If I was able to stay up late enough in my time zone, that would have been 1:30AM, I could watch Don Kirshner's "Rock Concert" and that was the first glimpse of a music video I ever had.  Of course, I became aware of American Bandstand at some point and that ushered in a whole new way to see those I listened to.  Oh, and I always listened to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 with all those "long distance dedications".  Funny thing, I get to relive that show with XM Satellite Radio nowadays.  

When I moved to Los Angeles in 1987 to pursue acting and voiceover, I looked for my first place to get my feet wet in the voiceover world.  When I saw M.G. "Machine Gun" Kelly was teaching a class, heck I HAD to get in.  I had listened to him on the radio growing up – that made my anticipation grow even deeper to get the class started.  I had hear "The Gunner" many, many times on the radio growing up.  I can still hear him weekends on a local Charlotte station!

Fast forward to the late '90's, I had been in/around the entertainment business/acting/voiceover for nearly a decade when I saw the cable show: VH1's Behind the Music.  To this day, I enjoy shows like this and others such as Biography etc.  Why?  Many reasons, however the one that stands out the most is that I'm usually wrong when it comes to thoughts or perceptions of a particular singer, or actor for that matter.  Once I learn of their "story", it often shatters any foolish misconceptions I've erected.  This attitude adjustment is welcomed and it's something that I have taught my daughters – I don't want them to form, so called, opinions of people without knowing the full story.

How does all this relate to voiceover?

Just days ago I saw VH1's Behind the Music on the cable guide.  I didn't care, nor did I look to see who the musical artist was in the expose', I just wanted to "hear THAT guy tell the story".  Yep, I'm a huge fan of that "storyteller and his voice".  While I'm not forming opinions here (remember, I told you all about that stuff in the previous paragraph , I always felt like the narrator speaking as if he were someone who was connected with the band or artist firsthand – as if the story he was telling was his own account.  Folks, THAT, is what voiceover is all about...if you can do that, tell the story like it's your own, I will promise you success. 

Well, as a voiceover actor myself, I have always been impressed with this guy's storytelling ability along with his distinctive voice and wanted to let him know – to encourage him that his craft has made a positive impact on someone.  I was willing to risk the chance of appearing like some dang goon for emailing "the voice of Behind the Music" and figured at best I would get a "thank you", which would have been fine.

Following is the email exchange I had with Mr. Jim Forbes, the voice of VH1's Behind The Music.  I hope you can draw something from this that will positively impact your voiceover career in some way...I really do.

February 28th, 2010