"Sam Larner's style had evolved to enable him to win fishermen's singing competitions; "
I don't believe that is the case - Sam sang for locals every week of his life - that is where his stle evolved
He in fact retired from the sea quite early because he'd torn his insides up pulling wet nets
As far as 'feeling' goes you don't need to add it if you feel it, it's already there
It's the putting it in for effect that leads to histrionics and 'acting out

I find Phil Tanner's singing moving because of it's contained exhumerance - a recreation of the situation each time
There's a magnificent photograh of him singing to a group of old people, many of whom apear not to be listening
Rather than attempting to win them over, he appears to be singing for himself - for me, the sign of great singing
Jim