The Soul Stirrers are one of the pioneering gospel groups of the twentieth century, known for their close harmonies and lead singer featuring the likes of Sam Cooke and Johnnie Taylor. Their music proves to be a rich vein of inspiration and study for aspiring vocalists, and by focusing on Cooke, we can learn how to harness the power of our voice.

Cooke's Unique Vocal Technique:

Sam Cooke was an unparalleled vocalist, known for his effortless virtuosity, songwriting skills, and impeccable phrasing. He was a trailblazer of his era, integrating soulful intonation, and emotionally rousing lyrics that made countless recordings the anthems for the civil rights movement.

A key feature of Cooke's vocals is his exquisite phrasing: the way he curved, hesitated, delayed, and embellished his singing lines connect listeners to the emotion and passion of the music. He had a way of expressing himself in such a way that audiences felt every word he sang. Cooke relied on his soul to create his vocals, leading to a style that, even in melancholic or intense moments, sounded beautifully melodic. If you want to learn more about his vocal technique and how to incorporate it into your singing, check out Singing Carrots' articles on How to analyze your voice and Singing with intuition, skills, emotion, and thinking.

Songs Showcasing Cooke:

If you want to learn how to harness the power of your voice, and incorporate Cooke's singing style, you should go through some of his famous songs. For instance, "A Change Is Gonna Come" solidified Cooke as a voice of the civil rights movement. It features a weary but resilient mood and builds to a sweeping, gospel-infused message of hope that is both timeless and moving. Another song by Cooke, "Cupid," is a perfect example of his soulful intonation. It's a beautiful love song with simple and catchy melodies and smooth transitions from head to more guttural modes of singing. Singing Carrots has a useful tool to help you find songs that match your vocal range, genre preference, and difficulty level. You can check out more information on the Song search tool here.

Practical Advice:

To learn singing like Sam Cooke, there are a few pieces of practical advice to keep in mind. First, don't hesitate to improve your voice through Singing Carrots' educational singing course. This course includes 21 lessons covering singing theory and practical tips to improve your singing skills. Second, pay attention to posture, as it affects your vocal performance. Check out Singing Carrots' article on How posture affects your singing to learn more. Third, breathe efficiently, apply proper breathing techniques, and develop your breath support. You can read about this topic more in articles like Breathing basics and Breath support on Singing Carrots' blog. Finally, practice regularly to improve your singing skills continually. Use Singing Carrots' Pitch Training tool, warm-up exercises, voice registers, and pitch accuracy test, among others, to improve your vocal range and pitch accuracy.

Singing like Sam Cooke may take some effort, but with the right resources and dedication, it's a goal anyone can achieve.