Joan Armatrading

After getting sacked from a job for bringing her guitar to work and playing during tea breaks, Joan Armatrading went on to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter. The British songstress didn't achieve immediate success, but she stuck to her guns and continued to belt out heart-rending tunes. Soon enough Armatrading was noticed and was sanctioned to record an album in 1972. Though her debut album failed to meet critical and commercial acclaim, Armadrading's subsequent albums were successful and helped cement the Brit's reputation as a genre-crossing singer.