164 !!Chapter 7
have to have a good sound and soul in your voice. [She said that
reading helps a singer to record faster. Since commercials always
have specific budgets, all professional musicians and singers
have to work quickly, or they will not be hired.]
MZ: How important is it to be versatile both as a lead singer and
as a background singer when doing commercials?
Cissy: I guess that is why I was so successful, because I think it is
very important to be versatile. You have to be able to give differ-
ent sounds... you might need to do a white sound or an oper-
atic sound or whatever it takes—you might need to do a
blues—you know what I mean?
MZ: When you are hiring background singers, do you generally
give each singer their part, or do you just sing the lead and have
them come up with their own parts?
Cissy: I always come up with the backgrounds, unless they [the
arranger] have certain backgrounds that they want. With the
Sweet Inspirations, we would just break into harmony—we
really knew what we were doing. [She said that singers with that
ability are hard to find.]
MZ: How does a singer trying to break in get a demo reel together?
Cissy: Sing songs and show people what type of voice they have
...doaversatiletapewheretheycandodifferentthings.I
would suggest that would be the only way that I see that you
can do it. Commercials are very hard to break into and it’s a
tight-knit situation... they’re very, very guarded.
MZ: Do you think that most young singers should have a vocal
coach so they learn to sing properly?
Cissy: I really do... [some] they scream and that’s not singing...
I work on feelings, and that’s what I like to give.
MZ: Is there any advice you would like to offer young singers?
Cissy: Just go to school and learn—that’s the easy way—but don’t
lose your feeling.Assignments
- Write a 30-second lyric for a ficticious product. Write a memorable
melody that includes a ‘‘hook line’’ and/or chorus. Select the cor-
rect key both for the lead singer and the background singers. - Arrange the 30-second jingle (from$1) in two or more musical
styles and tempos. Also write 15-second versions.