El Greko:

I've never smoked tobacco, but I have been known to take a drink or two over the past 40+ years. I think I'll pass on your advice to gargle rubbing alcohol, with or without sharp metal filings...

My voice's current "leathery" quality is mostly thanks to last year's bout with throat cancer. I couldn't sing at all for a while, and my ability to produce a sweet ballad-singing style is still not back yet, but I've regained most of my blues-shouting capacity and can certainly bellow like a drunken sailor, fortunately.

Thanks, though, for your concern and advice!