Singing Guide: Mickey Gilley

Singing Guide: Mickey Gilley

Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources

Are you a beginner or advanced singer?

Mickey Gilley is an American country music singer and musician known for his honky-tonk sound, bar-room ballads and country-pop crossover hits. He's also known for his unique vocal style that blends country crooning, bluesy growling, and soulful vibrato, which together make him a truly one-of-a-kind artist.

To learn singing like Mickey Gilley, one must first understand the basics of honky-tonk music and its key elements such as twang, growling, and belt. An essential aspect of Gilley's honky-tonk singing style is his use of twang, which involves emphasizing the high overtones of the voice and compressing the vocal cords. This technique produces a piercing, nasal sound that helps the voice cut through an instrument-heavy mix.

Another characteristic of Gilley's vocals is his use of growling, which is vocal distortion created by manipulating the larynx and vocal cords. When used tastefully, growling adds a gritty, bluesy quality to the voice, adding depth and emotion to a performance. Belt, is yet another tool employed by the artist, which involves singing at the top of his range, pushing his voice to its limits for an impressive and truly emotive sound.

Now, some of the exercises available on Singing Carrots that can help you train in similar techniques to Mr. Gilley are:

Concerning the songs, you should focus on learning some of the singer's most popular hits, such as:

  • "Room Full of Roses" is a classic honky-tonk tune that showcases Gilley's twang and belting ability.
  • "Stand by Me" version by Gilley demonstrates his interpretation of a slow ballad, which highlights his soulful vibrato and ability to emote through varying dynamics.
  • "The Power of Positive Drinkin'" allows him to show the balance between his bluesy growl and his honky-tonk twang.

Lastly, you can make use of various resources offered by Singing Carrots to enhance your singing abilities. These resources include:

I hope this helps you on your journey to singing like Mickey Gilley!

Learn more about this artist vocal range, voice type and repertoire.