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.
I am a male tenor and have been singing for about 8 years now. I have been studying voice and developed good chest/middle/head voice technique over the years. My vocal quality is a mixture of Steve Perry, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson.
Now the question I've always had is how does one achieve a Gospel/Blues/Soulful rasp ? The best example would be Michael Jackson. It is all over songs such as "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Beat It", "Dirty Diana" and most specifically the ending of "Earth Song". So my question is: Is it possible for me to learn this technique? Will it cause any damage? Are there any DVDs or books out there that teaches it?
I've been trying to figure out this specific sound out for quite a while now, and have not found an answer yet. I really hope you can help me out.
I should add that if you are not familiar with the songs I mentioned above, you can find them on YouTube.
Thanks,
Alex
Answer Alex:
It's the use of the microphone that you want to focus on. Can you growl? If so, you want to experiment with a soft growl and then a high soft growl. Let the mic do the volume thing for you. You don't have to scream to get the same effect.
