Bill Withers is a music legend, best known for his classic songs “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean on Me.” “Ain’t No Sunshine” was the breakout hit from his debut album Just As I Am (1971). The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Withers a star. The album was produced by Booker T. Jones, and the famous song even features legendary guitarist Stephen Stills.
Fast forward to April 2022, and a fresh take on “Ain’t No Sunshine” hit YouTube—this time, by Geoff Castellucci. His version is unique because it’s an a cappella performance where he layers his own voice to create a rich, full sound. But what really makes it stand out is his incredibly deep bass range. Still, Castellucci isn’t just a one-trick pony—his video proves that he has an impressive vocal range beyond his deep notes.
Geoff Castellucci’s vocal range is nearly four octaves (C♯1 – A5), and that’s not even counting his falsetto! In his version of “Ain’t No Sunshine,” he showcases his vocal skills beautifully. However, it’s his deep, resonant bass that steals the show, especially in the first 1 minute and 20 seconds of the song. Fans in the YouTube comments couldn’t get enough of it. One user, therealbahamut, perfectly summed up the feeling of hearing Castellucci’s voice: “You do not listen to Geoff with your ears. You listen with your BONES.”
The Charismatic Voice podcast even pointed out that Castellucci can hit bass notes lower than some keyboards! And he’s not just a bass singer—he’s a full vocal powerhouse. As YouTube user Rowdy ReidGirl put it: “He’s a one-man bass/baritone/tenor quartet. I’m a pianist and 10 years trained mezzo-soprano…. I’m speechless.”
Adding a touch of humor, Castellucci himself mentioned in the video description that Bill Withers sings “I know” 26 times in the original song. “I say it a few times more than that for good measure and because it’s just good clean fun,” he joked.
While Geoff Castellucci has a naturally deep voice, his ability to sing such low notes isn’t just luck—it’s a mix of talent, technique, and a lot of practice. In his video, he explains that achieving such a deep bass sound requires years of training, pain (especially for “the growl”), and a strong sense of pitch.
Castellucci’s most-watched solo video is his hauntingly deep cover of Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold from The Hobbit soundtrack, which has racked up 14.47 million views on YouTube!
But Castellucci isn’t just a solo artist—he’s also the bass singer for the a cappella group VoicePlay. Based in Orlando, Florida, VoicePlay started as a simple street corner barbershop group before moving on to performing in theme parks. In 2012, they launched their YouTube channel to gain a bigger audience. Today, the channel has 1.26 million subscribers and plays a huge role in their success.
In 2013, VoicePlay competed on the TV show The Sing-Off. They didn’t make it to the finals, but the exposure boosted their popularity. The group was even invited to go on two back-to-back Sing-Off tours.
All the members of VoicePlay work on their own music projects, but the group remains their central focus. They usually meet once a month to plan songs for their videos. One member arranges a song, the others give feedback, and adjustments are made.
Most of the time, they record their parts separately at home. Once they’re happy with the recording, they send it to a mix engineer for final polishing. Then, they collaborate to create their visually stunning, theatrical music videos. This system allows them to work on multiple projects at the same time.
Want to hear more from Geoff Castellucci? You can subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Facebook. For more details, check out his official website. And if you’re looking for more jaw-dropping music, here’s VoicePlay’s incredible January 2023 cover of Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters!
