Older Real Singers

[Hopeful]

Okay some more older, real singers who are still around.

Elaine (Spanky) McFarland (b.1942)
Anne Murray ( b.1945 )
B.J.Thomas (b. 1942)
Jerry Vale (b. 1932 )

I've seen the middle two in concert.

And now I feel completely ancient thinking about Anne Murray falling in this category!--don't know why I'd think of her as that much younger than B.J. Thomas though. I bet those were good concerts.

I'm hard-pressed to think of any additional LIVING folks for this category...everyone I come up with has already passed on.

 

[JustChristian]

I can't believe nobody has listed Bing Crosby yet. Then there's the greatest "bass man" of them all, Paul Robeson. Then there's William Warfield who I saw in person. A tremendous baritone. I'll take either one of these two singing "Old Man River" any time.

 

[MNJacob]

I would encourage all of you to do a little bit of study as to the development of the performance art called "rap".

I do agree that the subject matter of many "hip-hop" pieces is objectionable. But the art form has roots in the recitation of oral histories that are generally peculiarly African.

It is important to understand how and why the art form came to be and its particular association with an ethnic group and be careful not to allow your distaste with the performance material color your attitude towards the ethnic group itself.

I would encourage you to reconsider the application of the word "hate" to an art form associated with a particular ethnic group.

Most of us remember the young Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali and his "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." That was probably your first exposure to what has now further developed into "rap"/"hip-hop."

 

[Rippon]

With the recent death of Eddy Arnold I am lamenting the state of real singing. I loathe rap/hiphop . It is a disease. If a gun was placed to the heads of the current crop of rappers to really sing or die -- I still don't think they could manage to warble a note . ( Well , the gun might make me nervous too!)

I will list a few of the older singers who are still around. All but one ( D.D. ) still perform. You can add others to the list for those born in the 20's or 30's .

Vic Damone ( born 1928 )
Doris Day ( born 1922 )
Jack Jones ( b. 1928 )
Steve Lawrence ( b. 1935 )
Patti Page ( b. 1927 )
Andy Williams ( b. 1927 )
Don Williams ( b. 1939 )
Ray Price ( b. 1926 )

I made the above post a little more than 5 and a half years ago. I need to do some updating.

First,Ray Price just died at 87 years of age. His voice was matchless.

Patti Page had died earlier this year. Her voice was a treasure.

Andy Williams passed away in 2012. He was smooth.

Correction: Jack Jones was born in 1938 --not 1928.

Those still performing,to the best of my knowledge are Don Williams (comes close to Ray),Jack Jones, Vic Damone, and Steve Lawrence (his wife just died). Doris Day does not perform any longer,but her voice is wonderful to me.

The deaths of fellow mortals --famous or not, teaches us to number our days --for the Lord certainly has determined the length of our lives.

 

[Bob Alkire]

I've enjoyed Ray Price for years. His move from songs like Crazy Arms to For the good times.

 

[just-want-peace]

I've enjoyed Ray Price for years. His move from songs like Crazy Arms to For the good times.

Topic drift for a sec: Have any of you bought that "TIME-LIFE" oldies series with most all those mentioned so far?
I've been debating getting it, cause this type music (I can understand it!?) is not available in my area on radio, but at $150 +/- for a 10 CD set I'm leery to make the jump.
The infomercial tho' is very good, but I just don't trust "advertising" enough to gamble this much - as I said when I joined BB, I'm strongly conservative. :thumbsup:

 

[preacher4truth]

With the recent death of Eddy Arnold I am lamenting the state of real singing. I loathe rap/hiphop . It is a disease. If a gun was placed to the heads of the current crop of rappers to really sing or die -- I still don't think they could manage to warble a note . ( Well , the gun might make me nervous too!)

I will list a few of the older singers who are still around. All but one ( D.D. ) still perform. You can add others to the list for those born in the 20's or 30's .

Vic Damone ( born 1928 )
Doris Day ( born 1922 )
Jack Jones ( b. 1928 )
Steve Lawrence ( b. 1935 )
Patti Page ( b. 1927 )
Andy Williams ( b. 1927 )
Don Williams ( b. 1939 )
Ray Price ( b. 1926 )

Andy Williams has been dead for over a year.

edit* just noticed the age of the OP. :laugh:

 

[Thousand Hills]

Don Williams

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

Hard to pick a favorite DW tune, enjoy.

Good Ole Boys Like Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzGx_XzxDeM

 

[Rippon]

Andy Williams has been dead for over a year.

edit* just noticed the age of the OP. :laugh:

See post #24.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Nat"King" Cole......a favorite since I 1st saw him perform at Caesars Palace on TV. What was I maybe 5 YO......Rippon was probably 25 at the time.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Oh, almost forgot..... Mario Lanza

Pavarotti .....naaaa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJZ2XA84MPI

 

[Rippon]

Oh, almost forgot..... Mario Lanza

Kind of "pop" opera. Lanza had a superb voice. Did you know that Mario Lanza was a major influence on Elvis Presley? Elvis listened to the Metropolitan Opera as much as the Grand Ole Opry. Elton John said that Elvis turned into an opera singer for the last couple of years of his life. Obviously said half-jesting.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Kind of "pop" opera. Lanza had a superb voice. Did you know that Mario Lanza was a major influence on Elvis Presley? Elvis listened to the Metropolitan Opera as much as the Grand Ole Opry. Elton John said that Elvis turned into an opera singer for the last couple of years of his life. Obviously said half-jesting.

And Joan Fontaine is the classy blond in the Lonza Youtube clip. Did you also know that Oliva DeHavelon of Gone with the Wind fame was Fontaines sister...both very elegant and classy women......narry a tramp stamp on either lady...Thank the lord.

 

[Rippon]

And Joan Fontaine is the classy blond in the Lonza Youtube clip. Did you also know that Oliva DeHavelon of Gone with the Wind fame was Fontaines sister...both very elegant and classy women......narry a tramp stamp on either lady...Thank the lord.

Joan just died. They did not speak to each other for years.

 

[Rippon]

Jimmy Fortune (born 1955)formerly of the Statler Brothers has an excellent voice. He is still performing. I particularly like :"Elizabeth" and "My Only Love."

Some more : Jim Ed Brown (1934) He does radio these days.

Crystal Gayle : (1951)

 

[John of Japan]

Any of you enjoy Michael Buble, who sings in the style of the old timers and many of their songs? I recently bought my first CD of his, "It's Time," and am enjoying it. Here he is on Youtube singing "Paper Doll," an old time song my Mom taught me when I was a little boy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYUUBgn3ptg

Also, in recent years some unexpected artists have done the old standards: Willie Nelson in "Stardust" and Rod Stewart in his "Great American Songbook" series of CDs.

 

[Jerome]

What about winsome warbler Cristy Lane?

 

[preacher4truth]

Ooops

See post #24.

Yes, I looked, thanks. :saint:

 

[Rippon]

Any of you enjoy Michael Buble, who sings in the style of the old timers and many of their songs? I recently bought my first CD of his, "It's Time," and am enjoying it. Here he is on Youtube singing "Paper Doll," an old time song my Mom taught me when I was a little boy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYUUBgn3ptg

Michael is trying to keep it alive. But he is a pale imitation of the originals. No slam intended. You know I can't get Youtube. Does MB do any songs from the 90's till today in the classical old style?

You need to treat yourself to Dean Martin teaming up with the Mills Brothers doing Paper Doll. They also join together singing "Up A Lazy River."

Also, in recent years some unexpected artists have done the old standards: Willie Nelson in "Stardust" and Rod Stewart in his "Great American Songbook" series of CDs.

The older songs are almost always the better ones.

 

[ktn4eg]

Is anyone here on BB old enough to remember the vocal trio named The Lettermen?