longest you kept a great voice secret

Subject: longest you kept a great voice secret
From: GUEST,Mr Shy
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 11:38 PM

so.. pride/ego/shyness..???

whatever.. you always had a killer voice.

you knew it.. but no one else ever did..


so how old were you before you summoned the courage
to let it out in public?

Subject: RE: longest you kept a great voice secret
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 04:33 AM

I never had one, so had to manage with the one I have got!

I still hate it, but some say I have found some ways effectively to use it, so tant mieux.

Subject: RE: longest you kept a great voice secret
From: Nick
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 04:47 AM

Much like Richard.

About 50 when it was first heard

Subject: RE: longest you kept a great voice secret
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 04:57 AM

Qu'est-ce que, Monsieur Breedge! I'm sure your voice will be delightful when I catch up with you.

Something somebody said to me recently. There ain't many 'great voices' on the folkscene - Una Walsh of No Fixed Abode, Jack Hudson - then you're looking. On the English club scene at least.

I don't mean serviceable pleasant voices - I'm talking 'stop you in your tracks' voices. Out of the traddies - the late Fred Jordan. Maybe Dave Fletcher, do you think?

I'm not talking about voices that have been ornamented with eye catching mannerisms - just God given 'wow' factor.

Subject: RE: longest you kept a great voice secret
From: Spot
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 05:09 AM

Allo everybody...

               This is interesting! I was a closet "singer" and guitar player for decades till I was around 40. I believed wholeheartedly that I'd nothing to offer the listening public!! (I was No 4 MacCalman in my head!!) Local folk club singers nights...total bag o' nerves etc..( I still forget where I'm at with lyrics!!), ultimately joined local band ...went solo..people actually said they enjoyed what I did!! Totally amazed (still am!!)
               I had a delightful experience, last week, when a guy I'd known for years actually said he'd give anything to do what I do!! I was so chuffed!!   :-) ( my playing gone downhill lately due to finger injuries)

                Regards to all.... Spot

Subject: RE: longest you kept a great voice secret
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 05:16 AM

Great voices with "wow" factor are, IMHO, about 10 a penny on the folk scene. Let me list just a few.

Ian Bruce (pro)
John Barden (pro-am)
The Late Dave Bryant (lower and quieter, please Dave)
Royston Ford (no longer singing afaik)
The Late Jacqui Walker (just an amazing sort of howl in there)
Rachel Bridge (my daughter) About 140Db 1w/1m across 3 octaves!
Mike Nicholson The resonances, the resonances...
Peter Collins the Huge feller from the south coast - Death by chocolate pudding sort of voice.
Marian Button (over 60 now, hear her before it's too late)
Strange bloke from Maidstone whose party piece is "the Robber's retreat"
Silvo, from the 60s who is semi-retired and lives in Scandinavia
Tom Lewis
Both of Capella
Is she still alive, Roz Bell? Huge smoky undertones!
Davy Rumsey, seems to have vanished from the Maidstone scene
Clive Lever (WildRover of this board)

Subject: RE: longest you kept a great voice secret
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 06:48 AM

One of my favourite voices is the Scots singer Alison McMorland - she has a truly beautiful voice and she knows how to use it as well.

Subject: RE: longest you kept a great voice secret
From: Bee
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 09:49 AM

I envy people with great voices - the Rankin family women's voices are still among my favourites. My own voice rather appalls me when I hear it - a bit high and with a natural vibrato I'm trying hard to control. I'll be displaying it, and my new guitar skills (such as they are), not exactly publicly, but to a great many people, casually at a festival next weekend, among the post stage show field singers and pickers. I'm very nervous about it.

Subject: RE: longest you kept a great voice secret
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 10:02 AM

Well the great voices of The Oysterband were kept from me for 25 years, by the BBC who don't play their music...as were Show of Hands too...

GRRRRR!

Who can I sue? ;0)