Pat Benatar had a string of hits back in the 80's, along with several multi-platinum album releases and a slew of Grammy awards. Her debut album, "In The Heat Of The Night" was released shortly after signing to Chrysalis records in 1979. She was signed as a result of getting the attention of record executives through a regular gig at "Catch A Rising Star" in the late 70's. 

 

Unlike other female rock vocalists, Benatar had not been part of a band before getting signed as a solo artist. Linda Ronstadt had Stone Poneys, Cyndi Lauper had Blue Angel, Gwen Stefani had No Doubt, even Madonna had the Breakfast Club. 

Now it's true that Benatar subsequently formed a band with guitarist/producer/eventual husband Neil Giraldo after getting signed, and that band pretty much kept a consistent line-up throughout her career. But there was no band-she-fronted-before-going-solo for Pat Benatar. What she did have was a classically trained voice that could run circles around most of her contemporaries. She also has the distinction of having the second video ever played on MTV back when it debuted in the 80's (it came on right after The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star.") Which video was it?