At the risk of sounding crass, I think there are two kinds of voices, too: The Constipated Voice and The Open Voice. If you hear an open voice, there seems to be nothing between you and a steady, sure, flexible stream of sound. Now if that sound is divided into clear words and phrases, then it's even better, since you not only have free and open tones, but you can understand what the song has to say, AND if the singer goes a step beyond that and thinks about meanings, then you get passion and nuance, which makes it still better.

The constipated voice gets constricted inside somewhere: the throat, the jaw, the chest.... It comes out breathy and tight. (When I did school programs I'd get the kids to yell..then when they finally did, told them I wanted to hear them sing like that.)

Anyway, I really don't feel the owners of lovely, mellow voices make for the best singers; two different things. Sometimes the passion, diction and phrasing make up for everything else, as long as it starts free and easy.

Joan