Jennifer Holliday draws up a lengthy listening list for aspiring vocal performers.

(November 17, 2000)

	Jennifer Holliday meets students after a 1999 master class.

Regardless of whatever genre of music you plan to go into, you should by all means be eclectic in what you choose to listen to. So that means you're picking something from pop, classical, jazz, inspirational, and theater.

The best r&b and pop would have to include Whitney Houston, mainly The Greatest Hits or the soundtrack for The Bodyguard, which I love. Also listen, to the Mariah Carey record that has "Hero" on it (Mixed Box), and Celine Dion.

Then, from a classical standpoint, listen to something like the Three Tenors, and definitely Andrea Bocelli. And just if you can handle it, you should go back to hear the greatness and wonderment of Leontyne Price and Maria Callas.

In the jazz area, all you need to do is listen to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Between those two you're taking care of two very important things. Ella Fitzgerald covered the simplicity of being able to take a songwriter's song and sing it exactly just enough to where it compliments the music but it definitely makes everything clear. It's not overdone, it's just pure, she has the ability to bring across any songwriter's song. That's why she takes up half the record store with her section.

Billy Holiday is next because she had raw pain. Even though it's sad, it hits a place in people's hearts; she puts out an emotion that you need to know about. You just need to know about it. You don't have to leave it on all the time because it can be depressing. But there's something about that music and that woman that just has something that we really don't know about in terms of a deeper level of pain.

The next area would be inspirational, not to say that anyone's religion is right or wrong. But when you speak about being grounded and centered, I do feel that people are going to need someone somebody bigger than them to pull them through. Whatever you call this genre is up to you, but there's just so much beautiful music now. Depends on what field you like. There's an inspirational set for everybody. My favorite is the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Their greatest hits is a good start, with a touch of gospel, a touch of classical, a touch of everything.

And then there's theater music. Broadway recordings are so well made. I'm always doing research, listening to the original cast, or another cast, or other interpretations. Now they have ultimate collections. You need to know at least one song of Andrew Lloyd Webber. He's still one of the most romantic writers ever. And Stephen Sondheim; there's something for everyone in Sondheim. And get the Dreamgirls soundtrack, because it was one of the first of it's kind. It was more contemporary, was able to get airplay, and was more of a high-tech show.

You must have an appreciation for what everyone does. Sometimes I like to go to the opera and sometimes I like to go to a down-home club. You may not want to sing every style of music, but it's important that you grow in appreciation. This appreciation helps you grow as an artist, even if it's not your thing. No two people are really the same; they may only pick one name from each musical category, but listen to all of these categories, because you need to open up your mind. It wasn't until I did Dreamgirls that I became more open. I could have said 'I'm a star now so I don't have to listen to anyone but myself.' I saw it as necessary thing for me to do, and that's what these young people should do, go a little further than your own style.

In an earlier part of the conversation with Jennifer Holliday, she pinpointed Aretha Franklin as her first and most inspirational musical influence.

Convocation 2000 Coverage
•	Attitude Songs Steve Vai and Jennifer Holliday help welcome Berklee's largest-ever entering class.
•	Opening Your Musical Mind Jennifer Holliday draws up a lengthy listening list for aspiring vocal performers.
•	Rock Guitar's Top Gun For rock's reigning guitar hero Steve Vai '79, music comes from the heart and mind . . . with an edge.