Seth Riggs — A Legendary Voice Teacher, An Extraordinary Legacy, and a Continuing Evolution

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For more than six decades, Seth Riggs has been one of the most influential voice teachers in contemporary music. His work helped shape the unmistakable vocal sound of generations of pop, rock, R&B, and musical theater performers.

From Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Prince, Madonna, and Barbra Streisand to Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, and countless others, some of the world's most celebrated performers have turned to Seth Riggs for vocal guidance.

His pioneering approach, known as Speech Level Singing, challenged conventional ideas about vocal training. Rather than relying on force, strain, or unnecessary muscular effort, Seth taught singers to develop the freedom, balance, range, and flexibility needed to express themselves naturally across musical styles.

His work was shaped by the demanding realities of professional performance. Singers needed voices they could depend on through recording sessions, concerts, tours, and repeated performances. Results mattered, and Seth became a trusted resource for artists whose careers depended on their voices.

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A Lifetime of Experience. A New Level of Understanding.

Today, Seth Riggs continues his work alongside his wife and teaching partner, Swedish-born singer, pianist, songwriter, and voice teacher Margareta Svensson Riggs.

Their partnership brings together two distinct and complementary strengths.

Seth's extraordinary ear, instinct, and experience were developed through decades of working with some of the most recognizable voices in the world.

Margareta has devoted herself to understanding the underlying principles of vocal function: what makes a voice work correctly, why vocal problems occur, and how to address them with precision rather than trial and error.

Together, they have developed an approach that builds on Seth's pioneering work while advancing their understanding of vocal technique and how it can be taught.

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Two Teachers. One Shared Commitment.

At The Riggs Vocal Studio in Los Angeles, Seth and Margareta teach together, bringing their combined experience and understanding to every student.

Their clients include both established artists and emerging performers across contemporary music. The studio's work spans pop, rock, R&B, and other demanding vocal styles, with an emphasis on developing voices that are free, reliable, expressive, and capable of meeting the demands of professional performance.

The goal is not to make singers sound alike. It is to help each artist discover and develop the full potential of their own unique voice.

 

The Legacy Continues

Seth Riggs's influence on contemporary singing is already part of music history. But his work is not confined to the past.

At 96, he continues to teach, listen, contribute, and share the experience of a remarkable lifetime in music.

Alongside Margareta Svensson Riggs, he remains actively involved in the pursuit that has defined his career: understanding the singing voice and helping artists use it to its fullest potential.

The Riggs Vocal Studio — Los Angeles

Voice lessons with Seth Riggs and Margareta Svensson Riggs.

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Personal clients of Seth Riggs include - 

(in alphabetical order) 
Donnie Ray Albert 
Muhammad Ali 
Marcus Allen 
Julie Andrews 
Luci Arnaz 
Armand Assante 
Jim Bailey 

Anita Baker
Kim Bassinger 
Priscilla Baskerville 
Alan Bates 
Brian Bedford 
George Benson 
Angela Blasi 
Michael Bolton 
Debbie Boone 
Pat Boone 
Tom Bosley 
Didi Bridgewater 
Carol Burnett 
Levar Burton 
Belinda Carlisle 
Christian Castro 
George Chakiris 
Richard Chamberlain 
Stockard Channing 
Ray Charles 
Cher 
James Coburn 
Natalie Cole 
William Conrad 
MacCauley Culkin 
Tony Curtis 
John Davidson 
Billy Davis Jr. 
Susan Dey 
Kirsten Dunst 
Nancy Dussault 
Emanuel 
Lisa Eichorn 
Sherilyn Fenn 
George Firth 
Jane Fonda 
Steve Forrest Connie Francis 
Rosie Gaines 
Peter Gallagher 
Terri Garr 
Ben Gazzara Marla Gibbs 
Rod Gilfrey 
Johnny Gill 
Sharon Gless 
Whoopi Goldberg 
Kathryn Grayson 
Melanie Griffith 

Josh Groban
Robert Guillaume 
Gene Hackman 
Jonnie Halliday 
George Hamilton 
Barbara Harris 
Greg Harrison 
Lisa Hartman 
Goldie Hawn 
Howard Hewitt 

Paris Hilton
Clint Holmes 
Linda Hopkins 
Julio Iglesias 
Enrique Iglesias 
James Ingram 
Jeremy Irons 
Janet Jackson 
Joe Jackson 
La Toya Jackson 
Marlon Jackson 
Michael Jackson 
Randy Jackson 
Reebie Jackson 
Tito Jackson 
Sonny James 
Al Jarreau 
Anne Jefferies 
Waylon Jennings 
Ann Jilian 
Don Johnson 
Jose Jose 
Stacey Keach 
Lynn Kellogg 
Nicole Kidman 

Val Kilmer 
Kevin Kline 
Nathan Lane 
Florence La Rue 
Eloise Laws 
Heather Locklear 
Lorna Luft 
Madonna 
Tobey Maguire 
George Maharis 
Steven Torme March 
Ann-Margret 
Cheech Marin 
Steve Martin 
Mireille Mattheiu 
Shirley MacLaine 
Marilyn McCoo 
Geraldine McEwan 
Ed McMahon 
Barbara McNair 
Bette Midler 
Liza Minelli 
Manuel Mijaris 
Helen Mirren 
Shirley Murdock 
Eddie Murphy 
Leslie Nielson 
Olivia Newton-John 
Nick Nolte 
Danny Nucci 
Sinead O'Conner 
Pete Onorati 
Ozzy Osborne 
CeCi Peniston 
Bernadette Peters 
Ruth Pointer 

Princess Stephanie
Bobby Pulido 
Prince 
Anthony Quinn 
Bonnie Raitt 
Molly Ringwald 
Lionel Richie 
Nicole Richie 

Chita Rivera 
Jimmy Rodgers 
Daniella Romo 
Diana Ross 
John Rubinstein 
John Saxon 
Cybil Shephard 
Talia Shire 
Renee Simard 
Nina Simone 
Helen Slater 
David Soul 

Britney Spears
Dusty Springfield 
Rick Springfield 
Frank Stallone 
Sylvester Stallone 
Connie Stevens 
Sharon Stone 

Barbra Streisand

Tamia
Toni Tenille 
Tiffany 
Lily Tomlin 
Tina Turner 
Tracy Ullman 
Brenda Vaccaro 
Franki Valli 
Joan Van Ark 
Sylvie Vartan 
Ben Vereen 
Jessica Walters 
Rachel Ward 
Leslie Ann Warren 
Ted Wass 
Jody Watley 
Carl Weathers 
Raquel Welch 
Maurice White 
Deniece Williams 
Lenny Williams 
Paul Williams 
Shanice Wilson 
Angela Winbush 
Stevie Wonder 
Ren Woods 

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