Ever tried singing while you dance? How long did it last? Not so long. That is why every singer needs a voice coach. Beyonce, who’s one of the best in the game, worked with David Lee Brewer for the first 11 years of her career. So serious was her dad and then-manager Matthew Knowles, that David lived with the Knowles family. It goes without saying that, all that dancing and singing at Coachella was done long before Beyonce hit the big stage.
A little training goes a long way. So long it goes, that an artist who is serious about their craft can rake in millions from working just a little harder than the rest. The music scene has its fair share of famous vocal coaches. These coaches have worked with who’s who in the industry and ensure that when the vocals check-in, musicians and actors deliver a seamless performance.
10 Renee Grant-Williams
Most people who are deep in the music business will quickly point you in the direction of Renee Grant-Williams whenever the words ‘vocal coach’ come to play. That’s because she’s one of the best in the business. Renee holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has, amongst other high-profile jobs, held the position of Director of Vocal Music at the University of California, Berkeley. Renee has worked with Miley Cyrus, Faith Hill, and Christina Aguilera, to name a few.
9 Seth Riggs
Riggs’ singing journey began at the tender age of 7. He went on to practice vocal coaching when he served in the Navy in 1949. He further trained at the Manhattan School of Music and is credited with inventing the art of ‘Speech Level Singing’, a vocal technique. He has worked with top players in the music business including Michael Jackson, Prince, Barbara Streisand, and Stevie Wonder.
8 David Grant
David Grant rose to fame in the ‘80s, as part of the UK Soul duo, Linx. He would later proceed to pursue a solo career and become one of the best vocal coaches. He, alongside his wife Carrie Grant, coached on Pop Idol. He has worked with some of the UK’s best singers, including the Spice Girls, Lemar, and Mel C. Grant was also a vocal coach on Fame Academy, a BBC talent show.
7 Lis Lewis
As a child, Lis Lewis enrolled to learn music at the Dalcroze School of Music. She would later pursue Bachelors and Masters degrees in the same. She has lectured at some of the best music schools including the University of California, Berkeley. Her client list is extremely long and includes Miguel, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, just to mention a few.
6 Carrie Grant
English vocal coach Carrie Grant is known for her appearances on Fame Academy and Pop Idol, which she did alongside her equally popular husband, David Grant. Her rise in the limelight however dates all the way back to 1983 when she became part of the girl group, Sweet Dreams. She’s since transitioned to presenting on television and has regularly carried the role of a reporter on The One Show. She teaches alongside her husband David Grant at their studio in North London.
5 Ken Tamplin
Ken Tamplin gained notoriety as a Christian rock performer. The artist, who began taking interest in music at the age of nine, also doubles as a vocal coach. He was one of the inaugural members of the Christian group, Shout and runs the Ken Tamplin Voice Academy. Tamplin, who specializes in stamina, and is a big critic of speech level singing, has worked with some world-famous stars.
4 Amanda Somerville
Amanda Somerville spent most of her childhood in Michigan. In 1999, she moved to Germany, where she continues to reside. She’s gained notoriety for working with bands such as After Forever and Epica. She specializes in the heavy metal genre and released an album called Alloy in collaboration with Frontier Records. Amanda’s discography also includes a few extended plays.
3 Lisa Popeil
Popeil was introduced to music at the age of four when she began to take piano classes. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of Arts. In 1984, she released a self-titled album which was given recognition by Billboard. Amongst her awards is a ‘Career Achievement in Vocal Instruction’ award from the LA Music Awards.
2 Lana Wolf
Lana’s love affair with the arts began in theatre. As an artist in theatre, she sang in various shows, including A Tribute to the Bee Gees. In 2009, she got a leading role in the show Rockopera in Concert. Lana gained popularity by singing with top artists such as Frans Bauer and The Trammps. As a vocal coach, she provides her services to both individuals and choirs and emphasizes on Complete Vocal Technique.
1 Gary Catona
Gary Catona is a self-proclaimed vocal builder. He was born and raised in Pennsylvania. In 1980, he moved to Texas to learn the ins and outs of vocal production. His first go at the craft was working with clients who had been involved in accidents or damaged their vocals because of illness or surgery. He would later transition to working with celebrities, including the late Whitney Houston. Gary has also worked with actors like Mark Wahlberg and Kevin Spacey.