contralto

The cliché applied to contralto voices is “plummy” and Heynis offers its reverse, a sort of lean, emotional essentialism in a deep and beautiful voice.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026

With her electric green eyes, corkscrew hair and husky contralto voice, Dame Cleo became the most recognisable British jazz singer in history.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2025

In 1998, British producers Mark Taylor and Brian Rawling pioneered its modern usage by making Cher’s velvety contralto pixelate and reconstitute over and over, measure by measure, making history.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2023

Her trademarks were her growling contralto, her bold smile and strong cheekbones, her palette of wigs and the muscular, quick-stepping legs she did not shy from showing off.

From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2023

And the big dark woman saying, Boy, is you all right, what's wrong? in a husky-voiced contralto.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

She became one of the industry’s best-known contraltos — the female singers with the lowest vocal range — touring widely and making more than 80 recordings.

From New York Times ● Oct. 13, 2021

Lili Chookasian, an American singer who in the 1960s and afterward was among the most prominent contraltos in the world, died on Tuesday at her home in Branford, Conn. She was 90.

From New York Times ● Apr. 12, 2012

Her voice was not as powerful as that of some of the other famous Italian contraltos and mezzos, but it was immediately recognisable.

From The Guardian ● May 7, 2010

Long recognized as one of the world's leading contraltos, Forrester, 36, earns $100,000 a year singing classical songs at $2,500 a performance.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was easier for Chester to play the ones written for tenors than the ones for sopranos, contraltos, and basses, but he did them all beautifully.

From "The Cricket in Times Square" by George Selden