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Who are some of your favorite voices?

H

Hart

Guest
I was just thinking this morning about some of my favorite voices I've worked with over the years and curious who you like.

When I was at WZEW in Mobile we used Jeff Berlin and Jennifer Vaughn in combo for a while. I loved producing their voices. Also had Ross McIntyre at one point. He was fantastic. After an ownership change we started using Mitch Phillips. Another great one in my book.

In Raleigh we used Jim Cutler on our sports stations. Not only was he easy to work with, every line was fantastic.

Never worked with him, but I always liked hearing Brian James on WABB in Mobile, and then on WRDU in Raleigh when they flipped to country. There's just something about his sound that really appeals to me.

Of course, giving props where they are due I love listening to Jeff Laurence's and Chuck Matthews' demos too. I'm glad you guys hang out on this board.
 
If we're talking about ANYBODY, not just people we know, then the two best female voices ON EARTH (imho) now are Kate Walsh (Private Practice/Grey's Anatomy). She does the Cadillac spots on radio and tv "when you turn on your car, does it return the favor?") and Sally Kellerman (from a different generation...she was in the original "MASH" movie).

On the male side, the ultimate "voice of God" of course is James Earl Jones. As for someone I've actually met, the legendary H.A. Thompson, formerly of WBT in Charlotte was to me the ultimate "warm, friendly voice". Listening to his show was like a visit with a buddy...like sharing a beer and relaxed conversation with someone you know and trust. To this day, he's super-convincing when he voices spots for tv and radio in the Carolinas. Robert Mitchum was great when he did voiceover work, as well (remember the "Beef, it's what's for dinner" spots), as was James Coburn. Now Coburn had PIPES!

Bill Price, a guy I worked with at WKBC back in the 70s, once the morning man at WGLD (Greensboro), now I believe in production for Clear Channel in Greensboro, is a GREAT voice. But I wouldn't tell him so. His ego's already so big he'd probably explode (sorry Bill!)
 
Gosh....so many, so many different styles. Hard to name all of them.

Some of my favs, in no particular order....except for #1;

Ernie Anderson - The King
Jim Cutler
John Wells
Bumper Morgan ( MADE "The Power Pig" squea!)
Keith Eubanks
Mitch Todd
Hal Douglas
CT Taylor
Bill Ratner
JR Nelson
Danny Dark
John Leader
Beau Weaver
Howard Parker
Don LaFontaine
Dick Ervasti
Jeff Laurence
Peter Coyote
Paul Turner
Matt Anthony
Harry Legg (aka "Scott James" at 92Q/Cleveland in the 80s)



Female...dont know too many except the usual;

Randy Thomas
Ann Dewig
Janet Ault
Jennifer Vaughn
Kate Walsh *nice pick Mike!*


Brian, I appreciate the props!
 
When I was in Phoenix in the mid-late 80's we used Ernie Anderson the loooove boat guy for liners, man what pipes

Another voice I miss is Fred Gwynne.. I remember reading somewhere he called voice-overs "a wonderful way for a washed-up actor to make a living"...plus he didn't have to put on the Herman Munster make up..
 
Oh man I agree about Fred Gwynne! Also about Peter Coyote...a very sincere, REAL sounding voice...not "announcery" at all.
 
A few more...

Len "Boom" Goldberg, the longtime Voice of WMMS/Cleveland, and the first VO of Z100/NYC

Michael D. Hanks, who's the brother of the late Chuck Riley (Chuck Dann).

Chuck has always been considered an Ernie sound-a-like. I think Michael is much closer.


And... John Frost. Not only a revolutionary rock producer, but a great VO talent in his own right.


There's another guy with an alt rock sound from San Diego.. can't recall his name.
 
Nick Michaels, the voice of Alka Seltzer, circa 1980. Great pipes, great delivery, and a fresh thinker for most advertising and promotional things.
 
VODood said:
A few more...

Len "Boom" Goldberg, the longtime Voice of WMMS/Cleveland, and the first VO of Z100/NYC

Michael D. Hanks, who's the brother of the late Chuck Riley (Chuck Dann).

Chuck has always been considered an Ernie sound-a-like. I think Michael is much closer.


And... John Frost. Not only a revolutionary rock producer, but a great VO talent in his own right.


And lest not forget Charlie Van Dyke


There's another guy with an alt rock sound from San Diego.. can't recall his name.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you to my buddy Marc.... the guy from San Diego... Malcolm Ryker. Great alt rock VO and producer, and presently the VO for "The Deadliest Catch" on Discovery Channel.
 
Les Stock said:
Nick Michaels, the voice of Alka Seltzer, circa 1980. Great pipes, great delivery, and a fresh thinker for most advertising and promotional things.
Click to expand...

Agreed on Nick. Meant to list him...too many VO's to recall, lol!
 
A shout out to John Willyard, Jim Diamond, Jack Murphy, and RenaMarie Villano!!

Much props to Steve Stone, Vic Caroli, Rich VanSlyke and the like!
 
Gene Barry - who's still alive and kickin', and the late Thurl Ravenscroft.

I remember doing local tags on their national spots early in my career. Talk about intimidating!
 
Andy Geller, ABC promos.
George Lowe (Space Ghost, KGB) is very talented.
Mike Rowe host and narrator of DC and Ford commercials.

Most radio image voices, to me, sound generic and detached.
As much as most radio stations use their image voices, I'd choose
character and personality over pipes. John O'Hurley and Joe Cipriano are good.
 
surfdude said:
Andy Geller, ABC promos.
George Lowe (Space Ghost, KGB) is very talented.
Mike Rowe host and narrator of DC and Ford commercials.

Most radio image voices, to me, sound generic and detached.
As much as most radio stations use their image voices, I'd choose
character and personality over pipes. John O'Hurley and Joe Cipriano are good.
Click to expand...


I second Geller and Lowe. Like I mentioned SO MANY it's hard to make a list, then go "oh wait I forgot some".


I had the chance to take a Randy Thomas/Peter Rofe VO class in Detroit two years ago. Randy had one day old ABC promo copy that her friend Andy had read just the day before. I got to read it... I know Im a dork. We were using a TLM103 and a 6176. It Rocked! I didn't rock so much, lol!

OHurley? I heard him on Y1029/Raleigh. Nice to stunt with, but not for the long haul. I think he grates after awhile and the style isn't condusive to many imaging pieces, like music promos. Lacks upbeat intensity.


Y102-9 should've kept Jeff Laurence or have gotten Merkel. My preference is Jeff.

Here's another, George Robinson www.georgerobinsonvoices.com

And fellow poster Mike Bratton. Much preferred over "audioboy" BC as the Eubanks heir apparent.



Ultimately it's all about the writing. If the writing blows even John Wells will sound disinterested and not deliver the lines like he's capable.

When the copy is something one can sink his/her teeth into, the VO talent gets excited and can't wait to read it. I know that Jeff verbally enjoyed what I wrote when he voiced WTRG/Raleigh, as did Wells for WRDU.
 
Jeff Laurence is strong. I liked him better.

I think Howard Cogan (Jack-FM) may be the best.
Sure he can get tiring if you listen to a Jack a lot,
but the writing and his timing are perfect. Doesn't need
much "producing". His commercial work is real good, too.
 
Posthumous: Gary Gears.one of THE best set of pipes EVER..Find a demo or an aircheck and you'll hear it. One read though. Charlie Van Dyke still impresses me..but again..these days the key is RANGE..more than one read. Gotta love John Wells..and Rick Hunter in Arizona is gonna be one to watch. Chuck Matthews is hot on the list as an up-n-comer..The key is READ TO SELL. Not annoucerish, but with conviction and believability.

I need more input to make more calls..but thanks for all the nice words y'all

JL
 
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