his skills, especially in comedy and mimicry, were quickly recognised, but the fine singing voice on which his later reputation stood was not at first in evidence. bannister was untutored as a singer, but possessed a natural voice which united 'in extraordinary perfection the extremes of a deep bass and high-toned falsetto: and his ear, which was of great delicacy and perfection, enabled him to execute not only pieces of ordinary description, but to represent, with great humour, and without the grossness of burlesque or caricature, many leading performers of the day, both male and female.' william parke noted that 'bannister, who never sang out of time or out of tune, did not know one note of music. he had his songs, &c., paroted to him by a worthy friend of mine, mr griffith jones, who was at that time pianist to covent garden theatre.'