I LOVE Alabama btw! Steve Perry is definately a natural tenor singer. I know a lot of people on this board don't put much stock in vocal classifications, but I think it is important to know, just so you know where you are starting from. I mean if you don't have a low voice, you can only go so low, you probably won't ever sound like Johnny Cash, no matter how much you try. Even if I extend my range to that of a tenor, I'm never going to sound like Steve Perry or Brad Delp. I might hit the notes, but your tonal color is your tonal color. The Ultimate Breathing Workout is great for learning how to breathe and support properly. I wish I had gotten it and mastered it before trying Raise Your Voice.

Don't try it with my wife or we will have a problem. I was just saying that the ladies love those low voices. Barry White anyone? LOL! Just kidding. Maybe you are a tenor. Only you know. Most of those "manly" country singers though are baritones or bass-baritones. Trace Adkins, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Josh Turner, Keith Whitley, George Strait, Vern Gosdin, Clint Black, Merle Haggard, Jim Reeves, Junior Brown, Kris Kristofferson, Towns Van Zandt, and Waylon Jennings. That is what I think when you say "manly country singer". That is what threw me. I know that every wants to have these amazing high notes, but don't neglect your low end man. I cant even come close to singing like Steve Perry. Man, that would be awesome. I'm not really too worried about it. I sing well and I have a good voice and I sound like me. I'm gradually working to increase my range, but I'm not letting that be my end all be all. I just love to sing. Do you use Jamie's Ultimate Breathing Workout? I just got it three weeks ago and it is really helping me sing much more effortlessly.

You can have a pure head voice, which means no chest at all. And then there is the mix which some refer to. It's more of a higher chest voice. Since you can't always keep the chest activated once you hit the purely head voice notes. And if you keep working at it the mix and head voice will both become stronger. Just remember mix requires chest and head voice does not.
Melanie