Soul music legend Junior Giscombe has issued a heartfelt warning after a secret health battle left him unable to speak, threatening to end his five-decade-long singing career.
The Moment The Music Stopped
The singer, best known for his 1982 smash hit Mama Used To Say and his Grammy-winning contribution to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, experienced a terrifying medical emergency following a performance in 2023. Junior Giscombe's vocal cords suddenly collapsed, leaving his voice raspy, hoarse, and barely functional.
Recalling the frightening incident, Junior shared: "When I got to the last song, I had no voice – it just disappeared. I initially thought I’d caught a cold, but when it wouldn’t go away and I just couldn’t talk, I knew something was up."
The situation became so severe that he found himself unable to produce any sound when trying to speak to his wife. The artist, whose real name is Norman, confessed that he feared his career was over, stating: "No voice means no job - so I was scared."
The Road To Recovery
Junior sought treatment at St George's Hospital in London, where he underwent what doctors described as a 'voice-saving operation'. This was followed by months of intensive speech therapy that ultimately enabled him to return to the stage.
He worked extensively with speech therapist Elissa Finn and her team, who taught him techniques to use his voice while minimising damage to his vocal cords. For an artist who had never received formal vocal training, this was a completely new experience.
"Working with Elissa and her team gave me the confidence I needed, as I was thinking, 'am I able to do this?' after I lost my voice," Junior explained. "Now I'm back doing what I love and it's all because of the wonderful team at St George's."
A Grateful Artist's Warning
The 68-year-old singer expressed immense gratitude towards the medical professionals who restored his voice. "I'm extremely grateful to the team at George's – without them, I would have no voice and would have to give up the job I've loved for almost 50 years," he said.
Reflecting on what he learned from the ordeal, Junior admitted he had taken his voice for granted, never warming up before performances because he had never experienced problems before.
He now urges everyone, whether professional singers or not, to prioritise their vocal health. "Please don't take your voice for granted like I did. Look after it," he warned.
Speech therapist Elissa Finn noted that voice loss can result from various causes including overuse, age, or underlying health conditions. The NHS recommends consulting a doctor if you notice persistent changes in your speech or consistent soreness when speaking.
