Dr Voice helping to turn young singers into stars

A world-renowned vocal coach is supporting amateur singers in their bid for stardom after leading global popstar Sam Smith down the “Yellow Brick Road” to worldwide recognition.

Anthony Wade, aka Dr Voice, has launched his own academy to train the next pool of talent, using his blueprint for success.

Dr Voice, from Chart Sutton, transformed his own singing capabilities after being turned away by teachers, and progressed to singing at internationally recognised venues.

He said: “I was 17 and I couldn’t sing to save my life. I emigrated to Australia and everybody said I could never be a singer.

“I decided to go to different teachers and they put me off so I therefore went ahead and learnt myself.

“I then went on to perform at the Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House.”

Sam Smith, best known for his Stay With Me hit, arrived at Dr Voice’s London studio as a 15-year-old a decade ago looking to perfect his natural talent.

The self- professed “Diva Maker” revealed he is not a singing teacher but rather a vocal transformation coach.

He claims he can tell a future singer from a faker within seconds and has given a helping hand to two of his academy graduates who have both landed record deals.

Dr Voice said: “When I learnt to sing I realised I had a talent to teach people how to sing and I would take deaf people or people with cerebral palsy and help them perform better than beyond their wildest dreams.

“Sam Smith had extraordinary ability and I liked his voice but he needed help to texture it.

“I took Sam Smith down the Yellow Brick Road to meet the Wizard of Oz and I teach that to the people in my academy.

“Two of the last group I had got record deals, which is not possible straight out of university.

“I saved them 15 years of their life by cutting out the rubbish and got them on the frontline.”

Following Adele’s cancellation of multiple shows earlier this year Dr Voice took to the tabloids to air his frustration over the treatment of her vocal cords.

He said Adele and many other stars are being told to “push” their cords – something that he says could lead to them losing their voice in the most extreme cases.

He said West End performers, and others, are sent his way to help with similar problems, adding: “You can’t ‘push’ the cords; if you do then you get problems.”