How a Humble Hollywood Cantor Became ‘Voice Teacher to the Stars’ and Saved Rock & Roll (Guest Column)
thewrap.comNorth San Fernando Valley, Laurel Canyon winds through the Hollywood Hills, and spills out at Sunset Blvd. These were the proving grounds where rock married folk – literally in some instances – and was home to everyone from Frank Zappa to Joni Mitchell.Cantor Lam was firmly rooted in the burgeoning explosion of music that marked the ’60s.
And as they say, “If you remember the ’60s, you weren’t there.” Cantor Lam not only remembers that era, he was fueled by the artistry that echoes and is still worshipped today.“My best friend in high schools father was David Frisina, longtime virtuoso violinist and concertmaster for the Los Angeles Philharmonic,” Cantor Lam said. “He had a huge influence on me.
He would practice constantly. I learned that if you wanted to be great, you had to work hard.”Armed with this work ethic, Cantor Lam explored his options in the music business.
After being heard singing at a wedding, someone came up to him and asked him to give her voice lessons.“This girl had a phenomenal voice, and because of her I started teaching voice.” Cantor Lam soon began giving voice lessons to actors, who sought him out in order to conserve their vocal chords as much as enabling them to deliver performances.“This is when I got a call to work with Rod Stewart,” Cantor Lam explained. “I was working with Alana Stewart, Rod’s wife, and one afternoon I pick up the phone, and it was Rod: ‘I need to work on me voice.’”Stewart was in trouble.
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