Highest and Best Broadway Belters

[divanut]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 4:32am

Who are the highest and best broadway belters of all time? My humble suggestions, from the old to the new:

Ethel Merman
Barbra Streisand (EARLY Barbra Streisand...)
Melba Moore
Delores Hall
Bernadette Peters
Betty Buckley
Patti Lupone
Jennifer Holliday
Laurie Beechman
Lillias White
Judy Kuhn
Florence Lacey
B.D. Crosby
Alix Korey
Ann Runolfsson
Linda Eder
Janet Metz
Carolee Carmello
Alice Ripley
Julia Murney

All of these ladies can or could sustain and vibrato an E or above in chest voice (or a veeery convincing mix)... well, except Ethel Merman, Bernadette Peters, and Judy Kuhn, who are just too amazing to be left off the list. Melba Moore and Delores Hall are the highest belters, each having recorded sustained B flats. In my opinion, Betty Buckley is the best singer of them all. I am sad more people don't realize what an amazing singer she is and was. (For those who don't know her at her best, check out The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 1776, Cats (!), Triumph of Love, and get a bootleg of CARRIE!)

I give honorable mentions to the (at least at one time) excellent singers Angela Lansbury, Liza Minnelli, Elaine Paige, Liz Callaway, Nancy Lamott, Clair Moore, Lea Salonga, Ellen Greene, La Chanz, Tonya Pinkins... and Eden Espinoza and Mandy Gonzalez (perhaps the most promising young belters out there...?).

Incidentally, for belting lovers, only very rarely on broadway belter Patti Labelle has I think the highest and strongest belt of any female singer. Non-stop Gs, As, occasional B flats and one B on record.

One last comment.... Not to get too shady, but I am sorry to say that a certain young singer who just received the Tony Award for her gravity-defying performance did not make this list because, well, despite a good range, she straight-tones EVERYTHING... and I really don't think... sings very well! (Sorry.) HOW WELL Betty Buckley would have sung that song in her day!?! (sigh...). The older ladies knew how to belt and VIBRATO....

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 4:40am

oops

Updated On: 6/13/04 at 04:40 AM

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 4:41am

speaking of CARRIE, Linzi Hateley does pretty well for herself. and, though she doesn't seem horribly popular, I've always enjoyed Frances Ruffelle.

[divanut]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 4:49am

Yeah, you're right, they should have both gotten honorable mentions... :)

[Jon]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 10:22am

You need to bone up on older shows, and become familiar with the work of KAREN MORROW from the 1960's - check out THE GRASS HARP and I HAD A BALL for starters!

Yes, she was mostly affiliated with flops...

[ponine24601]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 11:56am

what about kerry butler and Idina Menzel? they are my favorite. ok sorry to be a pest about this, but Eden's last name is spelled like this: Espinosa. Sorry but that has been bugging me.

[Dawg]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 11:58am

Someone needs to add Stephanie J. Block to this list although she doesn't have a huge opportunity to show it off in OZ, she is incredible (as anyone who saw her in the Standing Ovations Concert can attest).

[NYCbabe3789]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 11:59am

I agree that Kerry Butler and Idina Menzel need to be added to that list. They both belt VERY high...

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 12:19pm

Belting out your nose doesnt count.

Stephanie Block is so damn amazing. I could listen to her sing the phone book.

[javero]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 12:53pm

I am so happy that you included Melba Moore in that list. I get goose bumps at the thought of a young Melba in the titular role of 'AIDA'. Heather Heather was spectacular and Deborah A. Cox presently is outstanding, but Melba Moore was born to play that part.

[divanut]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 1:13pm

Very happy to have Melba Moore given her props; she was an inCREDible singer. (She's still around of course, but... well.... she doesn't sing so well any more! ) I have heard Karen Morrow praised before... will have to check out her earlier years. The earlier ladies I think just didn't tend to sing so high in chest voice... I think Merman was really the first in broadway people, no?

I know people love Kerry Butler... She was very good in the Chess benefit concert, it is true. Idina does have the range, but.... Does anyone else feel the way I do about her? I do acknowledge that she is a great performer, don't get me wrong. But her singing.... just doesn't do it for me. Two questions:

Who does Broadwaylilhead mean when he/she says, "belting out your nose doesn't count?" Just curious.... :)

I confess I don't know who Stephanie Block is. She's in The Boy from Oz? New belters are always welcome.......

Posted: 6/13/04 at 1:23pm

Nancy Opel
Luba Mason

FANTASTIC, both of them!

[Mattio98]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 1:38pm

I'm with you about Idina divanut. She hits one really good belty note in that show. Its in "The Wizard and I" right after the bridge. You should check out Stephanie J. Block too. She really is unbelievable.

My List:

Stephanie J. Block
Barbra Streisand
Bernadette Peters
Betty Buckley
Patti Lupone
Carolee Carmello
Alice Ripley
Julia Murney
Mandy Gonzalez
Ann Harada
Sutton Foster
Kate Shindle

[Jon]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 1:54pm

The notes belted by Nancy Opel in "A Privelege to Pee" are freakin' amazing! I was so disappoined by Beth McVey, who did the tour - she had to switch to her head voice for those notes.

[divanut]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 2:07pm

Happy to get some validation about I.M. :) I had thought about Ann Harada... she is a very good singer; I think I left her out because she's kinda toward the "mixy" end of the spectrum.... but on second thought, what the hell. She should at least get an honorable mention!

Who is Kate Shindle?

Oh, and I agree with DT, Nancy Opel has a great belt. Forgot her.

I also forgot Helen Schnieder, who should be on the main list. A great belt. Also honorable mentions to Loni Ackerman, Kim Kriswell, Nell Carter... sorta second tier, but deserve some credit.

[NYLG]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 2:22pm

Karen Mason is incredible

[onlylisab]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 6:42pm

What about Audra McDonald???? Girl can SING!

[SMichaelK]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 6:46pm

So I know she hasn't done too much broadway recently, but I've always been a big fan of Sarah Brightman, the woman can hit some pretty amazing high notes

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 6:46pm

Just for the record about Penelope Pennywise' vocal range in Urinetown.
The role was written for someone to sing in a soprano range. At her audition, Nancy (this is from her mouth) suggested she belt/mix it, floored them, and voila: you pretty much have to sing it that way or else. Her understudy (Kaye Wallbye) used her soprano voice to do it. However, did anyone here catch Victoria Clark sing it? She did it better than Nancy, so I'd humbly suggest adding her to that list.
Also, she's sure to finally get some Tony recognition with a nomination next year when Adam Guettel's new work, ...Piazza, hits town.

[secret-soul]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 6:47pm

OMG Nancy Opel AND Carolee Carmello...both AMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZING

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 6:51pm

To the best of everyone's knowledge. What is the highest note ever sustained on a Broadway stage, by whom, and in what show?

[zoran912]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 6:56pm

DONNA MURPHY!!!!
Hannah Jane Fox (London)
Heather Headley
Alice Ripley
Idina Menzel
Kristen Chenoweth
Nancy "Oh My Freaking Lord" Opel
Sherie Renee Scott

Just for fun:
Melanie Griffith! Why was she not on your list?

[divanut]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 7:05pm

I love Audra McDonald; she's an amazing performer, an amazing actress and singer.... but I'm sorry to say... she's really not a belter; she sings in legit/head voice. (The terminology gets confusing.....) She did belt in chest some in the Dreamgirls concert, but it's kinda forced. And Sandra Brightman, well, she also belted a bit in the early days, but... it wasn't a pretty sound, exactly. Also... not a belter.

I have to get that recording of Nancy Opel.

I think the highest "belt" sustained was a B flat, tied by Melba Moore in Purlie and Delores Hall in Best Little Whorehouse. (Melba Moore on the Tonys for Purlie is AMAZING. As to whether belting in that range is chest or a mix or what it is... it's a bit of a mystery to me, but very few people can do it. It is NOT head voice.)

I don't know about the highest head voice/legit note. Anyone?

[Blonde]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 7:15pm

what recording is nancy opel on? interested...

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 6/13/04 at 7:16pm

I believe they are referring to Urinetown, but correct me if I'm wrong.