Sourdough, a good Thread. I find little to disagree with here but would just add one thing. I believe that the person who is "commercially successful" as a volcalist has a "distinctive" voice. When you hear that voice on the radio or a recording, you immediately know who is singing. Many examples can be given and most of them have already been named: Willie Nelson, Burl Ives, Hank Snow, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Dina Shore, Doris Day, Mama Cass, Mary Travers and on and on. I think, after listening to his CD, Rick Fielding has that quality. You hear them, you know who is singing. To me, that separates the good solo voice (commercially successful) from the good choral voice that may blend beautifully with others. I am not implying, however, that only commercially successful voices are the only "good" voices. There are pleanty out there that sing well (good timber, resonance, on pitch) that will never be commercially succesfull for other reasons.

I certainly agree with Alice that good vocal training can improve almost any voice. DougR