Humorous to see the responses. I'm pleased to see that most singers feel that you have to be comfortable with what you're singing, and that you can be truer to the song in your own accent or dialogue than trying to imitate one that's foreign to you. British Isles and black music aren't the only places where imitation occurs. When I first started singing traditional music, I might as well have put a clothes pin on my nose. I wanted to sound nasal, like to old recordings (some of which probably sounded more nasal than they were and reflected the primitiveness of the recording equipment at the time.) I associated vibrato with maiden Aunts in Methodists Choirs, and sang as flat (but on key) as a pancake.

Years ago, I remember John Roberts and Tony Barrand doing a parody of a cow puncher song, introducing it by saying that it was the only song they sung with an accent. And, Hello, Margaret and Phil. I met you at the Cafe Carpe in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, many years ago.. Any friend of Art Thieme's is a friend of mine..