EVDOL 31 - Velvet Voices: The Legacy of the Crooner

Edward Barnes
When carbon microphones were first used to make song recordings in the 1920s, a new vocal art came of age: the art of crooning. This style—singing closely and directly into the microphone—was embraced by Bing Crosby, and it not only made him the most popular singer of his day but established a vocal technique that would be embraced by generations of singers across the globe. This course starts with an exploration of three of the greatest golden age crooners (Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Tony Bennett), then follows their influence abroad (Charles Aznavour, Yves Montand, Domenico Modugno, and Julio Iglesias), continuing with the inheritors of the crooning style today (Michael Bublé, Gregory Porter, Harry Connick, Jr., and Jamie Cullum) and a look at some of the outstanding female vocalists who also embraced crooning (Peggy Lee, Julie London, Sarah Vaughan, and Diana Krall). This course is an examination of the evolution of microphone singing, individual vocal styles and techniques, songs they introduced or made famous, and the context of their singing against the backdrop of American popular music.

Biography: Edward Barnes

Two Sections Available | 3 Classes Total | Extension Holiday Schedule

EVDOL 31 02:

Sundays 4–6pm ET

April 12–May 3

Mode: Online

*This class is presented in a hybrid setting. Students registered for online sections commit to attending all class sessions remotely via Zoom. In-person attendance will not be permitted. Class recordings will be accessible on Canvas to all students.

$320

Register by Phone: (212) 799-5000 ext. 273

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