Singing Guide: The Highwaymen
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
The Highwaymen were a supergroup of country music icons, consisting of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. Each member had a successful solo career, but coming together as a group created a unique sound that blended all of their individual styles.
If you want to learn how to sing like The Highwaymen, you first need to get familiar with their vocal styles.
- Johnny Cash was known for his deep, resonant voice that is instantly recognizable and often described as commanding. He often utilized his lower register, but was able to hit higher notes when necessary. Johnny Cash's unique style can be heard in his hit song "Ring of Fire."
- Waylon Jennings had a more raspy, rough-edged sound that conveyed intense emotion. His style was often referred to as "outlaw country" and he played a key role in creating that sub-genre. To get an idea of Waylon's sound, listen to "Luckenbach, Texas."
- Willie Nelson's voice is a bit lighter and smoother compared to the other members of The Highwaymen. He has a distinctive phrasing and vocal inflection when he sings, which is evident in his classic hit "On the Road Again."
- Kris Kristofferson's voice is a bit more mellow compared to his bandmates, but he has a natural storytelling quality to his singing. He often sang in a conversational style, which made his music feel more personal. His song "Me and Bobby McGee" is a great example of his unique style.
Now that you have an idea of each member's vocal style, focus on mastering the fundamentals of singing. Singing Carrots offers a great range of vocal exercises that can help you develop proper breathing, vocal range, and pitch accuracy. Their vocal range test is also a useful tool to help you identify your own range and compare it to famous singers, including The Highwaymen.
To sound like The Highwaymen, you'll also need to work on your phrasing and timing. Sing along to their songs and try to match their inflections and delivery as closely as possible. The Singing Carrots song search tool can help you find songs that match your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference.
Remember that The Highwaymen's songs often have a storytelling quality to them, so focus on conveying the emotion and story behind each song in your performance. Singing with intuition, skills, emotion, and thinking is crucial when trying to capture their unique magic.
By analyzing your own voice using Singing Carrots, practicing vocal exercises, and studying The Highwaymen's distinct styles, you can learn to sing like a member of one of the most iconic country music groups of all time. So put in the work and start singing like The Highwaymen!