Do you ever find yourself singing "Stand By Me" when no one's around?

As one of the lead singers of The Drifters and a prolific solo artist, Ben E. King left a distinctive mark on the R&B and soul landscape. His unique vocal style balanced rich and commanding tones with a sense of intimacy and emotional depth.

If you're looking to learn to sing like Ben E. King, there are several tips and techniques you can employ:

1. Build your range

Ben E. King was known for his impressive range, spanning from baritone to tenor notes. That means you'll want to work on expanding your own range to nail those high notes in classics like "Stand By Me" and "Spanish Harlem." Use Singing Carrots' vocal range test to determine your range, and then work on exercises to expand your range while singing along to King's music.

1. Improve your breathing

Breath control is crucial to capturing the soulful nuances of King's vocals. Use Singing Carrots' breathing basics guide and practice exercises like the Farinelli Breathing to strengthen your diaphragm and improve your breathing technique.

1. Learn the power of inflection

One of the key elements of King's singing style is his ability to inflect his voice with emotion and soul. To learn this yourself, start by studying the lyrics and meaning behind his songs, and then practice techniques like growling and vocal distortion to add your own stamp to the lyrics. Check out Singing Carrots' videos on twang and vocal distortion for useful tips.

1. Work on your vibrato

Ben E. King's vocal style features a rich and controlled vibrato that helped him stand out from other artists of his era. Use Singing Carrots' vibrato exercises to develop a strong and controlled vibrato that helps you imbue your singing with a greater sense of emotional depth.

1. Enhance your articulation

Clear articulation is key to delivering a powerful and soulful performance. Make sure to improve articulation exercises like the finger bite technique and practice enunciating King's lyrics while singing along.

To further enhance your learning, you can also turn to Singing Carrots for additional resources that can help you develop your unique singing style. Head to Singing Carrots' index of famous artists vocal ranges to explore the vocal techniques of other famous performers, or check out their comprehensive singing course that covers all the fundamentals of singing.

The key to singing like Ben E. King is to experiment and find the techniques that enable you to add your own touch to his timeless classics. By following these tips and utilizing the resources offered by Singing Carrots, you'll be well on your way to capturing the essence of one of the most iconic vocalists of the R&B and soul era.