Beguiled at the Portland

"Happy Birthday Paul Rodgers"......................"Greatest Rock singers number 1"Paul Rodgers-Don't Say You Love Me.The classic voice of Free and Bad Company- ,Paul Rodgers is one of those singers' singers who is rarely in the front line when people talk about their greatest singers, but he'll always end up being talked about. Because of his voice that's often imitated but never replicated, he's been dubbed "The Voice" by his fans, and his peers have lauded him as "the greatest rock singer ever", even earning Freddie Mercury's stamp of approval because of his aggressive, raspy style. Having a surprisingly versatile voice, Paul has brought his own style into every band he's sung in. Paul has been a prolific figure in rock music ever since he became active with Free in the late 1960s, earning the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music in 2011.

Paul possesses an absolutely timeless, bluesy rock 'n' roll voice, along with Robert Plant he is one of the best examples of the raspy and light rock vocalists that surged in the late 1960s. Paul's vocal tone is quite different from Plant, though, as he possesses a charismatic, very soulful, and rich mid range that he has employed throughout his whole career. Paul's low register is a bit of an oddity, as he seemingly sounds low at the mid third octave, but he has pulled off few, but very convincing mid second octave notes as well. Contrary to Plant, Paul hasn't experimented much with the utmost high reaches of his voice but has stuck to what he knows best, which is his masterful belting register, and has never been one to strain himself, this no doubt being a key component to his vocal prowess.His great skill is his phrasing holding a note a vowel and using it to emphasize the songs subject to great effect.His influence in Rock music is undeniable,if his old soul mate in Free Paul Kossoff is the guitarist -guitarist then Rodgers is the singers-singer,his very name brings the verbal floodgates opening from any would be singer..So much so if you play in a band like me you often get from from some other musician or sound engineer if you are too pushy "Who the feck do you think you are Paul Rodgers"--LOL.This is the man we are talking about.Rod Stewart said about him"He could sing about a brillo pad and make it sound interesting".His influences are not just in the Rock fraternity but people from all Genre,Paul Young,Heather Small,Jools Holland,Paul Weller,Four Tops,Wilson Pickett,you name it..His pitching is immaculate ,of all the time's I have seen him and all the live gigs with all the bands he has been with and have listen to he is never off key.In the old Free days they never had stage monitors it is a wonder he could even hear himself at all?If he stopped now and never sung again he has done more than enough to earn his place in Rock Legend.I could have chosen loads of brilliant songs he has sung either he wrote himself (,he had his moment of great songwriting)co wrote ,or songs by other writers.But I have chosen the aforementioned as this show's his whole vocal range--from the intimate beginning when he is close to the mic and almost whispering ,to the belter of the end with his old mate guitarist Paul Kossoff.The number one greatest Rock singer of all time----Listen to this.Thanks to Tom for the great video and David Orrett for the cool photo with the studded Keck's.---Happy Birthday Paul--And Thanks