Do you think Johnny Cash could actually sing?

Question

Or did he just have a very good voice anyway, as he doesn't really 'sing' in any of his stuff?

Answer 1

Johnny Cash had heart, a lot of heart, and that's what made his music, but the man himself said he couldn't sing. During a live performance, at the beginning of Folsom Prison Blues, he explained why he always started the song by humming, that it was because he was tone deaf and was trying to find the pitch.

His voice was great for all those ballads, and talking songs. Often gravelly, breaking, not smooth and polished, but the man came from honkytonks and hoedowns and days when singers often as not were singing without amplification from the back a stakebed truck or a gas stop dive.

He was an American folk icon, and he travelled many rugged roads before the last time he beat the devil.

Answer 2

Hello,

As a singer, a classically trained singer. Johnny Cash is one of many artists who can not sing.

However, he was most definitely able to vocalise his speech range, which is limited. Johnny Cash had the speech range of a Bass/Baritone.

For ease of understanding his voice was low in tonal colour and pitch. His voice never really reached up into being say a proper singing bass voice range say similar to Paul Robison. Or that of say a mellow voiced crooner such as the wonderful and sultry sound of Nat King Cole.

In our everyday lives most of us vocalise our speech register without being aware of it, it is natural but according to how open or closed it sounds dictates whether or not you may have a singing voice register. Not all speech ranges are low with women they can be set quite high.

Voice classification should always be done by a singing teacher whose status is from one of Britains most sought after schools of music, not a voice coach or someone dabbling for fun.

There is a right way and a wrong way about everything singing is no exception. If you want to sing and sound like Johnny Cash but it sounds or feels uncomfortable it is obviously not for you.In other words there nothing wrong with crooning. There is danger in pushing the voice to low notes or high notes that have not been coaxed into use, as this 'belting' of the vocal chords can do damage to them.

Answer 3

He had rhythm, he was an excellent song writer. He didn't have a pretty voice by any means, but I think for the style of music he played his voice was perfect. My answer is yes, Johnny Cash could actually sing.

Answer 4

Johnny Cash sang from the soul. I think he had a wonderfull talent. I don't expect everyone will see or feel that, Because some people love hip-hop and boy bands. There is a real talent pool!

Answer 5

Yeah he could sing. I mean he wasn't the greatest singer by far. But he did have a style and sound that was different and made you listen. No one was singing songs like he did in his time.

Answer 6

of course he could sing! I think he had a lovely voice. I really enjoy listeneing to his songs.

Answer 7

nah he wasn't really any good, then again im not a fan of country music- its a bit sad some people jumping on the johnny cash bandwagon simply because of that "walk the line" film i think

Answer 8

I think he has a good voice, but does not sing quite often...haven't you ever heard him sing before????

Answer 9

I liked the tone of his voice,and his guitar playing,but he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.

Answer 10

He wasn't very good at impersonating George Formby.