Reading a (wonderful) interview with Philip Quast on Theatre.com, I was surprised to discover that he isn't a trained singer. It's strange how some people naturally have proper placement and technique without ever having been taught how to do it. Who are some other prominent musical theatre performers that have great voices but never had singing lessons? I know Carolee Carmello is one...any others?
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
^yeah, she's had a little but she did say it wasn't much at all. Like, it was just to help her get some stamina and stuff- but basically she's had very LITTLE training.
Umm, I cant really think of anyone else- but I'm also def no expert with knowing about lots of different broadway stars haha
I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.
Jennifer Holliday, which may explain why she had so much trouble and missed so many performances during Dreamgirls. Several Broadway singers who came out of the gospel/r&b tradition had no formal training and some learn how to cope with an 8 performance a week schedule and others do not.
Not to be snarky, but was LaChanze formally trained?
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
I think Julie Andrews did have some training, but not a lot. Her stepfather was a musician or something and found her outstanding range. I could be mistaken.
To call Ethel Merman a character singer is such a sad insult. The Merm WAS the voice of theearly 1930's. Like Fred Astaire, another "character singer" Merman popularized dozens of immortal hits. Like Janis Joplin and Bruce Sprinsteen and Billy Joel and Paul McCartney, she was the voice of her times.
At the age of seven, Julie was taken to audition for singing teacher Lillian Stiles-Allen, who though impressed with her talent, was reluctant to train Julie for fear of damaging her young vocal chords. Throat specialists finally determined that little Julie had a fully developed adult larynx, explaining her incredible four-octave range and removing any fear of possible damage.
As her vocal training continued, Julie became a popular British child performer and at the age of twelve was cast in her first West End revue, Starlight Roof. Reel Classics Julie Page
-Politics is like driving. To go backward, put it in R. To go forward, put it in D.
I remember once seeing an old 'one reeler' called 'Devil Sea' on a cable movie channel ages ago..made in the early 30s with a very young Ethel Merman..and instead of the usual brassy style she actually had a very lovely yet strong voice.
-Politics is like driving. To go backward, put it in R. To go forward, put it in D.
"But Hugh Jackman must have had voice lessons--he sounds very "trained." "
He is now -- I seem to recall him talking about working with a Czech Opera singer prior to going into BFO. But I've heard him tell this story several times about when he was sent to audition for the Australian cast of Beauty and the Beast. He said that he thought his agent was crazy to send him to this audtion, as he'd never sung in his life. He went, and got the part with the priviso that he take some lessons. The rest, as they say, is history...