How many artists could u name that prince got his vocal style from ? I'll say Curtis Mayfield , Smokie Robinson & Al Green r 3 of the originals that 1st came out with that vocal style.

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[Edited 1/21/15 1:23am]

How about Russell Thompkins, Jr. from the Stylistics and William Hart from the Delfonics.

Sly Stone

Eddie Kendricks

Mavis Staples

Little Richard

James Brown

The Stylistics

The Delfonics

Marvin Gaye

Smokey Robinson

etc.

Joni Mitchell

kenkamken said:

Joni Mitchell

Mos def Joni Mitchell. I hear more of her and Smokey than anyone else. She did some serious singing and used her voice more like an instrument than just melodically delivering lyrics.

Ron Isley, Sylvester

[Edited 1/22/15 6:23am]

Wilson Pickett and Little Richard from 82 onwards. His voice was a bit weak until 1999 when he learned to get more power out of it. He even said that's why he sang in falsetto because he didn't think his natural voice was strong. As he got older his voice changed and he was then able to growl and scream as he did. Nowadays his voice is especially thin in any register, general wear and tear over the decades. Another thing, he sounds so much like he grew up in a traditional Black Baptist Church with his background vocals and arrangements from the glory days, yet we know he only rarely attended a Seventh Day Adventist church. I may be wrong but I don't think they sing their hymns in that particular style, what my parents might call "caterwauling". Could be he just listened to a lot of Church records for vocal influences.

Curtis Mayfield, Sly, some Smokey, Marvin, James, Joni depending on the song.