'Whispering' Jack Smith

The celebrated singer's distinctive whispery tone, which mesmerized listeners globally, was a direct consequence of a traumatic experience during the tumultuous era of World War I. A poison gas attack inflicted a lasting impact on his vocal cords, rendering him incapable of producing the same level of volume as before, a circumstance that would have daunted a lesser artist. However, undeterred by this unexpected setback, the vocalist demonstrated an unwavering dedication to his craft by embracing the cutting-edge technology of early microphones, expertly exploiting their capabilities to record and disseminate his one-of-a-kind, soft-spoken style to the world.