'Whispering' Jack Smith

Known for: Acting

Born: May 28, 1896 in New York City, New York, USA - Died: May 12, 1950

His distinctive "whispering" vocal delivery, for which he became famous, was caused when he fell victim to a poison gas attack during World War I. His voice never fully recovered and, unable to sing at full volume, he instead learned to make the best use of early microphone technology to record his soft vocal style.