The Belters

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 10:47pm

The famous belt voices

Ethel Merman
Barbra Streisand
Whitney Houston
Patti LuPone
Vestal Goodman


Who else?

eta: I didn't mean that it should just be Broadway people. I listed Vestal Goodman who was the Ethel Merman of Gospel music.

Updated On: 8/25/08 at 10:47 PM

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 10:50pm

Pearl Bailey
Bernadette
Judy Garland


and countdown till the teeny boppers list Idina, eden, and the other starless stars of the day.

Updated On: 8/23/08 at 10:50 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 10:58pm

I don't think Bernadette has ever been considering a belter.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:22am

Betty Buckley
Bette Midler

The newer generation:
Alice Ripley
Emily Skinner
Leslie Kritzer
Sutton Foster

[philly03]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:24am

Coleen Sexton
Kate Shindle
Linda Eder
Luba Mason

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:26am

Ethel hahaha

I guess it's not good belters you are looking for then

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:52am

Yeah, I just watched Elaine Stritch: At Liberty and I wouldnt call her a belter. She sort of yelled on pitch.

[broadwayboy101]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:05am

I love Bernadette, but I wouldn't really classify her as a belter.

The rest I completely agree with, however.

[CarolynaGirl]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:26am

Carolee Carmello also!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:34am

Heidi Blickenstaff

[BenSaysOiVey]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:46am

Sorry but if you've ever listened to Bernadette Peters in MACK & MABEL, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, GYPSY or SONG & DANCE you wouldn't be ignorant enough to say she can't belt.

I'd add the brilliant belters:

Sherie Rene Scott
Karen Olivo
Lillias White
Jennifer Holliday
Michele Lee
Suttton Foster
Andrea Burns
Andrea McArdle Updated On: 8/24/08 at 01:46 AM

[Broadway_freak]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:59am

Andrea Burns is a stretch, she is a great mixer.

Lauren Kennedy
Christane Noll
Heather Headley

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:22am

philly03, so glad I am not the only one who thought of Shindle.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:36am

Well it really depends if you're going for musical theatre performers...or pop divas.

Because I wouldn't class Patti LuPone as remotely famous compared to Whitney Houston, or in belting power.

If you're going for actual famous belters, then the list is pretty obvious.

However, in terms of musical theatre...I agree with pretty much everyone mentioned.


Belter on the rise:

Kerry Ellis, she has a serious pair of lungs when she lets go.

[dayao]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 6:03am

A few more worth mentioning:
Tammy Blanchard
Lisa Kirk
Liza Minnelli
Julia MacKenzie
Carol Burnett
Tammy Grimes
Leslie Uggams
Mimi Hines
Betty Hutton
Anita Ellis
Pat Suzuki

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 7:03am

Sheryl Lee Ralph

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 7:48am

The first person I though of also was Kate Shindle.

What about Stephanie J. Block? I'm not sure if she's a belter but she certainly has a big booming voice. Her mic went out the one night and I could hear her clearly up in the mezz. She also had my ears ringing at the end of Defying Gravity.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 10:30am

Tammy Blanchard's 'belt' in Gypsy makes me cringe.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 10:58am

Not one mention of Susan Johnson or Karen Morrow?

Karen Morrow and company performing "I Had a Ball" (number begins at 3:10 after Buddy Hackett's interminable introduction):

http://www.bluegobo.com/video.php?var=10239

Susan Johnson and Shorty Long performing "Big D" (after "Happy to Make Your Acquaintance") from The Most Happy Fella:

http://www.bluegobo.com/video.php?var=10228

Susan Johnson and Eddie Foy performing "I Wouldn't Bet One Penny" from Donnybrook!:

http://www.bluegobo.com/video.php?var=10211

Updated On: 8/24/08 at 10:58 AM

[nybearhugz]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 11:27am

Let's not forget Julia Murney.. her Defying Gravity beats them all!

[je veux te voir2]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:34pm

I'd more classify Bernadette as a brilliant mixer who has the capability to belt wonderfully.

Also, I really enjoy listening to Sherie Rene Scott's high belt. It's not grating to the ear like many belts.

She may be on Grey's Anatomy now...but Sara Ramirez was really brilliant. She may return someday to Broadway and that would be a great thing. She was absolutely fantastic in A Class Act.


and i really don't want to be the one to have to say this...but Jennifer Hudson has a truly pure belt, one of the most pure I've ever heard.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:56pm

Mary Testa

[andrewcomp]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:58pm

I'm going to tag Shindle and Kritzer as well.. Not because of Blonde (although, that helps Shindle), but I've looked at alot of their other work.

[Hiram]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:34pm

Maureen Moore
Georgia Brown
Shani Wallis
Elaine Paige
Dolores Gray
Beth Leavel
When I was a kid I saw Ann Sothern play Rose in GYPSY. That lady could belt!
Mary Martin
Joanne Worley Updated On: 8/25/08 at 01:34 PM

[philly03]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:42pm

"I'm going to tag Shindle and Kritzer as well.. Not because of Blonde (although, that helps Shindle), but I've looked at alot of their other work."

Certainly helped Shindle....I actually named the three major Lucy's from Jekyll & HYDE on Broadway, and should probably also add Leah Hocking & Emily Skinner (who was already mentioned) who both understudied Lucy and were great.