van Bilsen / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons
Neil Young
Around 1966, Young moved to Los Angeles, joining Buffalo Springfield, where his early recordings began to attract wider attention owing to his distinctive high tenor voice and guitar work. His early style was marked by a straightforward, sincere approach.
Paul Simon
Together with childhood friend Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon recorded "Hey, Schoolgirl" under the name Tom & Jerry in 1957 when he was just 16. After the duo's initial success faded, Simon spent years honing his songwriting craft in England's folk clubs.
Janis Joplin
Breaking away from her conservative Texas upbringing, Janis Joplin moved to San Francisco and joined Big Brother as their lead singer. Her powerful, blues-influenced vocals and wild stage presence electrified audiences at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.
Albert B. Grossman Management (personal manager), New York., Wikimedia Commons
Jimi Hendrix
Left-handed guitarist Jimi Hendrix started his career backing R&B acts like Little Richard and the Isley Brothers in the early 1960s. It was Chas Chandler who brought him to London, after which the Jimi Hendrix Experience was formed.
Warner/Reprise Records Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Rod Stewart
Before achieving superstardom, Stewart was a gravedigger in London cemeteries. He was pursuing his dreams of becoming a rock and roll star. Stewart started his musical journey in several groups, such as The Dimensions and later Steampacket and Shotgun Express.
Mercury Records, Wikimedia Commons
Beyonce
This individual was a young teenager in Texas who rose to fame as the lead singer of Destiny's Child. The group was signed by Columbia Records in 1997. It gained popularity with “No, No, No” and “Say My Name”.
John Ferguson, Wikimedia Commons
Taylor Swift
Talk about the youngest songwriter ever hired by Sony/ATV Music Publishing house. Taylor Swift began her career performing at local festivals and fairs around Pennsylvania at age ten. She ultimately convinced her parents to move to Nashville.
Dwight McCann, Wikimedia Commons
Adele
Adele Adkins was discovered through a three-song demo her friend posted on MySpace in 2006. XL Recordings signed her immediately after hearing the tracks, leading to her debut album 19, which referenced her age when writing those songs.
CHRISTOPHER MACSURAK, Wikimedia Commons
Bob Marley
Trench Town's tough streets shaped teenage Bob Marley, who formed the Teenagers in 1963 with friends Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, later becoming the Wailers. Their first single, "Simmer Down," topped Jamaican charts in February 1964.
Dennis Morris; Distributed by Island Records, Wikimedia Commons
Rihanna
When American record producer Evan Rogers heard Rihanna sing while vacationing in Barbados, it marked the beginning of an up-and-coming talent. She moved to Connecticut to record demo tracks, which eventually reached Jay-Z at Def Jam Records in 2005.
Eminem
It is said that Marshall Mathers from Detroit began rapping at age fourteen. His breakthrough came only after he placed second in the 1997 Rap Olympics, which led to a record deal with Dr Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.
Mika Väisänen, Wikimedia Commons
Drake
Remember Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation? Around 2006, Drake released his debut mixtape, Room for Improvement, while still acting. By 2007–2008, he had transitioned fully, releasing mixtapes like Comeback Season.
Lunchbox LP, Wikimedia Commons
Amy Winehouse
Growing up in North London, Amy Winehouse taught herself guitar and began writing songs as a teenager, influenced by jazz legends like Sarah Vaughan. Her demo tape reached Island Records in 2002. This led to her first album, Frank.
