"Stealing" Vocal Styles from other Singers

One of my favorite professors, Buck Ross at the University of Houston, had  a favorite saying: If you like something an actor/actress does, STEAL IT!

What he meant is that the only way to develop a unique acting style is to first copy the masters; understand what worked for them and WHY.  The same principle applies to singing: listen to your favorite singers, and understand what precisely makes them interesting to listen to.  The reality of the entertainment business is that there are PLENTY of good singers, but the ones who catch our attention are the singers with a unique way of communicating through music.

As a singer, it is not enough to simply become a technician.  You have to develop your own style of musicianship, and the first step is to not reinvent the wheel.  Listen to the greats: Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Beyonce, Judy Garland etc...and figure out what makes them an effective stylist.  Then steal!

DWS