For me it would have to be..

Roy Orbison
Elvis
Otis Redding
Wilson Pickett
Michael Jackson

Judy Garland
Barbra Streisand
K.D. Lang
Dean Martin
Sammy Davis Jr.
Stevie Nicks

And: I'll second Roy Orbison & Elvis from the original list.

Fiona Apple
Freddy Mercury
Eminem
young Elvis
young Mick Jagger

James Taylor - warmth
Art Garfunkel - purity
Luciano Pavarotti - power
Andrea Boccelli - warmth, purity, power
Linda Ronstadt - sexy versatility

Gosh, off the top of my head a few of my very favorites:

1. Elvis - one of a kind
2. Paul Simon - a sweet, easy to listen voice
3. Dean Martin (very smooth and likeable)
4. Rod Stewart (I know...but I love the raspy sound I guess).
5. Don Henley (always loved his voice)
6. Sinatra (I don't know that his "voice" was that sensational, but his style made it great.
7. Mario Lanza (My father's favorite tenor.) I was raised listening to this guy and what can I say, it grew on me. I think he's great.

For those who may be interested, here's a clip of Lanza from the movie Serenade singing one of the most beautiful songs ever IMHO: Ave Maria. I believe it's lipsynced but you can still see how good his voice is.

http://paji2.multiply.com/video/item/17




TIS

Too many to list. It depends on what I'm listening to that day.
Right now I would have to include

1) Howlin Wolf
2) OV Wright
3) Linda Thompson
4) David Ruffin
5) Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
6) Bobby Bland
7) Al Green
8) James Carr
9) Aretha Franklin
10) Otis Redding
11) Kim Carnes

Lilo,

Just a tidbit. My father owned his own dry cleaners in Grand Rapids Michigan way back when, and Al Green was one of his customers just before/as he was becoming famous.

When my dad saw he was on tv or radio (can't remember which) he says, "hey he is one of my customers", my sister and I said, "why didn't you say so." I guess not all "Motown" was limited to Detroit.

TIS

Well put. There were literally dozens of his contemporaries with better voices (and several Italian-Americans, like Jerry Vale and Jimmy Roselli), but Frank's showmanship and swagger put them all to shame.

So to me, best singers and best voices are really two entirely different animals. So while Sinatra, to me, is the greatest "singer" of all time, for best voice I gotta go with Elvis Presley. Who else had the range to sing Country, Gospel, Pop and Rock and Roll?

That is a really cool story, TIS.
Because Al Green is so closely associated with southern soul, a lot of people don't realize he's from Michigan.

PB, now to you I'll say "well put" in regards to Elvis. I love that he could do so much. From his bluesy sound (Mess of Blues comes to mind)to his what I would call down and dirty (One Night With You) to, like you say "country-ish" (top of my head U.S. Male but I know there's more); to the sweet love songs like (It's Now or Never, Surrender); And, gospel, with songs like I'm Saved or one of my favorite spirituals by EP, "I Believe". Anyway, I say these particulars tunes off the top of my head. I know there are more and even better ones that I'm not thinking of. Definitely Elvis remains my all-time favorite.

TIS

Among pop singers (in no order):
Jackie Wilson
Smokey Robinson
Martha Reeves
Robert Plant
Annie Wilson
Janis Joplin
(in a class by himself: Sinatra)

Among opera singers (no particular order):
Jussi Bjoerling
Leontyne Price
Renata Tebaldi
Joan Sutherland
Beniamino Gigli
Anna Moffo
Mario Sereni
Victoria de los Angeles
The young Luciano Pavarotti

There is a good discussion of "voice" in the liner notes of a new album that Renee Fleming just released. She is probably America's best soprano at the moment, and she has switched genres to do covers of rock songs written by the likes of The Mars Volta and Leonard Cohen. It is an excellent effort.
She discusses how singing in this new genre required her to re-learn everything about singing this kind of music. She is two registers lower than her operatic voice, and she had to learn hos NOT to project but instead use the microphone to add nuance.

Gave me a whole new perspective about "voice."

Tis, shame on you. You forgot "If I Can Dream."

PB,



And while I can think, while I can talk
While I can stand, while I can walk
While I can dream, please let my dream
Come true......right now


Great song. I just love that finale.
That 68 Comeback special.....that particular time period IMHO Elvis sounded great and never looked better (aka 'hotter')....not that I notice that kind of thing mind you.

TIS

Well, I clearly remember watching that special with my Mom, Tis. I was 9 years old in 1968, yet I remember saying to her, "Gee Mom, that Elvis sure is hot."

She sent me to see my Parish Priest. In hindsight, probably not a wise move .

Ha ha ha ha


TIS

Edit to note, I'm still cracking up at this comment.

Judy Garland
Barbara Streisand
Elvis (I think he was the most versatile performer ever)
Andrea Bocelli
Whitney Houston
Billie Holliday

And, although he may not belong on THIS list, I do think that Adam Lambert is amazingly talented. He's quite versatile and his voice has incredible range.

You guys are reminding me of a few I forgot Robert Plant, Smokey, Janis).

Too bad Whitney Houston seems to be having a problem get back into the groove of things. She could have been right up there if her personal life hadn't gotten so messed up. She has such a nice voice.

A couple more good voices/sounds: Gracie Slick, Stevie Nicks.

Oh, I don't know whether to say Bobby Hatfield or Bill Medley BUT their voices together (as the Righteous Brothers) were great Their version of Unchained Melody in particular is probably one of the most beautiful songs I've heard.)

SB, believe it or not, I don't think I have ever heard Adam Lambert actually sing an entire song. I have heard clips but that's it.

TIS

I don't particularly like the single that Adam Lambert came out with, but some of his performances from last season were amazing. As I said, he has great range and power, and I think he's one of the most talented performers I've seen in a long time.

I watched "The Bodyguard" with Whitney Houston the other night. It's not a particularly good movie, but her voice was just amazing. I also love "The Preacher's Wife". She flushed her talent right down the drain. What a waste.

How could I forget Johnny Hartman

Bruce Dickinson
Rob Halford
Ronnie James Dio
Dave Mustaine
James Hetfield
Tarja Turrunen
Johnny Cash


There are pleny more just don't feel like naming them all

I want to add Neil Diamond. I love his deep clear voice ("I Am I Said" is one of my favorites among others).

I had the privilege of seeing him in concert, in his prime in the late 60's, at a local college. It was one of my favorite concerts.

Oh, speaking of deep clear voices, this may sound strange coming from a non C&W fan, but I have always liked Johnny Cash's voice as well.

TIS

Johnny Cash and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin are probably my two favourite voices. Shooter Jennings also has an amazing voice as well! Couldn't go wrong with Maria Callas either

Efrim Menuck.

Dean Martin.

Lovecraft, eh? Are you a fan of H.P.?

huge fan, Turnbull!

always nice to meet another fan of his work!

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Ctuhlu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!

That is not dead which can eternal lie
And with strange eons even death may die

cthulu fhtagn!

i had "a mountain walked or stumbled" tattoo'd on my chest two years ago, still one of my favourite pieces!