When did the trend of belting start??- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 11:46am

The high belt sound we hear in contemporary musicals started in the 1960s/1970s and was definitely influenced by pop rock music of the era- and if you want to bring it back to Broadway --I'd say its fair to say Streisand played a big role in that vocal trend. Part of what made her an enormous singing star in the mid 1960s, was that before her women just weren't singing music in that range and in that style. As Ethel Merman herself called her -- "the new belter"

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 12:21pm

I dunno. Look at Judy Garland's performances from her TV show. I don't see how it's any different from belting you'd find today.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 12:24pm

"It started with Merman, BABY. She CREATED belting on the Great White Way and don't you forget it!"

I hope you're being sarcastic because that's patently untrue.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 12:50pm

Garland was a big influence too. I'd say she was sort of a bridge between the 1930s/1940s style of big band / Ethel Merman belt and the vocal style that became prevalent in popular music in the 1950s/1960s.

Garland definitely influenced the musical style of people like Streisand, and a lot of the popular girl singers of the 1950s, but Garland was in turn equally influenced by their music, and her style and musical material from the 1960s reflects that.

But I'd still say its the pop rock Streisand sound from the mid-late 60s that had the biggest influence on the musical trends that eventually led to the Broadway/rock high belt Broadway sound that took off in the 1970s.

Updated On: 7/13/13 at 12:50 PM

[beagle]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 3:50pm

Best12bars, maybe Rudetsky's mention of Buckley had to do with her turn in 1776 in 1969, high belting on "He Plays the Violin".

Updated On: 7/13/13 at 03:50 PM

[FlowerChild67]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 6:00am

While we're all discussing the popularization of belting, I have a question to add on to the OP: when did belting become EXPECTED? Obviously not everyone can belt, but it seems that it's just expected of women to reach at least a C5 without mixing or switching to head voice. When did that come about?

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 6:12am

beagle---Melba Moore was belting even higher that same year in Hair (1969).

Or are we just talking about white girls?

[newintown]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 10:04am

There's a difference between belting and mixing, too, that's not been addressed yet (I believe) in this thread.

Even the chestiest gal has to start mixing by C above middle C; the chest alone can only take you so high. Most dames start mixing around G above middle C.

There are exceptions, of course, like Stritch, who I believe only mixed twice in her life, and was injured both times.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 11:25am

^ And that's because it was gin and bourbon.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 12:06pm

"And that's because it was gin and bourbon."

That's some funny sh!t right there.

[artscallion]

Posted: 7/16/13 at 12:06pm

My father used to threaten me with the belt. but I never heard him do it.