Singing Guide: Thurl Ravenscroft
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Thurl Ravenscroft was an American bass singer and voice actor, best known for his work as the voice of Tony the Tiger in Kellogg's Frosted Flakes commercials. However, his amazing voice and vocal range went well beyond voicing commercials. Ravenscroft provided unreleased recordings, singing bass parts, for the early Walt Disney movies. His basso profundo voice can be heard in a lot of the animated movies produced by Disney, especially those of characters that are menacing and/or powerful. Some of his most famous singing roles include the lead singer in "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" from the movie "The Grinch" and singing "Grim Grinning Ghosts" in Disney's Haunted Mansion attraction.
If you're inspired by the voice of Thurl Ravenscroft and want to learn to sing like him, here are some tips and resources:
- Find Your Range - Before you start singing, you need to know your vocal range. Take the Vocal Range Test to determine your vocal range. This can help you find songs that fit your range and give you an idea of what notes you can comfortably sing.
- Breathing Techniques - Like any singer, you need to ensure you're breathing correctly. Practice breathing from your diaphragm and taking deep breaths to help produce a deep, resonant bass. You can learn more about breathing in our article Breathing Basics.
- Warm-up - Before you start singing, warm up your voice with some deep tones. You can use the Farinelli Breathing exercise to help get your vocal cords ready.
- Practice Singing Low - To develop a low range like Ravenscroft's, practice singing low notes such as those in his song "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch". You can also use the Singing Comfort Zone exercise to help explore the lower part of your voice.
- Maintain Good Posture - The way you sit or stand affects your singing. Make sure you're sitting or standing straight with your shoulders back. You can learn more about posture in our article How Posture Affects Your Singing.
- Articulation - Articulate clearly to give your voice a distinct and powerful sound. You can learn more in our article Articulation.
In conclusion, Thurl Ravenscroft's voice is one of the most iconic and recognizable voices of all time. Although not everyone can achieve his voice, with some practice and using the right tools and techniques, you could start to develop a deep, powerful bass yourself. Good luck and happy singing!