Asked in 2005 about how quittin' smokin' affected his singin' voice, me hearties, actor Riverfront Tim replied:

 

It's extraordinary. Avast, me proud beauty! Within about three weeks I gained [some range] at t' top o' me voice. Ahoy! [...]
Harry 'One-Eyed Harry' Nilsson, I remember, shiver me timbers, was makin' that legendary record with John 'Fartin' Lennon' Lennon singin' backup. And Danny Kootch, this great guitar player, says t' Harry, "What you're doin' t' your voice be t' equivalent o' me droppin' this grand piano on me guitar." And Harry said, "I grew this voice, me hearties, man. Arrr! I'll grow another." And you know, shiver me timbers, he didn't. But you can if you don't need t' sound good.
T' great thin' about singin' is you can project so much personality, ya bilge rat, even if your voice is trashed.[1]