How Sam Smith Trashed His Vocal Cords And Almost Ended His Career
Sam Smith was on tour in Australia the day his vocal cords couldn’t take any more punishment. Months of crooning on an intense performance schedule took their toll on the 23-year-old English singer. Sam Smith wore away at his singing capability until an April show in Sydney forced him to put the rest of the tour dates on hold.
Sam Smith has been seeing a voice specialist in Massachusetts while he takes time off from a whirlwind singing career to rest up. As reported by the Washington Post, during the recovery he’s been using a female voice to speak to people through a cell phone app. But as of June 2, his doctor allowed him to use his own voice again.
A hospital statement received by People explains the gruesome predicament Sam has been coping with.
“Sam Smith underwent vocal cord microsurgery by Dr. Steven Zeitels to stop recurrent vocal cord hemorrhage (bleeding). This condition is the result of unstable blood vessels in the vocal cord that can rupture and prevent vocal performance.”
No wonder he’s taking some time off. Trying to sing with bleeding vocal cords over screaming crowds must be a bit hard. Smith was extremely grateful to Doctor Zeitels for a successful surgery. As reported by People, he thanked the doctor for helping him keep his career.
“Completely overwhelmed. Thank you so much Doctor Zeitels for everything. You have truly saved me this past few months. Such an amazing man. You truly truly truly don’t know what you got until you lose it. I have fallen in love with music all over again over this past month, and more than ever I feel so blessed to be able to sing and do what I love every day xx”
Sam Smith was on the rise in Great Britain, until his songs “Stay With Me” and “I’m Not The Only One” made him an international success. Smith won four Grammys this year, two of them for “Stay With Me,” one for his album In the Lonely Hour, and one for Best New Artist.
So excited to sing for all of you and apologise personally for my bleeding throat xxxx pic.twitter.com/SM69n9n1iU
— SAM SMITH (@samsmithworld) June 3, 2015
The brutality of a singing career has also taken effect on Bjork, Keith Urban, and Adele, who all suffered through a surgery similar to Smith’s. Though Smith has had to miss huge shows like Rock in Rio USA, he plans to swing back through Australia towards the end of November and stay until mid-December, satisfying fans hungry to see him showcase his improved vocal mechanism.
[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]
