#256 Tracy Chapman, 'Tracy Chapman' (1988)

In 1985 Tracy Chapman was studying a B.A. degree in Anthropology and African studies at Tufts University in Massachusetts. A fellow student, Brian Koppelman heard her playing and brought her to the attention of his father, a music publisher. Koppelman Sr. offered to sign her, but she never took him seriously. After coming across a demo of ‘Talkin’ ‘bout a Revolution,’ at Tufts Radio Station, Koppelman Jr promoted the song to radio, which subsequently got her signed to Elektra Records following her graduation in 1987.