If you're an avid fan of the golden age of musical theatre, you might have heard of the boisterous Stubby Kaye. With his distinctive voice, comedic timing, and charismatic stage presence, Stubby was one of the most sought-after performers during his time. Whether you're an aspiring musical theatre actor or someone who just loves to belt out show tunes, there's a lot you can learn from Stubby Kaye's vocal technique. This article will explore some of his signature singing styles and provide practical advice on how to incorporate them into your own singing.

Finding Your Vocal Style

Before delving into Stubby Kaye's singing techniques, it's essential to find your unique vocal style. In Singing Carrots, you can identify your voice range and type using our Vocal Range Test. By knowing your voice type, you can enhance your vocal abilities and develop techniques that complement your natural voice.

Signature Stubby Kaye Vocal Techniques

Belting

Stubby Kaye was well-known for his "belting" vocal style. Belting refers to singing with a forceful, higher-pitched voice to create a powerful, dramatic effect. This style of singing often requires exceptional breath control and support, as well as being vocally fit. You can try to incorporate this technique at moments in songs that need to be emphasized, sustained, or at uplifting musical builds.

Vibrato

Another technique that sets Stubby Kaye apart was his use of vibrato. Vibrato is the slight variation of pitch to enhance your singing’s tone and musicality. This technique is common in musical theatre and adds an emotional dimension to songs. You can practice your vibrato and learn more about singing techniques using our Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game.

Character Voices

One of Stubby Kaye's most famous roles was playing Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the musical "Guys and Dolls." He stood out in his performance by using character voices to set himself apart. Character voices are uniquely different voices that performers may use to enhance the storytelling of their songs. This technique requires you to be comfortable shifting between different singing approaches while effectively portraying the character’s emotions. A great way to develop your character voice is to learn by example. Our Vocal ranges of famous singers have plenty of examples of performers who made a drastic shift in their vocal style to incite emotions.

Emphasizing Your Performances

The way a person portrays themselves on stage can greatly affect their performance. Here are some tips for portraying the confident demeanor of Stubby Kaye when performing on stage:

• Posture - A good posture is essential to sing effectively. Straighten up your back, loosen your shoulders, and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
• Breathwork - Your breath should be controlled and provide the foundation of your singing. Breathing exercises are essential for vocal control.
• Articulation - Articulation is the pronunciation and clear delivery of words in singing. Place your hand over your mouth and try to enunciate each word clearly without moving your mouth. This will give you the correct movements to get your message across clearly.
• Confidence - Believe in yourself and your abilities. The mindset you have, the mannerisms you exhibit will decide the way you are perceived by your audience.

Stubby Kaye's Songs

Once you've established a good vocal foundation and incorporated Stubby Kaye's vocal techniques, you should start practicing with songs that showcase those techniques. Here are some of Stubby Kaye's most famous songs that will allow you to test your vocals:

• "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" from Guys and Dolls highlights his vibrato technique and character voice style.
• "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'" from Porgy and Bess displays his unique belting style.
• "A Bushel and a Peck" from Guys and Dolls showcases character voice.

Next Steps

Learning from Stubby Kaye's singing style can undoubtedly improve your vocal performance. You can find more information and guidance on learning vocal techniques, finding unique vocal style, and improving breath control on our Educational singing course.