Stephen King said “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot … reading is the creative center of a writer’s life … You cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you.”

…

Well, you have to listen to sing. You have to hear others produce new sounds, manipulate tone color, caress phrases, sustain notes and communicate emotion to assist you in learning how to produce new sounds, manipulate tone color, caress phrases, sustain notes and communicate emotion. (You also have to spend at least as much time — and probably more — singing!)

One of the duties  we have as creators of song is to listen. (As duties go, this is pretty swell. *smile*)

So as I worked on this blog design, I decided to include links to a few of my favorite improvisers in the sidebar at right (see Improvisational Vocalists). Soon I realized if I was going to mention everyone who thrilled, inspired, delighted, challenged or taught me, I’d need more space.

Here are some folks that’ve got me humming …

• Oscar Brown Jr. – singer, songwriter, playwright, poet, and civil rights activist – using music to change his (and our) world
• Andrew Sisters (from Minnesota dontcha know?) – Amazing harmonies with a side of sass
• Kurt Elling – his spoken word improvs are CRAZY good
• Amos Lee – Love, Love, LOVE this man’s easy approach AND beautiful voice
• Peter Mayer – Local folksinger (that’s Minnesota) who writes eminently harmonizable melodies
• Nina Simone – Last only because this list is alphabetical …
I listen to her over and over (and over and over…) No two versions of any song she sings are alike. An amazing player and interpreter of song. Check out “Ne me quitte pas.” Sure it’s in French, but you’ll know exactly what she means.

To which crooners are you tuned? Drop me a note so I can add your faves to my listening list.