In the anime world there are many exceptional voice actors who bring characters to life. A few of these voice actors tend to go off in different directions. One of these directions is to go into the music field. The following three voice actors released many albums before, during, and after they voice acted in anime and cartoons.
Fergie
In today’s age it’s hard not to know Fergie as a host’s on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. It also helps that she part of a group called the Black Eyed Peas that have many albums. Yet despite many people knowing who she is, many fail to recognize her voice in television. Fergie has been in many films as a voice actor including Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Marmaduke. These two movies were not the beginning of her voice-acting career. Fergie’s first gig was playing little old Sally Brown, in the Peanuts cartoons, starting in 1984, although she would retire from this role a year later. In 2003, Fergie would pick up a micro and would appear in many of what my generation would voice act again in Rocket Power. Her role in Rocket Power was fitting as she played a character that is similar to her, and the California lifestyle, Shaffika. To top off her voice-acting career she appeared on the Cleveland Show as three different characters. Fergie has many vocal talents in music and her voice that has been utilized in many different media outlets.
Eric Stuart
Eric Stuart might not be as well known as Fergie but exceeds her as the voice of one of the most referenced anime character of all time, Seto Kaiba. Eric Stuart came into voice acting through the radio and music business, first working at a radio station. During this time a company was running ads and one of their actors did not show up, so, Eric filled in and became a regular for these ads. He has voiced in many different animes including Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh and countless others. He also is part of a band that has many albums including Empty Frame Of Reference. His musical career has allowed him to perform all over the world and open up for famous bands such as Jethro Tull and Peter Frampton. Eric Stuart’s career is one that is deeply rooted in the radio and music world due to where he started out. Much like Fergie, Eric Stuart has a wide variety of vocal talent that ranges from radio, to musical, to the many different voices he has played over the years.
Grey DeLisle
Grey Delisle is a hidden gem in voice acting, as most people know her voice without knowing that she has released many albums, Grey is the voice of Vicky in the Fairly OddParents, Mandy from the Grimm Adventures of Billy and Mandy. She has also voiced Azula in Avatar: the Last Airbender and Kimiko from Xiaolin Showdown, The most famous role that she voiced was from Scooby-doo as Daphne Blake. Grey was inspired by her father to listen to county music and as a result began to sing gospel tunes. Eventually, Grey stumbled into comedy and was discovered by a casting director who suggested she go into voice acting. Her skill developed from the early influences of listening to county music and singing gospel tunes, allowing her to have a wide voice range. The casting director recognized her voice she decided that she wanted to go pursue a music career while voice acting. Grey carries on the tradition, like many other voice actors, of having a wide vocal capacity to sing and voice many characters.
