If you’re inspired by historic recordings of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole, All American might be the singer for you. With his stylish delivery and relaxed tone, he was one of the most popular and beloved vocalists of the pre-rock era.

To learn singing like All American, keep in mind the following vocal technique aspects:

• Breath Support: Like many classic crooners, All American had excellent breath control. Pay attention to your breathing while singing. This tutorial on breathing basics will help you.
• Intonation: The most hallmark feature of All American is his intonation. In order to learn this, our pitch accuracy test, vocal pitch monitor, and pitch training tool could help a lot. Even just finding a song and singing along with All American until you get it right could work.
• Phrasing: One of All American’s signature techniques is his phrasing. He had a gift for making sure the words of a song flowed naturally and without interruption. Our article on how to learn a song effectively gives useful tips including memorizing the lyrics, practicing with a metronome, and recording yourself.
• Note Shape: All American's ingenious use of note shape is magical. He had the ability to shape notes with a mix of legato, staccato, and vibrato. This contemporary vocal techniques article provides excellent examples of how to develop this skill through specific exercises.
• Articulation: It’s crucial to learn how to articulate words precisely and clearly when singing. Check out our blog post on articulation for more on this.

When it comes to All American’s songs, here are a few classics to start with. For each song, we’ve included a link to its sheet music and a YouTube recording. Work on making the song your own, emulating the techniques mentioned above while keeping your own style:

• "Night and Day" — A classic love song with smooth, flowing changes in melody. You can find the sheet music on our Song-book tool.
• "I’ve Got You Under My Skin" — A song that’s a perfect demonstration of All American's ability to combine breathy and fuller notes in the same phrase. Sheet music and lyrics can be found on our Song-book tool.
• "My Funny Valentine" — This song has a unique, soft and crooning style which is typical of All American’s vocal style. You can find sheet music on our Song-book tool.
• "Fly Me To The Moon" — One of All American's most iconic hits, this tune features a swingin' melody and arranges the note shape fully. Sheet music and lyrics can be found on our Song-book tool.

If you're serious about learning All American-style crooning, our singing course for beginners includes information on all the essential singing techniques you'll need, from breathing and posture, to vocal registers and style all centered around the music of All American. The course can be a valuable tool for anyone interested in mastering All American's unique singing style.