So, What Do You Like to Sing?

I'm sure all musicians get this question, and those of us who perform mainly cover songs probably get it more than most! Fact is, that's one of the reasons I gravitated to cover bands in the first place. There's so much great material out there that I hate to choose!

When I was a kid, my favourite singer, the one I wanted to emulate, was Linda Ronstadt. She wasn't the absolute best at anything, but it seemed like she sounded "right," whether she was singing country or jazz or pop, or even operetta. And that's what transfixed me. I wanted to be able to do a creditable job of every single vocal style I tried.

I think I've done a pretty good job at that. In the last week, I've sung jazz standards, alt-country, disco, washy/sexy background vocals,  motown and rock & roll with various bands (who keep calling me to come back!) and I love every minute of it.

What do I  like best, though? I still don't have a good answer.

I love singing disco, classic r&b and soul. So many wonderful songs - powerful singing and gospel-influenced joy.

I love singing latin and swing standards.  To jazz fans, my tastes aren't very "outside," but I dig what I dig. I started jamming with my parents when I was 10 or 11 and I still adore playing with a small combo... although I'll admit that I love getting front of a  big band - a fat horn section makes me weak in the knees!

I love singing 80s hair rock! Yes, it's cheezy - balls-to-the-wall and always in danger of spinning out of control - the uninhibitedness is the biggest part of the appeal!

I've also recently rekindled an affair with showtunes that I thought had run its course. In writing my cabaret show I remembered what I loved about theatre and theatre music - those emotions that are just too big for dialogue alone and you have to express through music (without letting the emotions get away and make your voice sound bad)!