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Auburn Annie · 03-06-2005, 09:43 AM

quote:Originally posted by TheWatchman:
I agree with that in regards to someone getting back into shape vocally. But we're talking about a voice that has been affected by cigarettes. The damage done to one's voice from 40+ years of smoking is altogether different.

But not entirely irreversible. As I recounted somewhere in these files once before, we had a telephone operator at the hospital who was a lifelong heavy smoker with a rough, raspy voice. I saw her about 2 years after she retired and would never have recognized her by her voice. She went from Selma Diamond to Betty Bacall - a whole 'nuther sound. The reason? She quit smoking. The difference was astonishing. So, yes, vocal quality can improve dramatically when the irritants are removed.

03-06-2005, 09:43 AM	#10
Auburn Annie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 3,101	quote:Originally posted by TheWatchman: I agree with that in regards to someone getting back into shape vocally. But we're talking about a voice that has been affected by cigarettes. The damage done to one's voice from 40+ years of smoking is altogether different. But not entirely irreversible. As I recounted somewhere in these files once before, we had a telephone operator at the hospital who was a lifelong heavy smoker with a rough, raspy voice. I saw her about 2 years after she retired and would never have recognized her by her voice. She went from Selma Diamond to Betty Bacall - a whole 'nuther sound. The reason? She quit smoking. The difference was astonishing. So, yes, vocal quality can improve dramatically when the irritants are removed.