United States

Joseph6, I don't know why I like certain vocalists. Janis Joplin just put SO MUCH force into her vocals. I know her voice wasn't the most melodic, but man what a powerhouse singer. David Lee Roth? Just like his voice, and those incredible screams with multiple tones coming out of his throat, like he's got multiple sets of vocal chords. Roth can just flat out sing, I wouldn't kick him out of my band. Jim Morrison was another powerful singer. The current crop of contemporary singers don't seem to have the power of the vocalists back in the 60's and 70's. It's like they don't have as much testosterone. Maybe it's all the rytalin that kids started taking in the last twenty years. I'm not hearing singers with POWER any more. A lot of the current vocalists just sound wimpy to me. Howlin, I forgot Tony Bennett aand Tom Jones. Tony Bennett has been a remarkable performer for many decades. Although I'm not crazy about Tom Jones there's no denying his huge powerful voice.

I understand what you are saying, Bob, and it makes sense. There's a LOT of emotion pouring out with some of those folks you mentioned. I was kind of suprised, I guess, because I interpreted the post as "more technically talented" vocalists (no disrespect intended).
Janis Joplin is a good example of that. She certainly did display POWER. There was a certain brutal quality to her vocal style-she pounded the listener with it. I don't personally view her as a great vocalist, but, then again, I lean towards melody and range (things I tend to lack myself) over raw passion.

I like a singer that has both, melody and range but there also has to be passion and emotion. I think part of the reason most of today's singers don't have the power of the singers from the 60's and 70's is because back then we didn't have the technology of today they would put powerful amplifiers on stage and they kept making them more more powerful so the Beatles and the Who could be heard over their screaming fans and the poor singer just couldn't hear them self's so they had to be loud and powerful and singing like this will take a toll on your voice thus you become raspy and viola! you have singers like Roger Daltrey, Janis Joplin, Lou Graham, Rob Halford and the list goes on and on. in the 60's they didn't mike the Amps they would place some mikes on the drums and the vocals. they would get their SPL's just as a lot of bar bands do.
With today's technologies (in ear monitors) and such a singer doesn't have to struggle so bad to hear them self's this allows them to concentrate more on tone.

We had a guitar player sit in with us a few years ago with a super hi-tech ear monitor system. It was the LAMEST piece of crap I ever saw. He didn't pay any attention to the other band members. it was like he was in his own world. When you're playing in a real blues band there's lots of spontaneous things happening, lots of unexpected stops, lots of improvised solos, etc. You might be right about the upgrade in equipment causing a downgrade in vocal power. there's simply no substitute for good old fashioned air moving through mains and monitors, not pre-programmed crap isolated in your brain. Music SHOULD be about participation with the other band members, NOT living in your own isolated dreamworld on stage.

Robert Plant
Chris Cornell
Leonard Cohen
Lowell George (Little Feat)
CSNY
Pink
Christina Aguillera
Allison Krauss
Ronnie James Dio
Ozzy


www.myspace.com/blunderingeye
www.myspace.com/445175001
http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/6039/
http://bandmix.com/hayden-king/
hayden_king2000 on yahoo messenger

"my dog is a bitch"

*

Grace Slick
I agree with Karen Carpenter
Whitney Houston - man she can hit those notes
Mariah - that "whisper" note - Wow
The Beach Boys harmonies - awesome

I am sure there are more....

(No particular order)
Steve Perry
James Labrie
Sarah Brightman
Michael Sweet
Sebastian Bach
Amy Lee
Tarja Turunen
Chester Bennington
Rob Halford
Bruce Dickenson
Ronnie James Dio
Freddie Mercury
Mark Slaughter
Paul Stanley

http://www.myspace.com/fearsend777

J-HALEY and Bob, listen to Casey Crescenzo. He's a modern singer with an awesome raspy voice and incredible range

myspace.com/thedearhunter

Hey thanks repressthecadence I will check it out as of late I am really into Dream Theater, those guys are all like the really best musicians they all just blow me away and James Labrie just floors me with his vocals. I mean the dynamics of his voice from one exstreme to the other in songs like Wait For Sleep and the way his voice just goes on and on in Pull Me Under or Silent Man just to name a few.

Aw man, I don't like James LaBrie. That's why I really dig Liquid Tension Experiment

David Byron - Uriah Heap

Kramerguy Wrote:

I'm probably going against the grain here-

Sade

Ohhh-- thanks for mentioning her here Dude -- God, She melted my heart and soul with those vocals... ahhh .. I first heard her and I was in awe. 1st heard her on NPR of all things.. in Fla,, Had to rush out and get that cassette!!

Oh, and I guess while I'm here.. I'll vote for:
DLRoth I like too,
Ozzy,
Glenn Hughes,
Don Williams,
Billy Gibbons
(and of course, as mentioned before, Freddie Mercury)
and George Merill .. (Waiting for a star to fall)

Fish - Marillion

I'm kinda partial to Hayden King...


www.myspace.com/blunderingeye
www.myspace.com/445175001
http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/6039/
http://bandmix.com/hayden-king/
hayden_king2000 on yahoo messenger

"my dog is a bitch"

*

Hey thanks repressthecadence I will check it out as of late I am really into Dream Theater, those guys are all like the really best musicians they all just blow me away and James Labrie just floors me with his vocals. I mean the dynamics of his voice from one exstreme to the other in songs like Wait For Sleep and the way his voice just goes on and on in Pull Me Under or Silent Man just to name a few.

I agree,
James Labrie is amazing! Dream Theater rocks!
Great songs by the way and musicianship.
Is that you singing on the original songs? Great job dude.
Nice to meet you J

Scott