Why do pop singers before 1960 have such a distinctive wavering vocal style?

Answer 1

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Yes, vibrato was a factor in the tone quality you describe. However, they did not use it because it was POPULAR - they used it because it is a product of good vocal training! You also hear this from most fine instrumentalists, especially classical ( although it cannot be done on piano, organ, etc. and is not sometimes done on certain wind instruments, such as clarinet in orchestral music of some periods - just "historically accurate performance practice". )

Answer 2

They use vibrato effectively. Organs do have built in vibrato..

Answer 3

Vibrato (Italian, from past participle of "vibrare", to vibrate) is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Opera singers are especially good at using vibrato with good control. Want to hear vibrato done wrong, listen to "Baby the Rain Must Fall" by Glenn Yarborough performed on the Ed Sullivan show. Wow!

Answer 4

they took singing lesson and never had sifi equipment to make thme sound reasonable

Answer 5

That's called vibrato, and they do because that's what was "popular," hence the "pop" in "pop singer."