Singing Guide: Jimmy Dean
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
How to Sing Like Jimmy Dean
If you are a fan of country music, you must know Jimmy Dean. Born in 1928, he was a prominent country singer, songwriter, and TV show host. He became famous for his powerful, wide-ranging baritone voice. In this article, we will teach you how to sing like Jimmy Dean, discuss his unique vocal style and some of his famous songs. Below are tips on how to develop a voice like Jimmy Dean.
Analyze your voice
Before you start singing like Jimmy Dean, you need to identify your voice type. Jimmy Dean's voice type was identified as a baritone. If you're unsure about your voice type, perform Singing Carrot's vocal range test. It will give you an idea of your vocal range and suggest songs that are suitable for your voice type.
Resonance and Breathing
Jimmy Dean was famous for his powerful voice, which was achieved through proper breath control and resonance. He breathed deeply from his diaphragm, using breath control to sustain long and powerful notes. To improve breath control, check out the breathing basics article to improve your breathing.
Vocals, singing style and articulation
Jimmy Dean's singing style was unique and distinctive and was often associated with his country sound. To learn from him, focus on articulation while you sing. You must form every word with clarity and precision, connected seamlessly and smoothly. For articulation exercises, check out the finger bite video. You should use this video to improve your articulation for clarity of words.
Speech Level Singing
In Singing Carrot's vocal training lessons, you will learn Speech Level singings; an approach used by Jimmy Dean. Observe how Jimmy Dean had a stable larynx position enabling a balanced sound between his lower and higher registers; therefore, singing songs without any vocal breaks. You can identify this feature in his famous songs, such as Big Bad John, a song about a coal miner hero.
Overcoming Stage Fright
Stage fright can be challenging for most singers. However, Jimmy Dean was confident and went on stage with ease. If you need tips to overcome stage fright, check out Singing Carrot's issue on how to overcome stage fright. Learning from Jimmy Dean, you'll understand that the key to performing like a pro is to be confident with your singing, be yourself while on stage, and most importantly, have fun.
Songs to Explore
Jimmy Dean's famous songs include "Big Bad John," "The First Thing Ev'ry Morning (And The Last Thing Ev'ry Night)," "A Thing Called Love," and "Nine Pound Hammer." The singing range for these songs varies, and each presents a different challenge for the singer. Use the search song tool to find songs that suit your voice range, difficulty, and genre preferences.
Conclusion
Singing like Jimmy Dean requires practice, patience, skills, emotions, and thinking. And most importantly, the willingness to enjoy the process of learning. So, practice every day with the specific exercises and guides mentioned in the article, and eventually, you'll begin to sound more and more like Jimmy Dean. As Jimmy Dean himself said, "You gotta be in good singing condition. Your instrument has to be in good shape, and your voice has to be tuned. It's just like a car. You've got to warm it up before you start it."