A relatively obscure singer, Joe was the first tenor (despite arguably having a higher voice) for several early R&B groups. In 1946, he formed his own group called the Canaanites, recording mostly gospel records with Gotham Records. In 1949, they changed their name to the Bachelors and started recording secular music. Joe then joined the Songmasters in 1949 and briefly sang with the Elmer Snowden Quartet in 1950. That same year, he collaborated with Duke Ellington, sharing a solo with Lu Elliott on "Joog, Joog".
In 1952, Joe recorded a session with Warren Suttles' Dreamers, backing Wini Brown on several Mercury singles. He joined the Ravens in 1951 and stayed with them until 1958, making most of his well-known recordings with them. Before joining Ray Richardson's Ink Spots, he also sang and recorded with the Dixieaires. After leaving the Ravens, Joe spent his remaining years singing with the Ink Spots, recording his last records in 1976, the year he passed away at the age of 54. This is where many of his lower notes come from.
Joe was a phenomenal singer with a fully connected voice, crystal clear head voice, and a belting range that, while not necessarily powerful, had incredible fluidity and dynamics. He could sing in many different styles, and it’s a shame he never recorded a solo album. I hope you enjoy his voice as much as I have.
I previously released a video on Jimmy Ricks' vocal range, whose group, the Ravens, Joe was a part of. Here's the link:
• Jimmy Ricks - Vocal Ra...
Негізгі бет Joe Van Loan - Vocal Range (E♭3-E6)
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