Gerome Ragni was a talented American singer-songwriter, actor, and Broadway star, best known for his leading role in the musical "Hair" as Berger. Ragni's unique approach to singing blended rock and contemporary styles for a sound that was both smooth and powerful. If you're looking to learn how to sing like Gerome Ragni, here are some tips and exercises to get you started!

Vocal Techniques

Gerome Ragni is most well-known for his powerful and rich voice, which is rooted in rock and pop music. One of the key techniques he uses is belting, which involves extending your voice beyond its usual limits to create a powerful and resonant sound. To achieve this, you'll need to engage your diaphragm and use good breath support, taking deep breaths from your gut and allowing your chest to expand fully.

Another important technique when singing like Ragni is to create a brightened vowel sound, which allows you to cut through the mix and create a clear, articulated sound. To do this, focus on opening up your mouth and keeping your tongue positioned towards the front of your mouth, allowing you to create a bright, open sound. Ragni also used vocal fry and various distortion techniques to create interesting tonal qualities in his voice, so experimenting with different vocal textures should also be part of your training.

Repertoire

One of Ragni's most famous songs is "Let the Sunshine In" from the musical "Hair." This song showcases his powerful belting abilities, as well as his ability to transition between smooth, sustained notes and energetic, rhythmic phrases. Another great song to study is "Aquarius," also from "Hair." Here, you can focus on Ragni's use of vocal fry and distortion to create a unique and engaging sound.

Singing Exercises

• To improve your belting technique, try Singing Carrots' free vocal range test to determine your vocal range so you can work on extending and strengthening your high notes.
• To improve your ability to cut through the mix, take the site's pitch accuracy test to work on your intonation.
• Use the Singing Pad on the Vocal Pitch Monitor to practice creating brightened vowel sounds and clear articulation.
• Singing Carrots' Pitch Training tool will help you develop good breath support and improve your vocal agility so you can transition smoothly between different notes and ranges.

By incorporating these exercises into your practice routine and incorporating Ragni's unique techniques, you too can learn how to sing with power, range, and control. Good luck, and have fun!