Singing Guide: Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames is a British R&B band formed in the 60s, known for their distinctive blend of blues, jazz, and soul. Vocalist and pianist Georgie Fame was instrumental in popularizing R&B in the UK, and his unique style has influenced many singers to this day.
To learn to sing like Georgie Fame, you need to master his three signature elements: timing, phrasing, and delivery.
Timing:
One of Fame's biggest strengths is his impeccable timing. His voice is always spot-on with the instruments, and his rhythmic delivery is a large part of his appeal. To develop your timing skills, you should start by practicing with a metronome. Sing along to it, trying to match the beat as precisely as possible. Additionally, you can try singing along with Georgie Fame songs, paying close attention to his rhythm and trying to copy it.
Phrasing:
Fame's phrasing is another aspect that sets him apart. He is a master of the bluesy, jazzy inflections that give his music a distinctive feel. To develop your phrasing, you need to practice singing a lot of different styles of music. The more experience you have with different types of music, the more you can experiment with your own style.
Delivery:
Finally, to sing like Georgie Fame, you need to have a certain delivery. Fame's voice is smooth and laid-back, with a lot of personality. To develop this kind of singing voice, you should focus on developing your breath control, so that you can support your voice and project it with confidence. Vocal exercises like the ones in this Singing Carrots resource can help you improve your breath control, giving you the foundation you need to sing with Fame-style confidence.
Georgie Fame's most popular songs to showcase his style are "Yeh Yeh," "Getaway," and "Sitting In The Park". If you want to learn these songs, you should start by listening and singing along to Fame's original recordings, paying attention to timing, phrasing, and delivery. Once you feel comfortable with the songs, you can try singing along with the instrumental versions, to see how well you can hold your own against the music.
To sum up, learning to sing like Georgie Fame is all about timing, phrasing, and delivery. With practice and dedication, anyone can develop these skills and sing like the legend himself. If you want to improve your singing technique, Singing Carrots has a number of resources, such as breathing exercises and the vocal range test, which can help you on your way. Good luck!