From Wimberley View, Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Wimberley resident, vocalist and vocal
coach Lee Colee' will be traveling to New York in
March to work with Thomas Young, an original member of the smash Broadway show
"3 Mo Tenors." Young is currently touring with Cook, Dixon and Young to rave
reviews.
Young is a classically trained tenor who
is also well known in the international opera field with contemporary composers
writing roles for him specifically in opera and oratorio literature. Several
albums featuring Young singing various styles of music are available in most
music stores and online.
Colee' stumbled upon
the DVDs of "3 Mo Tenors" and Cook, Dixon and Young early last year and became
an immediate fan of the trio, especially of Young. She set about to bring him to Wimberley to conduct a master
class and present a concert, but schedules on both ends couldn't be
accommodated. Instead, Young invited Colee' to New York
to sing with him, discuss vocal technique, mutual career goals and future
appearances.
"Of course I didn't say no," Colee' said. "Mr. Young is one of the greatest artists
working today. His versatility, artistry and showmanship are the things I
strive for with all of my students. In my opinion, there is no one out there
better. Unlike most classically trained singers who can't sing any other style
successfully, Mr. Young effortlessly switches to jazz, blues, gospel, R&B,
Broadway and his scatting and be-bop talents are breathtaking."
While researching both Mr. Young and his
40 years in the business, Colee' discovered that he
is considered a lighting rod who helped pave the way for other classically
trained black vocalists. His colleagues, Victor Trent Cook, a Tony Award
nominee and Roderick Dixon, also well known in the opera and music theatre
industries, credit him for the increased opportunities in the classical field
where jobs go mostly to white males.
When the world was raving about
Pavarotti, Carreras and Domingo as the 3 Tenors, the original 3 Mo Tenors
(Cook, Dixon and Young) soon appeared to demonstrate that these tenors could
sing it all: Opera, gospel, Broadway, R&B, jazz and then dance too.
"These men are the best; they have to
be," Colee' said.