Quoted from adamzero

John's voice seemed to have "gone" by the "Rock'n'Roll" album.  "Stand by Me" is heartbreaking to listen to--compared to the confident powerhouse of "Twist and Shout" over a decade before.  

I think singing from the diaphram helps--learning some technique helps--but even the best untrained blues singer knows how to work his/her voice rather than destroy it.  Anybody who sings for a living and smokes cigarettes is a complete idiot. Dylan, George, John . . . .

WIth no evidence whatsoever to support my point of view, I think the cigs made John's voice what it was - rough and raspy. Without that, it might never have been rough and sandpapery at all!

Quoted from alexis

Amen! At his peak, he had the most soul of any white boy, and even up there with the Temptations lead vocalist, who I always thought sounded like John!

Partially agree, but I don't think anyone touches Van Morrison at his peak, as the greatest white soul singer.

Quoted from alexis

WIth no evidence whatsoever to support my point of view, I think the cigs made John's voice what it was - rough and raspy. Without that, it might never have been rough and sandpapery at all!

Interesting idea.  Live by the cig, die by the cig.

Cigarettes, I agree.  I am so glad I quit smoking in 1989.  Too hard the the throat and voice.  I do believe this is what happened to John...............case in point, not to be thinking of my favoring this person, but cigarettes RUINED the voice of one of the great singers in rock, Greg Lake of ELP.  Listen to how he sounds on Brain Salad Surgery and their last effort, "Black Moon".  I tell you, it's NOT the same man singing.  Cigarettes have distroyed a good many voices, not to mentioned killed some...........i.e, George Harrison, Neil Aspinall.
NOT also to forget the drugs John used...............