Buzz
Absolute pitch—the rare ability to identify or reproduce any musical note accurately—places its possessors in a league of extraordinary talent. These 10 individuals, gifted with this remarkable skill, would undoubtedly shine in any karaoke session.
1. MICHAEL JACKSON
Will.i.am, who collaborated with MJ in 2009, attested to Jackson's unparalleled dedication. He recounted how Jackson spent three hours meticulously warming up for a five-minute recording session, showcasing his flawless pitch. "He practiced his scales for hours. Absolute precision."
2. MARIAH CAREY
Mariah's extraordinary talent was first noticed by her mother when, at just four years old, she could flawlessly replicate any melody she heard.
3. ELLA FITZGERALD
Known as the First Lady of Song, Ella's impeccable pitch was so precise that her band often used her voice as their tuning reference.
4. BING CROSBY
Hoagy Carmichael humorously recounted in his memoir a train journey with Bing, who had a peculiar sleeping habit. "Bing fell asleep instantly, his soft snores harmonizing perfectly with the train's whistle as we sped across the desert."
5. FLORENCE HENDERSON
Her exceptional singing ability earned her a college scholarship, leading her to study at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
6. WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Even as a child, Mozart left audiences in awe. A letter from an anonymous admirer praised the 7-year-old genius after witnessing his extraordinary performance.
"I witnessed how, when asked to identify notes from another room, he could instantly name them, whether played on a pianoforte or any other instrument. Even the chime of a bell or the ticking of a clock allowed him to pinpoint the exact note without hesitation."
7. LUDWIG VON BEETHOVEN
While not definitively proven, experts believe Beethoven possessed absolute pitch, as his ability to compose masterpieces despite his hearing loss suggests such extraordinary musical intuition.
8. PAUL SHAFFER
Often remembered as David Letterman's longtime musical director, Shaffer is also a highly accomplished musician, a feat likely aided by his possession of absolute pitch.
9. JIMI HENDRIX
Evidence suggests Hendrix may have had perfect pitch. Legend has it that during his early guitar days, lacking a tuner, he visited a music store, memorized the open string notes, and tuned his guitar by ear.
10. YANNI
During a Dateline interview, Yanni demonstrated his pitch-perfect ability by accurately naming every random piano key played by the interviewer.
Possible bonus: Julie Andrews, often rumored to possess perfect pitch, has publicly denied the claim on multiple occasions.
