List of basses in non-classical music explained

The bass singing voice has a vocal range that lies around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C (i.e., E2–E4).[1] As with the contralto singing voice being the rarest female voice type, the bass voice is the rarest for males, and has the lowest vocal range of all voice types.[2] However, the bass voice is determined not only by its vocal range, but also by its timbre, which tends to be darker than that of a baritone voice.

The term bass was developed in relation to classical and operatic voices, where the classification is based not merely on the singer's vocal range but also on the tessitura and timbre of the voice. For classical and operatic singers, their voice type determines the roles they will sing and is a primary method of categorization. In non-classical music, singers are primarily defined by their genre and their gender and not by their vocal range.[3] When the terms soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, and bass are used as descriptors of non-classical voices, they are applied more loosely than they would be to those of classical singers and generally refer only to the singer's perceived vocal range.

The following is a list of singers in country, popular music, jazz, and musical theatre who have been described as basses.

List of names

Name Lifespan Nationality Associated act(s)
Joe Ames 1921–2007 American style=text-align:center[4]
1979– American NSYNCstyle=text-align:center[5]
1946– American style=text-align:center[6] [7]
Bill Brown (doo wop singer)Bill Brown c. 1920s– c. 1970American style=text-align:Center[8]
1949– American style=text-align:Center[9]
1942–1972 Americanstyle=text-align:center[10]
1940–2005Americanstyle=text-align:center[11]
1925–2005 American style=text-align:center[12]
James Farnsworth British
1919–1991 American style=text-align:center
1942–1995 American style=text-align:center[13] [14] [15] [16]
1940–1977 American style=text-align:center[17]
1930–2014 Trinidadian-American style=text-align:center[18]
1997– American style=text-align:Center[19] [20]
Jawan M. Jackson American style=text-align:center
1989– American style=text-align:Center[21] [22] [23]
1973– South Korean style=text-align:center[24]
1962– French style=text-align:center[25]
1963– German style=text-align:center[26] [27]
1989– American style=text-align:center[28]
1927–2000 American style=text-align:Center[29]
1937–2016 American style=text-align:center[30]
1971– American style=text-align:center[31]
1965– American style=text-align:center[32] [33]
1938–2017[34] or 1939–2017[35] American style=text-align:center
1932–2000 American style=text-align:center
1962– American style=text-align:Center[36]
1931–1992 American style=text-align:center[37]
Ray Perkins 1932– Canadian style=text-align:center[38]
1999–2020 American style=text-align:center[39]
1914–2005 American style=text-align:center[40]
Harold Reid 1939–2020[41] American style=text-align:center[42]
1971– American style=text-align:center[43]
Paul Robeson1898–1976 American style=text-align:Center[44] [45]
1962–2010 American style=text-align:center[46] [47] [48]
1943– American style=text-align:center[49]
1972– American style=text-align:center[50]
1924–1998 American The Blackwood Brothers, The Stamps Quartet style=text-align:center[51] [52]
1986–[53] or 1987–[54] South Korean style=text-align:center[55]
1931–2007 American style=text-align:center[56]
Josh Turner1977– American style=text-align:Center[57] [58]
Ray Walker1934– American style=text-align:center[59]
Barry White1944–2003 American style=text-align:center
1930–2005 American style=text-align:center[60] [61]
1982– American style=text-align:center[62]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bass . 14 June 2006 . Owen Jander . Lionel Sawkins . J. B. Steane . J. B. Steane . Elizabeth Forbes . Elizabeth Forbes (musicologist) . L. Macy . Grove Music Online. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516041031/http://www.grovemusic.com/. 16 May 2008. live.
    The Oxford Dictionary of Music gives E2–E4/F4
  2. Book: Miller, Richard. Securing Baritone, Bass-Baritone, and Bass Voices. Oxford University Press . 2008. 12–14 . 978-0-195-32265-1.
  3. Axelrod, Alan, The complete idiot's guide to jazz, Alpha Books, 1999, pp. 68–69 . See also Tarasti, Eero, Signs of music: a guide to musical semiotics, Walter de Gruyter, 2002, pp. 157–178
  4. Web site: 1 October 2021. 18 September 2020. The Ames Brothers. Jay. Warner. Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20191022055411/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0101/09/lkl.00.html
  6. Book: Sternfeld, Jessica . The Megamusical . 2006. 48. Indiana University Press. 978-0-253-34793-0.
  7. Web site: Laura. Macmillan. 11 of the Greatest and Most Famous Bass Singers of All Time. Hello Music Theory. 3 June 2022.
  8. Book: Baptista, Todd R. . Group Harmony: Behind the Rhythm and the Blues . 1996 . TRB Enterprises . 978-0-9631722-5-9 . en.
  9. The New Yorker. Beef Stew. 27 November 2000. Dellinger, Matt. 2 September 2017.
  10. Book: Searles, Malcolm C. . The Association 'cherish' : the story of America's first folk-rock band . 2018 . 978-1-78901-361-0 . Kibworth Beauchamp . 286 . 1052448729.
  11. Parliament/Funkadelic's Ray Davis Dies. Billboard. 7 July 2005. 1 September 2017.
  12. Encyclopedia: The Singers Unlimited. 19 October 2021. MEMIM Encyclopedia.
  13. Web site: Oliver . Myrna . 1995-02-24 . Obituaries : Melvin Franklin; Temptations' Original Bass Vocalist . 2024-03-19 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  14. News: Music Matters: SPAC-bound Temptations — Otis will be there. Jim. Shahen Jr.. Times Union. 17 August 2022. 9 February 2023.
  15. News: He spent a decade playing a Temptation on Broadway. Now Jawan Jackson is in the group.. McCollum. Brian. Detroit Free Press. 6 June 2022. 9 February 2023.
  16. News: 9 February 2023. 24 December 2004. A Motown 'Silent Night' That Echoes Down the Years. Tucker. Neely. The Washington Post.
  17. Web site: Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - The Teenagers . 2024-03-19 . www.uncamarvy.com.
  18. Web site: Lucy E.. Cross. Geoffrey Holder. MasterworksBroadway. November 26, 2011.
  19. Web site: FANS LOSE THEIR MINDS OVER HALSEY AND CORPSE HUSBAND TWITTER EXCHANGE . M.Z.. Khan. 22 December 2020 . 5 April 2021 . svg.com.
  20. Web site: Larson . David . 17 December 2020 . Bass Vocalist Analyzes Corpse Husband: How is His Voice So Low? . YouTube.
  21. Gallo . Phil . 'The Sing-Off' Finale: Pentatonix Takes The Trophy . Billboard . 29 November 2011 . 30 August 2017.
  22. Web site: Weiss . Geoff . Pentatonix Bass Vocalist Avi Kaplan To Depart A Cappella Group . . 12 May 2017. 22 June 2019.
  23. Web site: Runtagh. Jordan. Avi Kaplan Talks Finding His Own Voice After Pentatonix: 'Music Was the Best Drug for Anxiety'. PEOPLE.com. 22 July 2017. 22 June 2019.
  24. Web site: Bobby Kim — Kim Tae Woo Officially Release "That Girl" Collaboration. Kenny. Kang. 4 December 2012. 1 April 2019. KEJ News.
  25. Web site: Images de Marc. Gilles. Medioni. 16 May 2005. 7 June 2020. L'Express.
  26. News: Constable . Burt . Rammstein show like Blue Man with flamethrowers. 15 November 2014. The Daily Herald. 11 May 2011.
  27. News: Pareles. Jon. Offering Sturm Galore, Fire and Drang as Well. 15 November 2014. The New York Times. 12 December 2010.
  28. News: YouTube yeller Markiplier to tour Australia and NZ. 27 February 2018. 6 April 2020. Matt. Maguire. https://web.archive.org/web/20180227045353/http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/news/g5a948024deb7a/YouTube-yeller-Markiplier-to-tour-Australia-and-NZ/. 27 February 2018. dead.
  29. Web site: Four Seasons' Nick Massi Dies of Cancer at 73. https://web.archive.org/web/20140803220428/http://www.mtv.com/news/1435462/four-seasons-nick-massi-dies-of-cancer-at-73/. dead. August 3, 2014. 28 December 2000. Basham, David. MTV. 3 September 2017.
  30. Web site: Norton Records Announces Mythic Dion Sessions As 'Kickin' Child: The Lost Album 1965'. Shore Fire Media. 21 March 2017. 31 May 2020.
  31. Web site: Boyz II Men Talk Michael McCary's Departure: 'He Stopped Coming to Work and We Had to Move Forward Without Him'. People. 8 September 2016. Runtagh, Jordan. 6 September 2017.
  32. Grow . Kory . 2015-10-30 . Stephin Merritt: My Life in 15 Songs . 2024-03-19 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  33. News: Stephin Merritt: 50 songs for 50 years . 2024-03-19 . BBC News . en-GB.
  34. News: Pete Moore, an Original Miracle and Co-Writer of Hits, Dies at 79. Richard. Sandomir. The New York Times . 26 November 2017. 19 April 2018. NYTimes.com.
  35. Web site: Warren "Pete" Moore. Allmusic . 9 August 2017. Layne. Joslyn.
  36. Web site: How 'Hadestown' Standout Patrick Page Landed the 'Role of a Lifetime'. Backstage. 22 April 2019. 22 April 2019. Mink, Casey.
  37. News: Buncombe Gives Bass Singers To Three Top Gospel Groups . Terrell . Bob . . . January 2, 1969 . 37.
  38. News: 1 December 1954. 13 September 2021. SH-BOOM! The crazy career of the Crew-Cuts. Maclean's. Callwood. June. 13 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210913163319/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1954/12/1/sh-boom-the-crazy-career-of-the-crew-cuts. dead.
  39. Web site: mediaatraffic . 2021-07-19 . Pop Smoke's Mother And Brother Speaks About Pop's Deep Voice . 2022-10-31 . Media Traffic . en-US.
  40. Web site: Jex . Shaun . Five Facts About...Thurl Ravenscroft . Celebrations . 11 September 2017 .
  41. News: Harold Reid, Bedrock Voice of the Statler Brothers, Dies at 80. Friskics-Warren. Bill. The New York Times. 29 April 2020.
  42. News: Harold Reid, country singer for the Statler Brothers, dead at 80. Melissa. Roberto. 25 April 2020. 25 April 2020. Fox News.
  43. Web site: Kevin Richardson — Interview With A Backstreet Boy. Ability. 3 June 2022.
  44. Web site: Paul Robeson.... Duchen. Jessica. Independent. 20 November 2014.
  45. News: Understanding Different Voice Types. The Kennedy Center. 24 October 2023.
  46. Web site: Type O Negative's Peter Steele Dies at 48. Greg. Pratt. 15 April 2010. 1 September 2019. Exclaim!.
  47. Web site: TYPE O NEGATIVE Members 'Not Cooperating' In Telling Of PETER STEELE's Story. Blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth. 10 April 2013. 1 September 2019.
  48. Web site: Type O Negative Essentials . . 22 October 2023.
  49. Web site: Oak Ridge Boys' Richard Sterban's deep bass took him from 'Elvis to Elvira'. Tulsa World. Wofford, Jerry. 6 November 2014. 7 September 2017.
  50. News: Singer Reclaims World Record. Francke. Tyler. Branson News. 3 April 2012. 2 April 2020.
  51. Book: McNeil, W.K. . Encyclopedia of American gospel music . Routledge . September 2005 . 0-415-94179-2.
  52. News: Obituary: J. D. Sumner. Leigh. Spencer. Independent. 1 December 1998. 5 September 2020.
  53. Web site: 2011-02-07. G-Dragon and Top: 'Rappers Acknowledge Our Instinctive Hip Hop'. 2020-08-28. KBSWORLD.
  54. Book: Mark Russell. K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution. 34. April 29, 2014. Tuttle Publishing. 978-1-4629-1411-1.
  55. Benjamin. Jeff. 2012-11-15. BIGBANG in America: Behind the Scenes With the K-Pop Boy Wonders. 2020-08-28. Billboard.
  56. Web site: 2007-10-11 . Ike & Tina Turner: The Ike & Tina Turner Story, PopMatters . 2024-03-19 . PopMatters . en-US.
  57. Web site: Josh Turner brings country to new Goodyear Theater on Thursday. The Plain Dealer. 9 May 2016. 5 September 2017. Yarborough, Chuck.
  58. Web site: Josh Turner biography. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Allmusic. 23 October 2023.
  59. Web site: Country Music Ray Walker Biography. PBS. 19 December 2021.
  60. Web site: George Younce...Dies at 75. Baptist Press Staff. Baptist Press. 22 April 2005. 4 September 2020.
  61. Web site: George W. Younce. Akron Beacon Journal Staff. Legacy. 13 April 2005. 4 September 2020.
  62. Web site: Tay Zonday Does Not Want You to Understand the Meaning Of 'Chocolate Rain'. Broadly. Vice. Kale, Sirin. 24 August 2016. 5 September 2017.

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