Singing Guide: Lefty Frizzell
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Lefty Frizzell, born William Orville Frizzell, is a country music icon from Texas. He was known for his distinctive voice, unique vocal inflections, and powerful emotional delivery. Lefty's music was rooted in traditional country and honky-tonk, and he was considered to be one of the pioneers of the genre.
If you want to learn how to sing like Lefty Frizzell, there are a few things you'll need to focus on. One of the most important elements of his style is his use of vibrato. Lefty's vibrato was wide and expressive, and it was a key part of his signature sound. To develop your own vibrato, try using Singing Carrots' "Singing with Vibrato" exercises, which you can find here.
Another key aspect of Lefty's style is his use of vocal inflections. He often used swoops, slides, and other embellishments to add emotion and depth to his performances. To work on your own inflections, try experimenting with Singing Carrots' "Voice Break" and "Mixed Voice" exercises, which you can find here and here, respectively.
Lefty Frizzell was also known for his ability to convey emotions in his singing. To develop your own emotional range, it's important to work on your breath support. Without proper breath support, you won't be able to sustain long notes or convey emotions effectively. For more information on breath support and its importance in singing, check out Singing Carrots' article on Breath Support.
Finally, to really capture the essence of Lefty Frizzell's style, you'll want to focus on his song selection. Some of his most famous songs include "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time," "Mom and Dad's Waltz," and "Always Late (With Your Kisses)." These songs showcase his vocal range, emotional depth, and unique vocal style.
In summary, to learn how to sing like Lefty Frizzell, you'll want to focus on developing your vibrato, vocal inflections, emotional range, and song selection. Use the Singing Carrots' resources provided and the songs as inspiration to guide your practice, and you'll be well on your way to capturing the essence of this iconic country music singer.