o0Ampy0o Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Age seems to deepen a singing voice. Typically a touring musician's singing voice wears out like a worn sock. The familiar sustained notes are avoided and sometimes masked with elaborate pitch changes. I always thought Jackson Browne's singing voice was smooth and easy to a fault. Like he didn't get a straining element in. To my ears and mind Jackson Browne's voice has improved with age (74 now, 73 in the videos). I think it has more character now. One other singer still going strong is Smokey Robinson (82) but in the video shown it makes a difference that it is Smokey performing and not just someone doing this song with this voice. It would be overdone from another singer. Anyone else whose vocals have improved in old age? Smokey making a fan pass out in 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 The late Greg Lake. His voice got deeper in the 1990s and he didn't even work at it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docbop Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Dianne Reeves I remember her from the late 60's singing at a little Jazz club in Venice CA called The Comeback Inn. She's still going strong doing concerts all over the world. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider76 Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Leonard Cohen, of course. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 As much as I adore “River Deep, Mountain High” and considering her huge successes starting with “Private Dancer”, this is my favorite Tina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricBarker Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Unpopular option, but Geddy Lee. Sure, their early prog stuff was amazing, but Geddy‘s voice not only got richer with age, but he got a lot smarter about how to write for it. He gets a lot of flack for having a high screechy voice, but that mid 80s-00 stuff… he started sounding downright pretty! Of course, I still love the early stuff, but I get why some people don’t like him. 2 Quote Puck Funk! Equipment: Laptop running lots of nerdy software, some keyboards, noise makersâ¦yada yada yadaâ¦maybe a cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PianoMan51 Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Tony Bennett. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montunoman 2 Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 I like Sinatra’s mature voice to his young voice. Celia Cruz too. More character! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokely Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 As someone who prefers the old screechy Geddy Lee, it's hard to listen to him attempt the old stuff. As a baritone, my range is pretty much the same now at age 55 as it was when I was 20. Low D or E is the bottom note and once you get up to a high A or so I'm kind of in trouble (depending on the syllable of course.) I'm a better singer now due to experience even if maybe (to go against an earlier comment) I've lost a bit of richness in the lower end. I've noticed that in other older singers, they get a little more reedy sounding, even if their range is lower. There is a term I believe for this sound or effect, but I can't recall what it is. I think if you start off as a high tenor maybe that age really cuts into your range. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Gary Brooker. Tony Bennett. 11 hours ago, The Real MC said: The late Greg Lake. His voice got deeper in the 1990s and he didn't even work at it. Urgh, no. Greg's voice got deeper, but onstage, the fact that he didn't exercise his voice showed a lot; sometimes he was horribly out of tune. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonglow Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 11 hours ago, The Real MC said: The late Greg Lake. His voice got deeper in the 1990s and he didn't even work at it. I have mixed feelings here. His voice did become deeper and richer, which I prefer to the younger Greg Lake, but as with many singers, he lost some of his upper range, which despite lowering songs one-half step, became apparent when he/ELP performed live. I thought his voice sounded great on the Black Moon album, where he largely didn’t go after those high notes. 3 Quote "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyRude Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Paul Rodgers 6 Quote Some music I've recorded and played over the years with a few different bands Tommy Rude Soundcloud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybanksfan Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Don’t think Roger Hodgson’s voice has improved but he has sure maintained it, great singer, great writer and multi instrumentalist. 1 Quote Kurzweil PC3K8/ GSI Gemini Desktop/ ESI UNIK 8+ monitors/ QSC K8.2/ Radial Key Largo/ CPS Spacestation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piktor Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Before her medical issues, Joni Mitchell 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan May Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Even though he had been battling cancer for many years, I like how deep and gravelly Levon Helm's voice got on some of his later solo albums. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 I don't know that she has improved because she was always great, but Gladys Knight has held up well. She still sounds great. 3 Quote This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldwin Funster Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Dan McCafferty. An acquired taste like stinky cheese for sure. His last album was totally unrelated to Nazareth and sounded very neo Scottish but very little in the way of flaws and very emotional. 1 Quote FunMachine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffincltnc Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Pete Townshend and Anthony Kiedis 3 Quote Yamaha U1 Upright, Roland Fantom 8, Nord Stage 4 HA73, Nord Wave 2, Korg Nautilus 73, Viscount Legend Live, Lots of Mainstage/VST Libraries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracii Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Listening to their new song and watching recent live videos, I'm glad to say James Hetfield. 💥 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Madonna's improved, not through age, but through taking singing lessons for Evita. Cheers, Mike 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 Define old age? I've known for years that a well-treated male voice is often at its best in one's 60's, so I was quite thrilled when my own voice met that test -- it's never been better. But those who screamed in their youth won't benefit. It was my study of opera that taught me how to save my voice. A lot of rock singers do that for the same reason. In terms of famous singers or those who are particular good at a stylistic lead role (I'm mostly a harmony vocalist, but even my leads have improved in my 60's), I would say the voice is different (and certainly more characterful), but not necessarily better or worse, for those in the rock world that saved their voice vs. wrecking it. In opera, most singers do sound their best in their 60's, and this may continue up into one's 70's but not usually beyond that. Tony Bennett might be an example of someone who continued to improve as they reached centennerian status. 🙂 McCartney did not follow suit, sadly. Some other good examples were mentioned by others above, and I see that Tony Bennett rightfully already received several mentions. Quote Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35, D'angelico SS Bari, EXL1, Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, LP 57, Eastman T486, T64, Ibanez PM2, Hammond XK4, Moog Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 So, in Tony Bennett's case, is the secret to his ever-improving voice that he left his heart in San Francisco? Should we all follow suit? If we did, would we win in spades? Or would this just be a game of solitaire, to quote Ian Anderson? Quote Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35, D'angelico SS Bari, EXL1, Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, LP 57, Eastman T486, T64, Ibanez PM2, Hammond XK4, Moog Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 For me, while his voice got deeper/perhaps more rich, he couldn't sustain notes any longer, nor get any of those angelic highs. His smoking can't have helped. On 12/10/2022 at 12:15 PM, Moonglow said: I have mixed feelings here. His voice did become deeper and richer, which I prefer to the younger Greg Lake, but as with many singers, he lost some of his upper range, which despite lowering songs one-half step, became apparent when he/ELP performed live. I thought his voice sounded great on the Black Moon album, where he largely didn’t go after those high notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 I would say Paul Barrere/Little Feat. While Lowell was leading the band Paul wasn't even really considered a lead vocalist. But he really came into his own, and made the songs his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldwin Funster Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 Mine. I used to totally suck but now I'm about as good as the other passable singers in my area. And I can do it while playing keys or guitar. Too bad it took this long. Quote FunMachine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSS Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 I always dug John Lee Hooker's "old bluesman" voice. He could mutter a word out of key, and it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I'd give up my squirrely on-pitch voice for a voice with "character", like JLH's, in a New York second FWIW... I think JLH was born with an old man whiskey-drinking cig-smoking baritone bluesman voice. It hardly changed over a 30-year period. Jook Lee Hooker in the 1962: https://youtu.be/V1xcM3XCvPE John Lee Hooker in 1992: https://youtu.be/o_6SlT3Yy10 Quote Gigs: Nord 5D 73, Kurz PC4-7 & SP4-7, Hammond SK1, Yamaha CK88, MX88, & P121, Numa Compact 2x, Casio CGP700, QSC K12, Yamaha DBR10, JBL515xt(2). Alto TS310(2) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbo Fett Posted December 15, 2022 Share Posted December 15, 2022 1 hour ago, Jr. Deluxe said: Mine. I used to totally suck but now I'm about as good as the other passable singers in my area. And I can do it while playing keys or guitar. Too bad it took this long. This is me too....I've always sung (not well) and played piano, and used to catch a ton of sh*t about my voice. After YEARS of working on it, taking voice lessons for a few of them, and daily practice, I've finally gotten to the point where I actually get a compliment here and there about my singing...took me a long time too (I'm 65). Of course, there's always the random, "Hey man, your voice sounds good! I can remember when you used to really suck..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0Ampy0o Posted December 16, 2022 Author Share Posted December 16, 2022 Celine Dion can sing anything and sound amazing. Her singing has not suffered as she has gotten older. Unfortunately she recently revealed she has a rare and incurable neurological disorder, SPS Stiff Person Syndrome. I recall seeing her on all of the awards shows singing the theme from Titanic, My Heart Will Go On. As she did in each performance I believe every time she performs the song she pounds her chest when she sings the "heart" part. She was once a gift awarded to a couple by Oprah for their wedding. Celine sang to them just before they said their vows. She was able to get into the song and deliver yet another emotional performance in what must have been considerably awkward for her to step up and perform as Oprah basically interrupted and took over the ceremony. Singers really have to get into the moment. Every other instrument can be taken on a walk but a singer must feel the moment to overcome every distraction or detractor. She sings with her heart and soul. At times she has appeared to take herself too seriously but you have to forgive her for such a thing because when express your heart and soul in a performance you risk being melodramatic when speaking in between songs. Anything less she would not be as good at singing. Joe Walsh is a guitar virtuoso. He can still sing beautifully although he is strictly accompaniment here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider76 Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 Even if he was always the second fiddle to the obvious awesomeness of Freddie Mervury, I'd mention Roger Taylor (of Queen, not Duran Duran). He always had a great voice, coarse and very "rock" but also able to hit unbelievably high falsettoes, much higher than Freddie. Now it's become fuller and rounder, and he's also embracing a more upfront role in the latest "Queen" shows. I was very pleased with this performance of Under Pressure, where he takes up the main parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonnor Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 From july 2022. That line at 3:20 tho... damn. Back in '82 I said I would give my left ring finger to have that guy's voice. I believe the offer still stands. ~ vonnor 1 1 Quote Gear: Hardware: Nord Stage4, Korg Kronos 2, Novation Summit Software: Cantabile 3, Halion Sonic 3 and assorted VST plug-ins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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