# Female singers with low voices **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 26, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429 "2003-11-26T18:01:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/1 "2003-11-26T18:01:55Z")
We have had some threads about high falsetto male voices, so I guess turnabout is fair play— what female singers have good low voices? Cher immediately springs to mind, of course, but I can also think of Toni Braxton and one of the Pointer Sisters (remember the song “Automatic”?). Who else would make the list? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/2 "2003-11-26T18:03:20Z")
Lisa Gerrard can hit some unearthly low notes. Also, Allison Moyet (formerly of Yaz, now solo) has a good, husky low quality. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/3 "2003-11-26T18:06:18Z")
Marlene Dietrich . . ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/4 "2003-11-26T18:12:02Z")
Tina Turner can growl it out with the best of them. Many jazz singers can hit the smokey notes, as well. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/5 "2003-11-26T18:14:26Z")
Patty Austin. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/6 "2003-11-26T18:21:02Z")
Johnette Napolitano. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/7 "2003-11-26T18:22:44Z")
If you accept that singing in musicals makes you a singer, there’s Bea Arthur – who, when she was in “Maude” had a running joke that she was mistaken for the man of the house every time she answered the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/8 "2003-11-26T18:29:56Z")
Depends how low you mean. Like Toni Braxton _really_ low or just not-Avril-Lavigne-screech low. There are a few indie artists that I know of: Lorna Vallings has a nifty lower range with a slight husk. Her official site has a rough mix sample of one of the lower tunes [here](http://www.lornavallings.com/mp3s/everything.mp3) and at [CD Baby](http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lorna2). Faith Nolan is another indie artist with a great lower register. IIRC, Doria Roberts has a good lower range too. And [Allison Tartalia](http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/allisontartalia) does too, when she uses it. None of these woman sing exclusively in their lower range, but they are a nice alternative to the Avril Lavigne-like sound. There are also some great jazz and blues divas who can get some _great_ velvety smoothness on the low notes! ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/9 "2003-11-26T18:33:15Z")
Sniffs\_markers wanted me to add: Annie Lennox Lucinda Williams Etta James ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/10 "2003-11-26T18:36:35Z")
Granted, she’s not in current vogue, but I can’t believe no one has mentioned **Anne Murray.** I have a friend who is a talented singer/songwriter with a lovely and very distinctive contralto voice. We’re all amazed that she’s not famous beyond the circles in which she performs. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/11 "2003-11-26T18:58:43Z")
Oo! Oo! Bonnie Tyler! (Er, another that’s not in current vogue.) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/12 "2003-11-26T19:03:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Marlene Dietrich . . \*\* Dammit **Eve**! Every freakin’ time… I will add Talullah Bankhead to the list. Both of her notes were low ones. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/13 "2003-11-26T19:44:01Z")
Fiona Apple’s got a great bottom end. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/14 "2003-11-26T19:45:16Z")
Karen Carpenter pretty much sang tenor. Pat Carroll, who was the voice of the Sea Witch in Disney’s _The Little Mermaid_, got away with playing Falstaff on stage. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/15 "2003-11-26T19:57:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by unwashed brain \* > \*\*Fiona Apple’s got a great bottom end. \*\* Yeah, and her lower vocal range is good too! ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/16 "2003-11-26T19:59:31Z")
Perfectly executed, **Eats\_Crayons**!!! ---
**Author:** ![Qburn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/bc79bd/32.png) [@Qburn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qburn)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/17 "2003-11-26T20:59:42Z")
Tracy Chapman (_Fast Cars_ ). ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/18 "2003-11-26T21:04:30Z")
kd lang ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/19 "2003-11-26T21:10:15Z")
**Ferron** ’s got a great low voice and if you’ve never heard _Ain’t Life A Brook_ you haven’t heard a great breakup song. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429/20 "2003-11-26T22:29:12Z")
Sometimes, **Carly Simon** can reach some sultry low notes. (Rather nicely too). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-singers-with-low-voices/215429.md?page=2)