How can I get a pro singer to sing on my self produced CD?

Question

Let's assume I had just written and recorded some cool good quality rock tunes and would like someone like Graham Bonnet, Glenn Hughes or Joe Lynn Turner to lay down some vocals for me. Would it be possible to get these guys to sing and record vocal tracks for my songs if I mailed my material to them as a music file?
How much would the possible charge for one song be? What's a good way to approach someone like Graham Bonnet about such a thing?
Any chance to pull this through?

Answer 1

No chance. No, just kidding. Unfortunately, the art of getting someone professional to hear your material and hopefully sing it has become almost a null and void issue. There are too many law suits pending in the courts about stolen and unsolicited music. Let me tell you - when I worked for the William Morris Agency - and 'unknowns' would send us their wonderful tapes and CD's and special pictures and wonderful lyrics - I would send them all right back - unopened and marked "Unsolicited material". Not that I wasn't eager to open and listen, but the law is very clear. Unless you actually 'talk' with a manager, booking agent or someone in the company and purpose what your intentions are and they "ask" you to send material - they will not listen to it. Now - there are other ways to circumvent this but you have to know 'inside' folks to get your music heard. What I would do - and it's a long, drawn out procedure, but it can work - submit your material to ASCAP, BMI or some other agency - let 'them" submit the material if they think it's good enough. I encourage you not to give up. I wish I had had someone to help me along the way - I had to learn much of it the hard way - but I learned and I was blessed to get "inside" and still maintain contacts. Don't give up. If a housewife can get her music accepted and played by famous artists and make mocha money - so can you. If you can sing - RECORD the music yourself. The idea of submitting material to the 'pros" should be that you want them to 'SING' the material in hopes for a hit!! If that's the case - there is no charge - if you sing. If you want someone professional to 'sing' the material - you're working the wrong end. Approaching an artist? Find out his manager/booking agency, or roadie and start your writing campaign. But you can't be too forward - 'cause artists scare off easily (just like other celebrities) . Stalking is a big conversation among these folks. I wish you luck/

Answer 2

I've thought about this from the opposite point of view. (Now I'm assuming that what you're producing is actually good - which may or may not be the case). My point of view is how to revive an artist whose string of hits have run out...and revive that artist with a bang! It's generally known that the real creative talent lies with those people who are in their 20's and 30's age-wise. These are the people who transform music and cause it to evolve in unpredictable ways. So the 80's aren't much like the '50s nor is today's music (the '00s) much like the '70s and it's all due to the creativity of young artists. However there are lots of '70s artists and even quite a few '50s artists who still have talent to perform but not the vision to create exciting new music. Creativity is where you come in.What they've got is their NAME. If a famous '50s artist teamed up with and fronted a talented unknown alternative band where the younger band members and producers handle the arrangements, etc. you could end up with something really interesting which could make news and launch your obscure band into the spotlight. Example: If Pat Boone fronted a talented Emo band with all the modern guitars riffs and creative instrumentation swirling behind him, believe me that band would break into the limelight while rejuvenating Pat Boone's career. The world would be a buzz about the dramatic transformation Pat Boone had made. I can't tell you what Pat Boone's personality is like since I just pulled his name out of the air as a quick example, but typically many of these artists are very egotistical and their arrogance will keep them from “stooping” to something like what I’m suggesting. However, some artist out there may be interested and open minded to such a proposition. If you’re extremely talented then I would get a copy of Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop singles book (recordresearch.com) and find out who all the “has been’s” are and then go listen to their records or CD’s (or better yet go to Napster and listen instantly for free) and see if their voice fits your music (focus on their voice and delivery and don’t worry so much about whether like their style) if so then find a way to contact them. Remember Johnny Cash did great alternative music before he died. They were all written by people like U2, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, etc. His early hit in the 1950's were country music, yet it’s the voice not the style you pay attention to. A person’s voice can fit lots of different styles. Just a thought.

Answer 3

Here is exactly what you would need to do:

1. Get your song copyrighted (never send your song to anyone without first having a copyright)
2. Record your song with the best local singer you can find who has the same or similar vocal qualities as the artist you want to sing it.
3. Find out who that singers management is, what record label they are signed too (if they are currently signed), what performance rights organization they belong to and what publishing company has published their music.

All these things are important because you will need to source out which avenue may give you the best opportunity to reach them. In many cases it may serve you to go through that artist's management company. If they feel your song has potential they may be more inclined to present it to their artist because of the money making potential.

It is very important to copyright your song and I would even suggest if you have any desires to profit from the song start up your own publishing company and register with one of the three major performing rights organizations.

It is also important to have high quality studio demo done of your song if you want to be taken seriously.

Good Luck

Answer 4

it is ironic: probably the most high-quality track writers can not sing, however they're those I love being attentive to essentially the most Bob Dylan Leonard Cohen(from tower of track- "I was once born with the present of a golden voice" :D ) Tom Waits Rober Wyatt Bruce springsteen(to a lesser measure at the making a song) Billy Bragg If we're speaking approximately singers and not using a skillability in any respect, then madonna is correct up there- she simply received fortunate- as did such a lot singers within the chart at the moment. They simply use machines to tender over the crap voices

Answer 5

Unless you have some serious money, no.

You are a songwriter, so you need to get an agent, and have the agent deliver your tunes to the production people. That seems to be the best way to get a big star to do it. Or you can audition locally.

Answer 6

Most of those singers are in entrapped by their record labels. There is no money in it if they do it for you. Sorry pal.

At any rate, they probably get requests similar to this on a daily basis. This reduces your chances yet again.

Answer 7

(1) IF you know someone, and
(2) you've got the $$$$$

Answer 8

talk to his agent
look up a music
agency and see
who you can get!
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