Singers that have a lot of rasp

Singers that have a lot of rasp to their singing voices, is that something forced, or just how they sing? Examples would be the singer in Cinderella, or Graham Bonnet from Rainbow, Jorn Lande, David Coverdale, etc...

Do they force the rasp from their throats, like a death metal guy does?

Just curious as I don't have that at all, but can force it, but then I lose my voice after two songs.

Chew on ground glass, wash it down with a fifth of jack daniels, and smoke a pack of cigarettes ...

Seems to work better for me if I don't force it, but relax the throat until everything is loose.

The rasp/grit/distortion thing can be deformed vocal cords, but mostly it is forced or a result of tecniques. One way can be to put air on your voice, that's when you push more air out than neccesary. Other ways are twanging (make a sound like a duck) or you can just learn to sing in overdrive and/or add distortion as an effect. A combo of zipped cords, lot's of support and correct mouth/toungue and palate position makes it unharmful. If it hurts it's wrong.

Song teachers who know how to teach you this correctly is rare, cause they are thaught that screaming and rasp is dangarous. Check out Melissa Cross and Cathrine Sadolin: "Zen of screaming" and "Complete vocal technique".

I smoke too much and tend to have a naturally raspy voice.

It makes it sound somewhat bigger so I don't complain.

I can sing very clear but it requires cleaning my throat and actually forcing myself.

Death metal singing is an entirely different topic, a technique of its own, very different from just being raspy.

when I let it loose I am raspy. when I am singing a slow diddy, not raspy but very naked feeling. It's weird. I can't sing loudly and clear. Wish I could. But I dig the rasp.

Tom Keiffer from Cinderella has hemorrhaged his vocal cords on at least two occasions.

Do what you will with that info.

I wasn't referring to death metal vocals, for those that might have thought that. The guys I'm referring to are closer to classic 70's rock type of singing. Closer to soul singing, but more throaty and beefier, but having that "smokey" edge to it.

Here's an example:

[YOUTUBE]GyOzdK4aBsQ&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

Is this technique, or does he naturally have that rasp?

It's mostly technique, because Jorn (like Russell Allen, Dio, etc etc) can turn it on and off at will.

How do I know personally? Here are a couple of examples.

rasp on and off "at will":

[YOUTUBE]GP2alR39Qzw[/YOUTUBE]

clean:

[YOUTUBE]8DzSIEPmBa0[/YOUTUBE]

Technique, no doubt. Read my post again for references to good material. Also check out Jaimie Venderas "Raise your voice" for generally singing in this manner. Do a lot of heavy rock singing, and gradually you'll start to sound like rock'n'roll. Give it some years, though.

It certainly is possible to just switch it on and off at will... I can do it myself.

Wouldn't have the faintest clue how to explain how to do it though. It's something I figured out by chance one day and have been able to do it since. Doesn't involve any tensing up of the throat or anything, it almost just seems like a little resonance switch in my head that I can flick between clean and gritty.

Doesn't hurt the throat at all, but it does tend to dry it out quicker IMO.

P.S. I'm also a terribly shit singer, so if I can do it, anyone should be able to.