So I'm having radom conversation with some friends and the topic somehow turned to trying to come up with the names of child musicians who continued to have relatively big careers when they "got grown". And we couldn't come up with a lot.

Besides M.J., Stevie, Wayne Newton, and Herbie Hancock, who's had a really long music career, like starting when they were 14 or younger and gone through at least 20 or 30 years? Remember, we're talking about people whose careers are still relatively healthy--not those that faded into obscuity.

"Big" is relative in these cases, but Nikka Costa, Rahsaan Patterson and Alanis Morrisette spring to mind.

Rashaan was "big" earlier than 14 years old? Shows what I know--I had no idea.

NuPwr319 said:

Was he that old on Kids Incorporated? 14 is a child to me.

Again, depending on what "big" means to you, you might be stuck with the Jackson children, Ricky Martin and New Edition.

ThreadBare said:

Yeah--my friends and I mentioned New Edition, too. Forgot about Ricky Martin.

If we're limited to singers/musicians, its kind of hard to list. Can we extend it to actors? Like Elijah Wood, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc.

floetcist said:

Yeah, limit it to singers/musicians. That was kind of the point we were making--it was like, "are there really that *few*??" I came to the .org to see if we were wrong, but it looks like we're right (unless someone else comes up with any more).

You can come up with LOTS of actor names. . .

Are you talking about child singers/musicians who were famous as well, or just started out when they were very young? Because Aretha Franklin signed her first recording deal when she was 14, Gladys Knight was touring with the Pips when she was 7, matter of fact, her vocals was stronger than Michael Jackson's, but she never recorded any music until she was 17. LL Cool J recorded "I Need A Beat" when he was 16, plus Stephanie Mills was touring with the Isley Bros when she was 16.
[Edited 12/20/07 21:33pm]

-Janet Jackson
-LLoyd (don't think he's a "big" singer)
-Wow Bow
-Romeo
-Destiny's Child
-Does Bootsy count?

Thriller81 said:

The J5, Stevie Wonder, New Edition, Donny Osmond maybe.

I think to be a child singer and to be taken seriously, without falling into a novelty catergory , you have to be really good. The problem is that talent doesn't alway transcend well into adult hood i.e. Tevin Campbell.

Ricky Martin.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Fuck those useless cunts.

Oh and Bootsy counts

The only 2 people I could think of are....

Billy Preston



Bernie Worrell



Bernie played his own 1st concerto at the tender age of 8

Lucky Peterson.....now a top-notch blues musician

You forgot about the Mickey Mouse Club crew. JC, Justin, Brittney, and Christina would all qualify, right?

By Harle's measure, we'd might want to include Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepard, who both were teens when they had their first, Stevie Ray Vaughan-fueled releases.

Mark Walberg

Graycap23 said:

C'mon, bro. Mark was almost a grown ass man when he made that wack ass Good Vibrations bullshit.

Brandy
Jason Weaver

MuthaFunka said:

late teens

lazycrockett said:

AlexdeParis said:

And Stacy Ferguson from Kids Incorporated...even though she had a looong dry spell in between:lol:

Celine Dion's been famous and recording since she was 12 (she's almost 40 now), so I guess we could throw her in there too.

How old is that country crooner Leeann Rhimes (sp)? She started when she was pre-teen too, but I can't remember how old she is now...

MuthaFunka said:

I thought New Kids on the Block were 13-16 years old.

Graycap23 said:

Marky Mark wasn't part of NKOB. He and his "funky bunch" ( ) came after NKOB blew up.

Graycap23 said:

You're thinking DONNIE Wahlberg.

Timmy84 said:

That's probably who he was thinking of. And then you can include Joey McIntyre on this list since he's doing plays and acting. Donnie I guess, as well.

MuthaFunka said:

Lol.....my mind is GONE.

Graycap23 said:

Bjork?