What is the role of the singer in The Odyssey?

They told stories of the past and the stories about the gods to entertain the household they were singing for. Singers were well respected because they had a divine gift from the Muses. Phemios and Demodokos are two examples of singers in the poem.Phemios was a singer in the house of Odysseus. While Odysseus was away in battle and his journey home, Phemios was made to sing at Odysseus's house by Penelope's suitors."A herald put the beautifully wrought lyre in the hands of Phemios, who sang for the suitors because they made him." (53 - 54, Check this excerpt out at the source link below.