Singing Guide: Russ Taff and the Imperials
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
With a voice that has been compared to Ray Charles, Russ Taff is a legendary gospel and country artist known for his emotional and soulful performances. In this article, we'll look at some of his unique vocal techniques and explore how you can learn to sing like Russ Taff with the help of Singing Carrots.
One of Russ Taff's signature vocal techniques is his use of falsetto. He often transitions from his chest voice to his head voice seamlessly, creating a smooth and powerful sound. His song "We Will Stand" showcases this technique particularly well. To learn this technique yourself, try using Singing Carrots' Pitch Training tool to practice transitioning between your chest and head voice.
Another technique that Russ Taff utilizes is his impressive vibrato. He uses this to add emotion and depth to his songs, and creates a unique sound that sets him apart from other gospel and country artists. If you're interested in learning how to incorporate vibrato into your singing, Singing Carrots has a helpful article on Singing with Vibrato, as well as a video on Diaphragm Bounce exercise.
Breath control is key to Russ Taff's powerful and expressive singing style. He often holds notes for lengthy periods of time, creating a dramatic and impactful effect. To develop your own breath control, Singing Carrots' has a number of useful articles on breathing technique, such as Breath support and How to analyze your voice. You can also check out the Sustain Vocal and Farinelli Breathing exercises from the list of skill-related videos to help you practice.
Finally, one of Russ Taff's more quirky techniques is his use of growling in his performances. This is best showcased in his song "Praise The Lord". While it may not be for everyone, it is a unique technique that adds a lot of character to his performances. To learn and practice this technique, Singing Carrots has a video on How to Growl Exercise.
Hopefully, this article has given you some insight into how Russ Taff sings and how you can learn to sing like him. By using the resources provided by Singing Carrots, you can work on your techniques, develop your breath control, and experiment with your own unique vocal style.