Because I sing in the church choir, people sometimes ask me how they can sing better. Often these are people who were told in childhood that their voices are ugly, and now they are beginning to wonder if they couldn't possibly sing someday.

I want to encourage them, and what I like to do is suggest that they buy recordings by modern singers who would be good examples to follow, and that they put on the recordings and sing along, listening carefully to for mismatches. I usually suggest they do this while cleaning up the kitchen. (Nobody will tell them to pipe down while they are cleaning up the kitchen.)

The trouble is, I quit listening to the radio in 1980, and I didn't listen to it very much before that. So I need the names of singers who would be good role models, and they have to be available on CD. The singers have to sing in tune (that lets Bing Crosby out) and they can't be powerful opera singers with huge ranges, because the learners aren't ready for that. What we are after is the gentle, controlled, accurate voice of someone that could be a welcome member in a choral group.

So, can anyone suggest a bass, baritone, tenor, alto or soprano who fit the bill?

I have a few thoughts

   Harry Belafonte (is he a bass?)
   Johnny Mathis (but he had such a high voice)
   Judy Collins (alto)
   Perry Como (tenor?)

As you can see, I am out of touch with current-day music.