| Many of you will remember Jim Nabors, who played a | | | | against our image of Jim. When Jim Carey does sing, |
| tv character named Gomer Pyle. Gomer was a | | | | he keeps it within the confines of the character we |
| good-natured, simple-minded country boy who | | | | all know and love, even if he's playing a serious |
| became nationally popular on the Andy Griffith Show, | | | | dramatic role. |
| and later on other Gomer Pyle shows. | | | | There are a few exceptions to this. Rod Stewart has |
| What many of his fans didn't know was that Jim | | | | achieved new fame by recording old standards. |
| Nabors was a terrific singer with an amazing voice, | | | | Barbara Streisand has released albums of rock music |
| range and quality. He released several albums which | | | | and Italian arias. But they were already |
| contained beautiful renditions of songs like "The | | | | well-established artists before they ventured into |
| Impossible Dream" and "The Holy City". | | | | new genres. And they always returned to their |
| His albums flopped. They didn't sell, even though Jim | | | | musical roots. |
| had a massive fan base as Gomer Pyle. Why did that | | | | So what does this have to do with you? As you |
| happen? What did he do wrong? | | | | develop as a singer, it's important that you begin to |
| Jim Nabors failed to understand that the public | | | | find the right genre of music (country, pop, rock, |
| wouldn't accept their dumb little friend, Gomer, as a | | | | etc.) that you love to sing, and do well with. As you |
| guy with a beautiful classical sounding voice. The | | | | establish a reputation, either with a band or in the |
| contrast was just too great. In their minds Gomer | | | | karaoke club, remain true to your style and genre. |
| just wouldn't sing that way. It went against his | | | | Experiment with different types of music at home, |
| established image. Imagine Jim Carey releasing an | | | | but when you perform, maintain some consistency. |
| album of Italian Arias. Jim has a very nice voice, but | | | | Understand what the crowd likes about you and your |
| hearing him singing serious opera would totally go | | | | singing, and give them more of that. |