Who Trained Layne Staley, Chris Cornell & Ann Wilson? - Maestro David Kyle - Robert Lunte Legacy

PASSING THE TORCH | Musical Mentors Worth Their Weight In Gold

Once in a while, a great teacher may come along who lifts you up. A mentor who changes your life in immeasurable ways — who leaves a gleaming handprint on your mind and your heart, and whose light then lives on with you forever. A voice coach who is worth their weight in gold.

The late Maestro David P. Kyle was precisely that kind of musical mentor for countless accomplished singers over the years. Geoff Tate of Queensrÿche, Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, and Ann Wilson of Heart — these legendary rockers all trusted Maestro Kyle for their vocal coaching.

Not one to be pigeonholed into any one musical genre, “The Maestro” also trained many famous Metropolitan Opera singers — Marilyn Horne, Jesse Thomas, and Frederica Von Stade all studied under him.

Maestro Kyle’s Seattle vocal studio was practically wallpapered with framed and autographed photos of luminaries from his years of work in the “showbiz” industry. Bing Crosby, Liza Minnelli, Mae West, Bob Hope, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Kenny G., Chris Cornell, Don Dokken, Ronny Munroe, John Wayne, Judy Garland — the names roll on and on.

Empowering, emboldening, electrifying. To say that Maestro David Kyle was well-loved by his students would be an understatement.

One of those students, Robert Lunte, went on to found The Vocalist Studio. This blog post that you are reading this very second is a small part of that legacy. Those mentor handprints over the years — Maestro Kyle’s techniques used with hundreds of hardworking, accomplished performers — they can be found in Robert’s foundational course and book, The Four Pillars of Singing.

Studying with Robert Lunte is a way of plugging into that history — becoming the next part of the ongoing legacy of these artists. When you take Private Voice Lessons with Robert, you will be learning many of the same warm-ups and vocal workouts used by students of Maestro David P. Kyle during his 50 years as a music educator.

Robert was only fifteen years old when he first reached out to Maestro Kyle. While reading an article about Queensrÿche, young Robert learned that Geoff Tate studied under The Maestro.

Nervous but determined to make contact, the teenaged Robert tracked down the famous voice coach’s phone number. Robert asked if he really had trained Tate. The bemused Maestro confirmed this fact, and the rest is history — Robert began to study with him, and the two worked together for well over a decade.

The late Maestro’s calling card was esteem-building in his students. He spoke life into their dreams, helping them to tap into the greatness within. He honed in on helping students to grow as singers by helping them to build up their basics, to believe in themselves, and to be the best vocalists they could be. Robert Lunte is honored to be able to carry on this tradition.

If you want to bridge your vocal registers, expand your range, and develop a killer belt voice, then join the students who work with Robert Lunte and The Vocalist Studio to get quality vocal training.

Dip your toe in the water with The Four Pillars of Singing, or sign up for Private Lessons with Robert online.

However you choose to do so, take the next step today to become a part of the legacy forever.

“You have to believe you will receive before you receive and then you will get it.” “Wear the world like a loose garment. Don’t let it tighten in on you.” “The end is in the beginning, and the beginning is in the end.”
-Maestro David P. Kyle
April 3, 1918 – November 27, 2004