I think there're both gifts and training. Training can enhance a gift but the less the gift the less training can accomplish. Janice and I talk a lot about soul. If a singer has soul we like it - irrespective of genre. And I suspect that at the core of what we call soul is the manner in which the singer phrases. The subtleties that allow the singer to make the song his/hers. A lot of our favorite singers don't have the best technical vocal chops around...but they know their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. When they sing a song they own it. Pardon the ole part ramble. About the only style of singing, regardless of genre, that we absolutely cannot handle is the "follow the bouncing ball" stuff. All with the usual big FWIW.

Bud

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