Developing a Deep, Rich Tone

William Conrad, who played radio's original Matt Dillon on "Gunsmoke," was an expert voice actor with a deep, raspy voice and commanding presence. If you want to learn to sing like Conrad, you'll need to master a few key techniques. In this article, we'll explore some of Conrad's most distinctive vocal traits, as well as practical advice and Singing Carrots resources to help you improve your singing.

One of the most distinctive features of Conrad's voice was its deep and rich tone. To achieve this sound, it's important to develop good breath support and posture. Check out Singing Carrots' articles on breath support and posture for more detailed advice on these key elements of vocal technique.

Conrad also had a unique way of "pushing" his voice forward, which gave it a powerful and commanding edge. To develop this skill, try practicing with some of Singing Carrots' vocal warm-up videos, especially the Farinelli Breathing exercise and the Sustain Vocal exercise.

Developing Smooth Transitions between Vocal Registers

Another hallmark of Conrad's voice was his ability to transition smoothly between his vocal registers, moving from his deep and resonant chest voice to his lighter, more agile head voice. To work on this skill, check out Singing Carrots' articles on voice registers and vocal break and mixed voice, as well as their Chest Voice Explained video. The Glottal Onset video can also be helpful in teaching you how to smoothly navigate between different vocal registers.

Singing like William Conrad

To fully capture the essence of Conrad's singing style, it's important to practice with songs that showcase his unique vocal qualities. Some great examples include "Where the River Shannon Flows" and "By the Light of the Silvery Moon."

To get started on your journey to singing like William Conrad, be sure to try Singing Carrots' vocal range test to determine your own vocal range, as well as their song search tool to find songs that suit your voice. The Singing Beginners course is also a great resource for anyone looking to improve their overall singing technique.

By following these tips and practicing regularly with Singing Carrots' resources, you'll be well on your way to mastering the distinctive vocal style of one of radio's most iconic lawmen.