Something about a raspy-voiced singer makes their music all the more engaging. Whether it’s because of the contrast to their otherwise sweet voice or the raw power they can pack into their vocals, there’s something special about them. This blog post will look at some of our favorite raspy voiced singers and what makes them so unique. Stay tuned!
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress. She was born on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee. Turner began her career in the early 1960s as a backup singer for Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm before becoming a successful solo artist with hits like “What’s Love Got to Do With It” and “Proud Mary.” With the popularity of her songs, she is widely known as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Throughout her career, Turner has won multiple awards, including eight Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. She was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. Turner currently resides in Switzerland with her husband, music producer Erwin Bach. Over the years, she has sold over 100 million copies of her records worldwide.
Wayne Static was the singer and founder of the American industrial metal band Static-X. He died in 2014 from an accidental overdose of alcohol and prescription drugs. He is famous because of his hairstyle, which took 20 minutes to style.
Static-X was founded in 1994 and released its first album in 1999. They achieved commercial success with their third album, Wisconsin Death Trip, certified platinum by the RIAA. The band disbanded in 2009 but reunited for a one-off performance in 2012. Static died from an accidental overdose of alcohol and prescription drugs on November 1, 2014, at 48.
Joan Jett is the rock band The Runaways singer, and she later had a successful solo career. She is considered one of the punk rock pioneers, and numerous artists have covered her music over the years. One of her popular songs is “Cherry Bomb,” when she was with The Runaways. After being in The Runaways, she moved on to Joan Jett & the Blackhearts band, of which she is the frontwoman. Joan Jett and & the Blackhearts are known for their rendition of the song, “I Love Rock ‘n Roll,” which became number 1 for seven weeks on the Billboard charts in 1982.
In addition to her musical career, Joan Jett is also well-known for her activism in the LGBTQ community. In 2015, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
John Mayer is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was born on October 16, 1977, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After attending college in Boston, he moved to New York City in 2001 and began his music career. Mayer’s music has been classified as blues, rock, pop, and soul. He has released six albums: Room for Squares (2001), Heavier Things (2003), Continuum (2006), Battle Studies (2009), Born and Raised (2012), and Paradise Valley (2013).
Axl Rose is an American singer best known as the lead vocalist of Guns N’ Roses. He is also a co-founder of the band. Rose has been active in the music industry since 1981 and has released six studio albums with Guns N’ Roses. His vocal style is widely recognized and often imitated. He was ranked number 16 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Rose was born William Bruce Rose Jr. in Lafayette, Indiana, on February 6, 1962. His mother, Sharon, had older children from a previous marriage, and his father, William Bruce Rose Sr., worked as a contractor.
Grace VanderWaal is a singer and songwriter who became famous after appearing on season 12 of America’s Got Talent in 2016, where she won the show. She was only 12 years old at the time. Grace is known for her unique ukulele playing and vocals. Her debut EP, Perfectly Imperfect, was released in December 2016 and reached #9 on the Billboard 200 chart. Grace has since released a full-length album, Just The Beginning, which debuted at #23 on the Billboard 200. She has toured with Imagine Dragons and opened for Florence + The Machine. In 2019, she starred in Disney’s remake of Stargirl as lead character Stargirl Caraway.
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the 1970s and achieved international success with her chart-topping hits “It’s a Heartache,” “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” and “Holding Out for a Hero.” She has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, has won three British Academy of Songwriters Awards, and was inducted into the Welsh Music Hall of Fame in 2005.
Michael McDonald is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as a member of the Doobie Brothers and a solo artist. McDonald has also worked extensively as a session musician, co-writing and singing on several notable songs for other artists, including “We Belong Together” by Roberta Flack and “Yah Mo B There” by James Ingram. He has won five Grammy Awards.
Gontier was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Three Days Grace. He began playing in high school with bassist Brad Walst, and drummer Neil Sanderson, who later became frequent collaborators; founding guitarist Joe Grant left the band in 1995 after recording their first album. The group signed with Jive Records after being scooped up by A&R representative Shawn De Saf patching them up with producer Gavin Brown.
The members had moved to Ontario by 2001, where they recorded their self-titled debut album, released in July that year. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in April 2005, and Spending Cuts became number one on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Janis Joplin was an American singer who rose to prominence in the late 1960s and was known for her powerful, bluesy voice. She was a member of the bands Big Brother and the Holding Company and The Full Tilt Boogie Band, and she had several solo hits, including “Piece of My Heart” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” Joplin died of a drug overdose at the age of 27.
Although we may never know the proper training of the raspy-voiced singers, one thing is for sure- their voice has a unique quality that has touched the hearts of many. We would love to hear your thoughts on this mysterious figure. What do you think about their music? Please share your opinions in the comments section below.