Talen Show Winners Who Go On To Become Major Soul Music Stars

[Guest]

I was listening to a radio interview yesterday with Paul Gambaccini , in which he was talkng about the nominees for the Brit Awards .....

One of the questions he was asked , was about media reality talents shows , that make stars out of their participants , to which he brought up the name of Gladys Knight ....

As far as I know , Gladys Knight is the only singer to go on to become a major soul music star , after winning a talent show , which was The Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour in 1952 ........

Any more for anymore ? ......

Malc Burton

Edited February 21, 2008 by Malc Burton

[Guest barnsey]

jimmy cranky

[TheBigO]

Darryl Hall, local comp winner in Philly with the Temptones, major star in the 80's.

[Guest mel brat]

..As far as I know , Gladys Knight is the only singer to go on to become a major soul music star , after winning a talent show , which was The Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour in 1952 ........

Any more for anymore ? ......

Malc Burton

Cheryl Lynn. She was a winner of US TV programme 'The Gong Show' in 1978, shortly after signed to Columbia records and had a huge hit with "Got To Be Real", which kickstarted her careeer!

Also, although her career is sadly underrated, I believe a young Carolyn Crawford was signed to Motown following a talent competition (for which she had to collect bread wrappers as condition of entry!)

Edited February 22, 2008 by mel brat

[Daved]

David Peaston

[Guest MBarrett]

From www.otisredding.com :

Otis began competing in local talent shows for the five-dollar prize, but after winning fifteen times straight, he was no longer allowed to compete!

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Howzabout that shining example of a modern day 'R & B' vocalist, Justin Timberlake...

Seriously, there have been loads of soul singers who started their careers by winning local talent shows - probably more than we'll ever know - but I'm guessing that Malc was referring to talent shows that reached a national audience.

In which case, Gladys, David Peaston and Cheryl Lynn do count, whereas the others thus far mentioned probably wouldn't meet Malc's criteria.

Can't think of anymore who would meet it, mind - but there must be some!

[SteveM]

Steve Brookstein

[Guest]

Howzabout that shining example of a modern day 'R & B' vocalist, Justin Timberlake...

Seriously, there have been loads of soul singers who started their careers by winning local talent shows - probably more than we'll ever know - but I'm guessing that Malc was referring to talent shows that reached a national audience.

In which case, Gladys, David Peaston and Cheryl Lynn do count, whereas the others thus far mentioned probably wouldn't meet Malc's criteria.

Can't think of anymore who would meet it, mind - but there must be some!

Correct ......

To go back to my original post / question , Paul Gambaccini refererred to GK winning a U.S. nationally broadcast talent show ......

Apologies if I caused confusion .....

Malc Burton

[Guest mel brat]

What about in the UK? - Didn't The Real Thing win New Faces/Opportunity Knocks or whatever it was they appeared on?

[Guest JJMMWGDuPree]

I guess I shouldn't mention Joss Stone...

Come to think of it, I don't think she did win. Wasn't it Samantha Mumba that won that one?

Something's wrong with my memory these days, but I can't remember what...

[Mark B]

in the 50's and 60's in the US that was the main way to get noticed if you delve into the history of all the big artists from the late 50's to the 60's you will find that they were probably in talent shows every week.

until they made it into the big time.

mark

[Mark B]

quick search found these

Ernie K-Doe, the eccentric rhythm-and-blues singer best known for his 1961 No. 1 hit "Mother-in-Law," died Thursday at a New Orleans hospital. He was 65.

The cause was cirrhosis, said his wife and manager, Antoinette.

Mr. K-Doe's career peaked in the early 1960s with a series of catchy, sing- along rhythm-and-blues hits, but afterward his career floundered, and he became an alcoholic. In the 1990s, however, he sobered up and reinvented himself as one of the most memorable cultural figures in New Orleans, where he lived. He became a fixture there in 1995 when he opened the Mother-in-Law Lounge, where on almost any night Mr. K-Doe could be found entertaining customers with renditions of his songs and his self-worshiping maxims.

"There aren't but three songs that will last for eternity," he used to tell patrons. "One is 'Amazing Grace.' Another is 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' And the third is 'Mother-in-Law,' because as long as there are people on this earth, there will always be mother-in-laws."

The son of a Baptist minister, Mr. K-Doe was born Ernest Kador Jr. at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He began singing in church choirs and gospel groups, including the Golden Choir Jubilee of New Orleans and the Divine Traveler.

As a teenager he performed regularly at local talent shows, where he met singers like Little Richard. Mr. K-Doe always said that he cobbled together his style from a combination of the energy, singing and marching of Baptist church services and performers he shared the stage with, like Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Huey "Piano" Smith and, later, James Brown. He is believed to have toured briefly with the Flamingos and the Moonglows before returning to New Orleans to join the Blue Diamonds. In 1959 he recorded his first local solo hit, "Hello, My Lover."

Recording for the Minit label at the time, he stumbled across a song in a studio trash can that would forever be associated with his name. The song was "Mother-in-Law." Its producer and writer was Allen Toussaint, who was only 23 at the time. Toussaint played piano on the song, and a bass vocalist, Benny Spellman, who happened to be rehearsing in the studio, performed the memorable bass backing. The song reached No. 1 on the rhythm-and-blues and the pop charts in 1961.

Gary U.S. Bonds was born June 6, 1939 in Jacksonville, Florida. His father, Gary, was a professor at Hampton University and his mother, Irene, was a music teacher. He was raised in Norfolk, Virginia where every Sunday he would sing in the church choir (at the insistence of his grandmother, Margaret).

gary US bonds

The Turks

As a teenager, he formed a singing group called the "Turks". The "Turks" were four High School buddies that included Melvin "D.D." McNair, Hollis "Frizell" Coleman, and Thomas "Moose" High (Raymond Haskins and Hermione Gross later replaced Mcnair and High). The group had won and placed at several different talent shows and spent their spare time singing on the corner of Granville Avenue and Park (outside of "Boones Market") in the Brambleton section of Norfolk.

Frank Guida, a local record distributor, would pass by the group several times on his way to work every day. Finally, he stopped to speak with the kids. He told them he had plans of owning his own label one day and he

The LoveNotes

wanted them to sign on. Well, a couple of years later he did start his label (LeGrand) and opened a studio. Only now, the group had disbanded, with everyone going their own way. Gary was the only member that had chosen to make a career out of singing. So, LeGrand records became the home some of the most unique sounding hits of that time, with one of the most influential voices of Rock 'n Roll guiding the way.

only a couple but gladys came from amateur hour on the radio other famous one from that was frank sinatra, also pat boone

mark

[Dave Thorley]

Many of the 60's group harmony acts would have appearded on talent show, some big some small. It was a way to get noticed and for label owners and talent scouts to find new group. In some cases it was just a more formilised version of the street corner vocal face offs that would happen in some neighbourhoods, (see the Five Heartbeats film)

I remember many years ago talking to Ivy Jo Hunter in Detroit about his early career. He said it was after a local talent show with his first group, a bunch of school friends that he first meet Ed Wingate, his group came second. Ed had put up some of the prize money and was on the outlook for new talent.

Other people in Detroit have told me that there was a talent show somewhere in the city nearly every month in the mis 60's. This was replecated in many major cities across the states, so in a long winded response, most 60's artists would have gone through one or two talent shows on route to greater or lesser fame.

Equally I have spoken to several artists that have told me how they won several local talent show, but still never got the real big break.

Although not a talent show, Motown in the early days would hold weekly open session for young talent to come in to show off their skills. Later when they became more sucessful this moved out to monthly and was something they did right up until they left the City for L.A., in the 70's. A fair few of Motowns rosta came in via this route.

Edited February 23, 2008 by Dave Thorley

[Guest Darks]

Back in the mid 80s one of the tv channels used to show re-runs of a US talent show called the "Gong Show". The premise being that if the act was unpopular with the live audience a geezer would come on and bang a gong and hapless act booed off etc.

To my surprise an unknown duo came on and sang a blinding version "feel like making love to you". Turns out to be the Valentine Brothers. Can't remember if they won it but they were good.

Regards Alan

PS Shame about Erinie K Doe not being around to see the popularity of his "here comes the girls" as featured on the Christmas ads for Boots. You know the one I mean.

[s7oul]

Vanessa Williams - A different sort of 'talent', was the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1983

Checkout the cover of her 1991 Album The Comfort Zone - She was a proper sort then

[Dave Thorley]

Vanessa Williams - A different sort of 'talent', was the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1983

Checkout the cover of her 1991 Album The Comfort Zone - She was a proper sort then

Infact her first couple of singles had that info on the 45's

[Garethx]

The great Beau Williams appeared on Starsearch in the 80s. The prize was a Capitol Records recording contract. When he appeared to great acclaim Beau didn't have the heart to tell them he'd actually been signed to the label for six or seven years and had released a couple of commercially unsuccessful albums. The music biz: don't you just love it.

[Guest ScooterNik]

Jackie Wilson, Golden Gloves winner? OK so not musical talent, but talent none the less!

And didn't the famous Apollo Theatre have regular talent shows?

[Guest PayneyJnr]

Not my personal cup of tea but what about eighties soul god Theophilus P. Wildebeeste?

Some of his early stuff was....ok I'll get my coat.

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Many of the 60's group harmony acts would have appearded on talent show, some big some small. It was a way to get noticed and for label owners and talent scouts to find new group. In some cases it was just a more formilised version of the street corner vocal face offs that would happen in some neighbourhoods, (see the Five Heartbeats film)

I remember many years ago talking to Ivy Jo Hunter in Detroit about his early career. He said it was after a local talent show with his first group, a bunch of school friends that he first meet Ed Wingate, his group came second. Ed had put up some of the prize money and was on the outlook for new talent.

Other people in Detroit have told me that there was a talent show somewhere in the city nearly every month in the mis 60's. This was replecated in many major cities across the states, so in a long winded response, most 60's artists would have gone through one or two talent shows on route to greater or lesser fame.

Equally I have spoken to several artists that have told me how they won several local talent show, but still never got the real big break.

Although not a talent show, Motown in the early days would hold weekly open session for young talent to come in to show off their skills. Later when they became more sucessful this moved out to monthly and was something they did right up until they left the City for L.A., in the 70's. A fair few of Motowns rosta came in via this route.

Mable John told me, a couple of years back, that her brother (Little) Willie and Levi Stubbs - his closest friend - would regularly enter local Detroit talent shows together, in the early 50s, and that they would win frequently, in a ratio of about 50/50.

The John household was a religious one, and Willie had to sneak out to these shows, and hide his winner's prizes over at the Stubbs house, which was across the street. Through an innocent remark made by Mrs. Stubbs, Willie eventually got found out by his dad and there was a big row that ended with Willie packing his bags and skipping town to join Paul 'Hucklebuck' Williams' band.

Who knows, had he not fallen out with his father and stayed in Detroit, Little Willie John might well have ended up as Motown's first superstar...

...That conjecture notwithstanding, he'll always be the greatest soul singer of all time in my book....

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Vanessa Williams - A different sort of 'talent', was the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1983

Checkout the cover of her 1991 Album The Comfort Zone - She was a proper sort then

I used to fancy her rotten, until I saw her doing a half-hour infomercial for acne cream on USTV a few years back. I never thought of her in the same light again after I'd seen her craters....

[Guest vinylvixen]

Not sure about Patti Austin but she did appear at the Apollo at aged 4....so it could've been a talent contest...here's what Wikipedia says:

She made her debut at the Apollo Theater at age four and had a contract with RCA Records when she was only five. Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington have proclaimed themselves as her godparents.

And for more pics of the child star go to....https://www.pattiaustin.com/gallery.php

[Guest]

Not sure about Patti Austin but she did appear at the Apollo at aged 4....so it could've been a talent contest...here's what Wikipedia says:

She made her debut at the Apollo Theater at age four and had a contract with RCA Records when she was only five. Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington have proclaimed themselves as her godparents.

And for more pics of the child star go to....https://www.pattiaustin.com/gallery.php

With reference to the banner to the left of PA .......

I claim the name - " Rinkey Dink Saloon " for a future promotion / night , so hands off ! .......

Malc Burton

Edited February 25, 2008 by Malc Burton

[Dave Thorley]

Mable John told me, a couple of years back, that her brother (Little) Willie and Levi Stubbs - his closest friend - would regularly enter local Detroit talent shows together, in the early 50s, and that they would win frequently, in a ratio of about 50/50.

The John household was a religious one, and Willie had to sneak out to these shows, and hide his winner's prizes over at the Stubbs house, which was across the street. Through an innocent remark made by Mrs. Stubbs, Willie eventually got found out by his dad and there was a big row that ended with Willie packing his bags and skipping town to join Paul 'Hucklebuck' Williams' band.

Who knows, had he not fallen out with his father and stayed in Detroit, Little Willie John might well have ended up as Motown's first superstar...

...That conjecture notwithstanding, he'll always be the greatest soul singer of all time in my book....

Hi Tony

I still call in on the Stubbs family from time to time. Although Joe is now dead and Levi is very ill, the daughters are still recording now and again, a really nice family.