Ella Mae Morse is remembered nowadays as one of the best interpreters of jump blues, western swing, and early rockabilly. Discovered by Barney Rapp, a bandleader in the 40s, Morse had her first hit with "Cow Cow Boogie" in 1942, followed by "Mister Five by Five," "Get on Board, Little Chillen," and "The Patty Cake Man." During the 1950s she recorded for Capitol and Mercury and showed her versatility in various styles of music, including pop, R&B, and rock.

If you want to learn to sing like Ella Mae Morse, you will need to pay extra attention to the way she plays with her voice in each of her songs. Morse had a playful attitude and turned each song she sang into an adventure using her mastery of scatting, precision timing, and dynamic vocal control.

Start by taking the Vocal Range Test, which will help you identify your vocal range, compare it to famous singers, and improve your pitch accuracy. Once you have done that, dive deep into the following tips to learn how to sing like Ella Mae Morse:

• Emulate Ella Mae's Precise Enunciation: Morse was known for her crisp and clear articulation when singing, making it easier to understand and appreciate her lyrics. It's essential to try and match Morse's precise enunciation when singing her songs. Take a look at Articulation article for more tips on this topic.
• Learn from Ella Mae's Unique Rhythm and Timing: Morse had an excellent sense of timing and rhythm that made her performances exceptional. She used pauses and breaks in her phrases, and had perfect placement that worked to create drama and intensity in her songs. You can practice timing and rhythm using the warm-up exercises like Farinelli Breathing or 3 Minute Warm Up.
• Explore Ella Mae's Use of Phrasing and Dynamics: Morse's use of different phrasing and dynamics made her work so exciting to listen to. To learn her style, you need to experiment with different nuances in your own singing by practicing breath, open mouth, and chest voice exercises. The blog post on Open Mouth and Throat explains how freeing up the throat and opening your mouth more can help produce a more resonant tone.
• Use Twang & Growling to Add Interest to Your Performance: Morse occasionally added twang and growling to her songs, adding further interest and depth. Check out the videos on How to Twang and How to Growl to emulate her unique style.
• Selecting Songs to Learn and Practice: Here are some popular songs of Ella Mae Morse you can try to practice her style:
  • Cow Cow Boogie
  • Blacksmith Blues
  • Mr. Five by Five
  • The Patty Cake Man
  • Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet
  • Love Me or Leave Me
  • Razzle Dazzle
  • Hey, Mr. Postman

Resources: While learning to sing like Morse, you can use the Vocal Pitch Monitor and Pitch Training tools to help you fine-tune your pitch accuracy while you practice scales and intervals. You can also use the Song Search tool to find other songs that are similar to Ella Mae Morse's work and fit your vocal style and range.

Remember to keep practicing and trying different techniques and styles until you find the combination that works best for you. By emulating and experimenting with Ella Mae Morse's techniques, you can enhance your singing talent and create unique performances like hers!