What are the singers in the background called?
You can hear backup singers, also called backing vocalists, background singers, or harmony vocalists, in almost every genre of music. While they’re singing, they may simultaneously be playing an instrument, dancing, or harmonizing with the lead singer.
Who were the Motown backup singers?
Motown Backup Singers – Among the Stars
- The Supremes (sang with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations)
- The Temptations (sang with Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye)
- Martha and the Vandellas (sang with Marvin Gaye, Sandra Mallett of the Elgins)
- The Four Tops.
- The Spinners.
Why are background singers always black?
Interestingly, most of these singers began as kids in church choirs. This is why they tend to be black, because they are used to responding to the call of the preacher, as part of the congregation, where the goal was to blend in and not hog the limelight.
Who were Marvin Gaye’s backup singers?
Credits
- Lead (and additional background) vocals by Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, Kim Weston, and Tammi Terrell.
- Background vocals by The Love Tones, The Originals, The Spinners, and The Andantes.
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers.
Why do singers have backup singers?
Backing vocalists are used in a broad range of popular music, traditional music, and world music styles. Solo artists may employ professional backing vocalists in studio recording sessions as well as during concerts. In pop and country songs, backing vocalists may sing harmony to support the lead vocalist.
Who are Elton John’s backup singers?
The truth was, the piano pounder’s expert band propped up that voice for him, with percussionist John Mahon hitting the falsetto notes, longtime sidemen Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone lustily belting those famous backup lines (“don’t let the su-u-un . . . “) and a wrecking crew of backup singers, including Tata Vega …