What constitutes a "good voice?" Is it solely depth, tonality and resonance? Vitality? Youth? Age? Cadence? Phrasing? Using production and listener ears for the local Buffalo market, here's an incomplete but notable list:
Commercial category, present day: Bill Lacy, Don Berns, Tom Donahue
Rising star: Paul Brenon (ex Edge), Frank Miller (WECK)
Female: Val Townsend, Debbie Papas
Character voices: Gordy Dysinger
Non-commercial: Al Wallack, whose voice still resounds1 on WNED
Talk show: Ron Dobson
Emeritus, talk show: John Otto
Emeritus, production: Jeff Kaye (to no surprise), Steve Mitchell
Emeritus, air personality: Dan Neaverth
I don't know what metric listeners use to determine a "good voice," but over the last five years my ears have been opened to qualities that include "unique" more than "resonant." Maybe it's the influence of listening to Story Corps and other talk radio features. There have been times when I've heard soundbites from normal folks on NPR or even local news and have said "Who is that, what a unique voice!" It has as much to do with character and articulation, cadence and a certain je ne sais quoi as it has to do with tonal qualities. Over the years, I've also heard a number of clergy men and women who have outstanding abilities to deliver a homily.
The suggestions offered above in no way discount the many talented friends (Pat F., Joe K., Japes and so many others) who labor in the production and air studios day in and day out, doing live radio and crankin' out commercials, demos and imaging on deadline.
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1courtesy of John Otto
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