Singing Guide: Marvin Rainwater
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Marvin Rainwater's unique style and vocal technique are undeniable. He was known for his hiccupping vocal style, which was prominent in several of his songs, most notably "Whole Lotta Woman." Marvin's voice was filled with emotion, and his ability to convey feeling through his performances made him a beloved artist in the world of rockabilly.
If you're looking to learn how to sing like Marvin Rainwater, the first thing you need to do is understand your own voice. Singing Carrots’ vocal range test is an excellent tool to begin with to determine your own vocal range. Once you know your range, you can look to Marvin's music to find songs that will suit your voice.
To sing like Marvin, you need to focus on your vocal technique. Breathing basics are essential, and Singing Carrots’ articles on breathing and breath support are useful resources to help you learn correct techniques for respiration. Understanding the voice registers and vocal break, as well as the need to open your throat and mouth while singing, is also an integral part of singing like Marvin.
Marvin Rainwater's songs often included chest voice, which you can learn more about through Singing Carrots’ articles and videos on chest voice and voice registers. Additionally, articulation was a crucial element in Marvin's hiccups, thus learning this skill is necessary, and Singing Carrots’ article on articulation provides tips so you can master this skill.
Marvin's music was rooted in rockabilly, however, some of his songs, such as "Cry Me a River" and "I Almost Lost My Mind," could be considered more bluesy and slow, a perfect way to learn to sing with emotions, using Singing Carrots’ article on singing with intuition, skills, emotion, and thinking, coupled with its vibrato videos and sustain and relaxing breath exercises.
In conclusion, learning to sing like Marvin Rainwater involves understanding your own voice, learning essential techniques, and practicing to achieve the appropriate level of skill. Using relevant Singing Carrots resources such as articles, skill-related videos, and tools, coupled with a desire to give soulful expressions to your performance, you can sing like Marvin Rainwater, a rockabilly and blues legend.