AboutPenny Nichols Expertise I can answer all kinds of questions regarding singing techniques, practice, performance, vocal recording technique and harmony vocal arranging.
Experience I have been a professional singer/songwriter and vocal arranger and teacher in the music business since 1965.
Organizations BMI, Folk Alliance, SummerSongs, Inc. (I am the founding director)
Publications Singer Magazine
Education/Credentials I have a doctorate in Music Education from Harvard.
Awards and Honors Platinum record for my vocals on Jimmy Buffett's Son of a Son of a Sailor, 3 times nominated for a Grammy in the background singing category, MVP in the motivational singing category of the Assoc. of Multi-image Assoc. Annual awards two years in a row.
Past/Present Clients I have sung with, recorded with or opened shows for Mort Sahl, The Byrds, The Dillards, Dillard and Clark Expedition, John Kay
(Steppenwolf), The Association and Big Brother and the Holding Co. (Janis Joplin), Steve Miller, Quicksilver Messenger Service, 13th Floor Elevator, Chocolate Watchband, Jefferson Airplane, Dan Hicks & his Hot Licks, Cream (the Santa Monica Civic auditorium 1968),
Little Feat in concert. I wrote and performed commercials for Toyota's campaign to plant a tree for every car bought, Carnation Dairies, and produced a public service announcement for the
Navajo Nation called "Black Mesa" to protest the misuse of the land around the Four Corners power stations in Arizona.
In 1977, while working with Emitt Rhodes on a record for Elektra, I joined Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefers. I appeared in the movie FM with the band, toured the U.S. and earned a Platinum Record for my singing on Son of a Son of a Sailor. Also, I've recorded with Art Garfunkle (Fate for Breakfast) Suzi Quatro, Danny O'Keefe, Yvonne Elliman, Jennifer Warnes, Albert Brooks, The Credibility Gap, Steve Gillette and earned a Grammy nomination for my work on Arlo Guthrie's album The Power of Love. In addition, I have recorded a series of singing lessons which have been sold world-wide by Homespun Tapes since 1985.
Question QUESTION: When I sing, I have this kind of undertone, like when your voice has that rattling sound like a vibration when you talk, well, it's still there when I sing. And I was going to start a band, and me sing. But I can't get that tone to go away, which makes my singing bad. And the genre was going to be Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. And I want to try and get a voice kinda like James Hetfields of Metallicas. Like the nice heavy feeling. So any help would be appreciated.
ANSWER: Hi James: You would need to see a vocal coach and possibly an ear, nose & throat doctor to get the whole story. My hunch is that you might already have some damage to your vocal chords. I would go get it checked out before you make any more decisions about how or what to sing.
Best wishes, Penny Nichols
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QUESTION: But, I'm only 15! Is it possible at such a young age? What could I have possibly done to cause it? And is that a reason why I can't hit high notes, and when I try it's like a scratchy rough noise behind it?
Answer Are you smoking and/or drinking or smoking pot? Any one of those things can hurt your vocal chords. Also, any shouting you do on a regular basis could hurt your vocal chords and your voice is changing and it could be related to that. You need to be seen by an ear,nose & throat specialist who is an expert in vocal health and find a voice teacher to help you.
