How low can you go? No, really. How low? And I’m not talking about a game of limbo at your local skating rink. Today we are talking about famous, inspirational bass singers!
So what exactly is a bass singer?
Let’s be clear.
A bass singer is not to be confused with a bassist. A bassist is one who plays the bass guitar.
Get it? Got it? Good!
When it comes to singing, there are 8 different voice types.
The 8 voice types, from lowest to highest, are as follows:
- Bass
- Baritone
- Tenor
- CounterTenor
- ContraAlto
- Alto
- Mezzo Soprano
- Soprano
As you can see, the bass singer is the lowest voice out of these 8 voice types.
Bass singers are very rare and unique. They’re as rare and unique as white peacocks and purple carrots.You don’t come across someone with such a deep voice every day.
I’m talking Grand-Canyon deep, bottom-of-the-ocean deep, the-last-pickle-in-the-pickle-jar deep.
And while we’re on the subject of deep things, have you heard of Tim Storms?
According to the Guiness Book of World Records, this man has the lowest voice in the world!
Crazy, right?!
I’m talking “tank on E” low. I’m talking… Okay. Okay. I’ll stop. I’ll spare you the analogies. I think you get my point.
Tim asserts that his lowest note can only be heard by elephants! Heeey, Babar!
Tim was encouraged by friends and family to try to break the record for Lowest Note Produced by a Human, and in October of 2000, he made it happen!
Since then Tim has broken his own record, not once, but twice!
(In my Sheneneh voice), “Oh my goodness! You go boy!”
Speaking of breaking things, let’s switch gears.
This famous bass singer started out breaking the law! Gasp! Hold up! Hold up! Stop the press! What we are not going to do is be judgy.
Get it? Got it? Good!
We’ve all made mistakes. And hopefully, like this bass singer, we will all learn from our mistakes.
This crooner listened to Elvis Presley while in jail for gang-related activities. Once he was released, he made the conscious decision to turn his life around. Barry then began a musical career.
Barry Eugene Carter, also known as Barry White, is a two-time Grammy award winner.
White’s distinctive voice and romantic persona blessed him with opportunities to work with and appear in commercials for Arby’s, Oldsmobile, Jeep, and Apple.
Barry White also made guest appearances on the shows The Simpsons and Ally McBeal. Barry White passed away at the age of 58 on Independence Day of 2003.
He was given the nickname “The Walrus of Love.” The BBC described White’s bass voice as “one of the most distinctive soul voices of his generation.” The BBC also stated that “If chocolate fudge cake could sing, it would sound like Barry White.”
Ooh La La. Rest in peace, King.
Now who doesn’t love a YouTube sensation?
This next bass singer achieved mass exposure when his video for Chocolate Rain went viral in 2007. Chocolate Rain was written to bring about awareness in regard to institutional racism.
So in other words, Tay Zonday used his remarkable gift to bring about change. The subsequent lyrics give you a pretty clear idea of what Chocolate Rain is all about.
Check it out….
“Chocolate rain
The same crime has a higher price to pay
Chocolate rain
The judge and jury swear it’s not the face”
Tay has appeared in a Super Bowl commercial, on Jimmy Kimmel, America’s Got Talent, Tosh.0, The Steve Harvey Show, and BET’s online series “I Went Viral.”
Tay Zonday, whose real name is Adam Nyerere Bahner, used his unusual gift to inspire others.
In fact, Tim Storms and Barry White did also.
No matter what your gift is, no matter how different or weird it may be compared to other’s, use it. Use your voice to inspire others. Use your story to motivate people. Put your best foot forward. If you make a mistake, get back up and try again.
In the words of Barry White – “Never never give up. Never quit. Quittin’ ain’t your schtick”.
No matter how low or how high your voice is, it is yours. Whether you join the realm of bass singers or high sopranos, your voice is uniquely yours. No one else on the planet has a voice like yours. Develop it. Get to know it. Bless others with it. Be unapologetic about it.
Find all the weird, crazy, cool things about your voice and use those to stand out and inspire others to stand out.
Get it? Got it? Good!
Alecia Hightower