Which Singer Was Discovered on a Cruise Ship?

By Alice Nichols

The music industry has been responsible for discovering some of the world’s most talented singers and songwriters. One of the more interesting stories of discovery comes from Cruise Ships. For decades now, cruise ships have been a place where talented singers can showcase their skills and get noticed.

One of the earliest stories of a singer being discovered on a cruise ship dates back to the 1950s when a young man named Elvis Presley was discovered by Sam Phillips at the Sun Records studio in Memphis, Tennessee. According to the story, Phillips was onboard a riverboat when he heard Presley singing an impromptu version of “That’s All Right” by Arthur Crudup. Phillips immediately saw potential in Presley and offered him an opportunity to record at his studio, which lead to Presley becoming one of the most influential musicians in history.

More recently, Canadian singer Shawn Mendes was discovered while performing on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2013. Mendes was only 13-years-old when he performed on the ship and caught the attention of Andrew Gertler who eventually signed him with Island Records in 2014 and helped launch his music career. Mendes went on to become one of the biggest stars in pop music and has achieved major success with songs like “Stitches”, “Treat You Better”, and “In My Blood”.

Cruise ships continue to be a great platform for aspiring artists to showcase their talent as there are many talent shows hosted onboard these vessels every year. From Elvis Presley and Shawn Mendes to new emerging artists, cruise ships have provided many talented individuals with much needed exposure and an opportunity for them to make it big in the music industry.

Conclusion: Cruise ships have proven themselves as effective platforms for discovering musical talent over time, with many prominent figures such as Elvis Presley and Shawn Mendes having been discovered this way. There are still plenty of opportunities available for aspiring singers today as cruise ships continue to host regular talent shows that can help launch successful careers in music.