Dear Singing Carrots members, in today's article, I will show you how to learn singing like the legendary Ted Lewis – the clarinetist, bandleader, and vocalist of the early 20th century. Known for his unique vocal vibrato and "talk-singing" style, Ted Lewis had a significant impact on early jazz and popular music.

Ted Lewis's vocal style is characterized by his distinct singing style and its phrasing. Lewis's singing style was mostly influenced by early African-American minstrel-style singing, which features a falsetto sound and an unusual way of phrasing that emphasizes a unique vibrato. This style is often called "talk-singing," and it can be heard in songs like "Me and My Shadow," "In a Shanty In Old Shanty Town," and "When My Baby Smiles at Me." Though Ted Lewis was just singing and not speaking, the way he phrased his lyrics often made it sound like he was talking.

To sing like Ted Lewis, you'll need to master the following techniques:

• Vocal clarity and articulation: Ted Lewis used exceptional articulation and clarity in his vocals. Every word he sang was made clear, even when using his unique vibrato. Check out this article from Singing Carrots on how you can improve your articulation.
• Vibrato: Ted Lewis used a unique and stylized vibrato in his vocals that can be described as a rapid and wide fluctuation of pitch. Vibrato is a challenging technique to master, but Singing Carrots offers the best tutorial on "How to Sing with Vibrato"
• Breath control: Ted Lewis's breath control was also excellent. His vocals were consistent throughout his performances and all his notes were the same volume. Consult Singing Carrots' comprehensive guide on Breath Support and Respiration if you want to improve your breath control.
• Pitch accuracy: Being pitch-perfect is a requirement when singing like Ted Lewis. Take Singing Carrots' Pitch Accuracy Test to see how well you match pitch.
• Singing with emotion: Ted Lewis was known for his emotional performances. He sang with a lot of feeling, and his audience could feel the emotion he put in his songs. Singing with emotion is not something that is easily learned, but Singing Carrots has an entire article dedicated to the subject – "Singing with Intuition, Skills, Emotion, and Thinking."

To practice Ted Lewis-style singing, here are some classic songs that you should try out:

• "Me and My Shadow"
• "In a Shanty In Old Shanty Town"
• "When My Baby Smiles at Me"

You can also use the Singing Carrots search function to find more songs that match your vocal range, difficulty, and preference.

In addition to the above-recommended readings and exercises, Singing Carrots also offers various tools and resources that will help you train your voice as you practice Ted Lewis-inspired singing. These include:

• Vocal Range Test
• Vocal Pitch Monitor
• Pitch Training – Educational Singing Game
• Song search
• Artist vocal ranges
• Songbook
• Progress statistics
• Singing courses. Check out the Educational Singing Course to get started.

With Singing Carrots, Ted Lewis-style singing is within your reach. Just practice your articulation, vibrato, breath control, pitch accuracy, and don't forget to sing with feeling – soon, you'll be crooning your way through "In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town" with ease like Ted Lewis himself.