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Forums > All about Katharine > Katharine Chat
Subject: Laryngitis: Sign of Good Things to Come?
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Username: Bawx
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07/20/2006 12:34 AM Alert 
    After much speculation about the subject of Kat's illness I'd like to share with you all, why it's gonna be okay. 

Grace Moore is a legendary actress and singer.  Born in 1901 in Tennessee, she became a success on Broadway, Opera and in Hollywood.  She is the woman Elvis Pressley named Graceland after.  You can purchase her autobiography on Amazon, or for those of you less inclined to read a book, it was made into a movie entitled  "So This Is Love"  starring Kathryn Grayson.  Grace worked hard as a "starving artist" in New York until finally she caught her big break with an audition for a broadway producer.  The day of the audition she got on stage to sing, and suddenly, she had no voice.  She couldn't sing a note.  Her manager immediately took her to a voice/throat specialist who informed her she had severe laryngitis and innflammation of the vocal chords, most likely due to bad voice instruction from her most recent teacher (who insisted she sing every note as loud as she could).   Singing might never be possible again unless she obeyed his strict orders.  Grace was ordered to go to a different climate and not speak a word for months (I've forgotten how many, but I believe it was close to six months).  Only if she could follow these orders would her voice have a chance to heal.  Now, this was not at all convenient for her, obviously this interrupted any career she had going...and her manager was also her boyfriend, who didn't fancy the idea of her leaving and not speaking for that amount of time.  Ignoring his protests and requests to stay, she followed the doctor's orders and did not speak.  After the alotted amount of time, she again visited the doctor who was very impressed to see her fully recovered.  He then began to teach her the proper way to use her voice and found her another audition which got her her very first Broadway show.  

I thought this was an interesting paralell, as Kat has showed an interest in all of the venues mastered by Grace.  And now, after a great break for Katharine, she is ill and cannot speak.  This is causing horrible rumors and speculation about the poor girl.  BUT, as Grace Moore has proven, this can be overcome and Kat will still go on to become a great Movie, Broadway, and singing star!  Especially since David Foster (her voice specialist) has taken Kat under his wing.  This is just a challenge for Katharine to beat.  We all know she can!


(http://www.gracemoore.net/biography.php)
Username: bcollan
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07/20/2006 12:45 AM Alert 
Excellent post. A must read for people having a hard time understanding that laryngitis can take a long time to heal. Though I doubt Kat has similar problems with technique, she did suffer from overuse of her voice during Idol.
"She sings so magnificantly, it's just amazing" David Foster
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07/20/2006 12:47 AM Alert 
I've learned more about laryngitis during the last several weeks than I ever thought I would need to.  Every source says that total silence is the only way to treat this. 

Everyone recovers at their own pace, depending upon cause, health and adherance to doctor's orders.  Katharine is a serious artist who has so much to gain by doing it right. 

She'll be back, stronger than ever.  I'm sure she has received expert advise about what caused this specific bout and how to prevent future occurance.  She has so many people in her corner who care about her, including the Phans who give her all the positive support and prayers that will help give her the determination to see this through.
Katharine's summer is full of hope, full of potential, and promises to provide many bouquets to grace the home that I call my heart.

www.myspace.com/katfan49
www.myspace.com/katfia
www.myspace.com/katspack
Username: McFeverish.....
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07/20/2006 12:56 AM Alert 
Thank you for the enlightning post. And the "parralax" between Grace, and Kat's situation is appreciated. Kat's voice is top priority, and it's the fiber of her career now. I've realized these past weeks that laryngitis is very serious, and could cause permanent damage. So I'm expectant for the "good things" after all the "bad things" that has happened recently. ^_^

I'm excited to read the first concert review where Kat is finally there.
Username: Vadia
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07/20/2006 1:19 AM Alert 
Thank you for that reassuring post, Bawx. The story was very interesting. So, if Katharine keeps following in Grace's footsteps, maybe one day we'll be visiting a place called "Katland." ;)
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07/20/2006 1:20 AM Alert 
Posted By Vadia on 07/20/2006 1:19 AM
Thank you for that reassuring post, Bawx. The story was very interesting. So, if Katharine keeps following in Grace's footsteps, maybe one day we'll be visiting a place called "Katland." ;)
Katharine's summer is full of hope, full of potential, and promises to provide many bouquets to grace the home that I call my heart.

www.myspace.com/katfan49
www.myspace.com/katfia
www.myspace.com/katspack
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07/20/2006 1:44 AM Alert 
I agree! Sometimes the greatest gifts, come in the oddest packages!
KAT IN GLASSES!!!

*August 16, 2006 1:50 am...Mutt and I in the chat screaming our butts off...good times!!

Met Kat at the Kimmel show, February 7, 2007!
Username: Gregoriancant
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07/20/2006 1:51 AM Alert 
Posted By Vadia on 07/20/2006 1:19 AM
Thank you for that reassuring post, Bawx. The story was very interesting. So, if Katharine keeps following in Grace's footsteps, maybe one day we'll be visiting a place called "Katland." ;)

Except I don't think there'd be a Jungle Room with giant eyewear sitting on tables. Then again, there could be a Menagerie Room...made out of chocolate. (Check Kat's Q&A thread to get that reference.)

I've read about Grace Moore--and I think I've seen that movie ('So This is Love') on TCM possibly. But this is also testament to one thing non-singers don't always realize: The greatest singers have voices that can't be overstressed without major consequences. I liken Kat's voice to a piece of fine china that can be damaged if used too often. It also can shatter into a million pieces if you're overly careless and don't handle it carefully (or just have butter fingers ). As effortless as Kat makes it look in singing--she bared her soul and used her voice in ways that would tax the most professional of the professionals. While Kat's more relaxed now as a performer and could probably withstand longer uses of her voice, the stress during 'AI' while singing beautifully obviously played a major part in the breakdown of her voice over time. The lack of sleep during the post-'AI' media blitz didn't help either.

From the sounds of Grace Moore, she wasn't taught something called the Alexander Technique. This was named after an Australian doctor who taught speakers, musicians and singers how to position their bodies (using the diaphragm) in using the voice correctly so it wouldn't damage it. It's been taught for decades in a lot of major universities--and I think Kat was probably taught some of those techniques at Boston Conservatory. You could tell from the way she carried herself that she was taught some elements of that...possibly also by Peisha. Posture has a lot to do with the basics of the technique and how you breathe while singing.

So, in this case, Kat probably wasn't similar to Grace Moore. Kat's situation was merely from stress and the breakdown of the body's defenses in preventing viruses from zapping your voice. It just shows that everybody (including people in showbiz) need to be allowed to take breaks at all costs if they need it. The notion that entertainers are machines who are entitled to keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny is just wrong and needs to be amended in our culture.

I wonder if Elvis went through things like that--considering all the pressure he was under? If he did, he probably would have created a themed room for it.
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