Singing Guide: Kay Starr
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Kay Starr - Voice Control and Jazz Sensibility
Kay Starr is a legendary jazz artist known for her unique voice control and interpretive skills. To sing like Kay Starr, it is essential to learn the fundamentals of singing and hone your improvisational abilities.
One of the distinctive features of Kay Starr's singing style is her ability to control her vibrato. She used a subtle vibrato to convey her emotions while not overdoing it. To achieve this, Singing Carrots' article on “Singing with Vibrato” is a must-read. It includes exercises and practical tips for developing vibrato control.
Another aspect of her singing style is her use of "Twang" technique. This is especially prominent in her early recordings. The "Twang" technique adds clarity to the vocals, which can be effective while singing fast-paced songs. To learn more about "Twang," Singing Carrots' "How to Twang Exercise" video will help you master it.
Kay Starr also utilized her mixed voice, a crucial part of Jazz singing. Mixed voice is a technique that enables you to move smoothly between chest voice and head voice, making your voice sound more dynamic. The Singing Carrots' video on "Voice Break" and "Mixed Voice" explains how to develop a mixed voice and how to transition between registers.
Apart from technique, Kay Starr's ability to improvise and add nuances to the melody was what made her jazz performances exceptional. To sing like Kay Starr, develop your improvisational abilities with Singing Carrots' "Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game."
Finally, to learn Kay Starr's discography, we recommend the "Search songs by vocal range" and "Vocal ranges of famous singers" tools on Singing Carrots. Choose songs that require vibrato, move through different registers, and exhibit Kay Starr's improvisational flair, such as "The Man Upstairs" and "Side by Side."
In conclusion, to sing like Kay Starr, perfect your vibrato control, learn the Twang technique, develop your mixed voice, and rehearse improvisational abilities. Use Singing Carrots' resources to build your skills, and before you know it, you'll be singing jazz like the legendary Kay Starr.