******** Official President Barack Obama Second Inauguration Thread - PART TWO ********

[WinkyDink]

176. Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Patsy Cline, Christina A., Linda Eder,......Yep, not "musicians."

The first competitive singing talent show, Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour, debuted on CBS radio in 1936. The show ran for ten years, ending in 1946 when Edward “Major” Bowes, the creator and host of the show, died. The show launched the careers of a number of popular singers, the most notable being Frank Sinatra who appeared on the show in 1937 as a member of the Hoboken Four singing group.
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Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts was instrumental in launching many successful careers, including those of Tony Bennett, Eddie bFisher, Connie Francis, Leslie Uggams, Lenny Bruce, Steve Lawrence, Al Martino, Roy Clark, and Patsy Cline. In fact, Patsy Cline, who sang “Walkin’ After Midnight” on her first appearance, was so well-received that the applause exceeded the capability of the meter and nearly broke it!
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The first Star Search debuted in 1983 and ran until 1995. Ed McMahon served as host, and the show featured singers in various categories, dancers, and comedians. Star Search did not limit contestants to being amateurs and the show launched the careers of many struggling artists. The alumni from the original Star Search is impressive, and includes Alainis Morisette, Aaliyah, Christina Aguilera, Tatyana Ali, Girl’s Tyme (the precursor to Destiny’s Child, including Beyonce), Drew Carey, Linda Eder, Brad Garrett, Tiffany, Sharon Stone, Jessica Simpson, Carlos Mencia, Dennis Miller, Rosie O’Donnell, LeAnn Rimes, Ray Romano, Sawyer Brown, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Sinbad, Usher, Phil Vassar, and Dave Chappelle.
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http://foxydonnaonidol.blogspot.com/2011/05/tv-talent-shows-whatever-is-old-is-new.html
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Your "defnition"/"contrast" seems awfully parochial.