Smiley Lewis was an American R&B singer and guitarist who was born in 1913 and died in 1966. He is best known for his soulful singing style and his unique approach to guitar playing. If you're wanting to learn how to sing like Smiley Lewis, there are a few things you can do to get started. Here are some tips and suggestions:

Learn the Blues

Smiley Lewis sang blues music, which is a genre that has a lot of variations. To sing like him, you will need to become familiar with the different types of blues, such as Delta blues, Chicago blues, and Texas blues. You can check out the articles on pop/jazz vs classical singing to understand how the styles differ.

Listen to Smiley's Music

To get a sense of Smiley Lewis's style, listen to some of his recordings. Some of his most popular songs include "I Hear You Knocking,” “The Bells Are Ringing,” and “Shame, Shame, Shame.” Pay attention to how he phrases his lyrics and how he uses his voice to create different tones and textures.

Practice Breathing and Warm-up Exercises

Breathing and warming up your voice are important for any type of singing. Use Singing Carrots' Farinelli Breathing video exercise to learn the breathing techniques used by Smiley Lewis. Then, try out some of the warm-up exercises on the Singing Carrots website to get your voice ready to sing.

Work on Your Phrasing

One of Smiley Lewis's key attributes is his phrasing. He has a unique way of interpreting lyrics that makes his music instantly recognizable. To work on your phrasing, try singing along with his recordings, paying attention to how he emphasizes certain words and syllables. Use Singing Carrots' Pitch Training educational singing game to help with pitch visualization.

Experiment with your Voice

Smiley Lewis used a distinctive, raspy voice in his music. Experiment with different techniques to achieve similar results like vocal distortion, growling, chest singing and twang techniques that can all be learned on Singing Carrots' videos to add your own spin to his sound.

In conclusion, learning to sing like Smiley Lewis requires a lot of practice and dedication. By listening to his music, studying the blues, working on your breathing and phrasing, and experimenting with different vocal techniques, you can start to develop your own unique style and become a better singer. Remember to use the Singing Carrots tools and educational course to help you along the way.