A person who sings, especially as a profession or as the featured singer in a band or musical group.
From Latin 'vocalis' meaning 'sounding' or 'speaking', derived from 'vox' (voice). The suffix '-ist' indicates a person who practices something. Term emerged in the 19th century with the rise of popular music.
While 'singer' is the everyday term, 'vocalist' carries a more professional connotation and emphasizes technical skill over casual performance. Jazz and rock musicians particularly embraced this term to distinguish trained performers from amateur singers.
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