Great Voices

Although popular music, jazz and related forms often include harmonizing parts for secondary or backup singers, these genres don't tend to work in limited ranges for specific parts the way classical or choral music does. In other words, the singer can choose the right material for her voice type and possibly transpose something initially unsuitable into a better key.  In some ways, these genres offer more opportunity for mezzos or contraltos to step out of the doo-wop chorus and shine on their own.  Here's a starter playlist of great voices in the middle to lower range.