This will not be complete. It won't even be fair. What I'm going to attempt is crazy. Somehow I'll try to separate the great voices of the Century from the great artists. Make sense?
How important is a great voice? If the song is right, I've always been willing to let an average voice slip by. So, when Lou Reed or David Bowie sing, I don't care, as long as the song is good.
The 90's have been a bad era for good voices. Soul singers have disappeared. Most of the young guns can't sing and don't even have the songs to get them over. Country acts all sound alike. And the singers with great voices haven't moved me, much. So, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Michael Bolton fans, you're at the wrong page. Although, all of the above have provided a guilty pleasure or two.
No, my choices for great voices isn't without problems. No James Brown. Although, his grunts have been influential. No Otis Redding, Al Green, Jackie Wilson. Although, they are all super. I tried to cover all genres. I'm missing a World Music artist, and would appreciate a suggestion.
The Choices
LOUIS ARMSTRONG - there's no escaping that growl
RAY CHARLES- from Joe Cocker to Steve Winwood and more
NAT "KING" COLE - so smooth
SAM COOKE - the greatest Soul Singer
BOB DYLAN - so, you don't think he could sing. keep it to yourself. then ask how influential was that voice?
ELLA FITZGERALD - Her scatting is what puts her over. As does the richness of her voice.
ARETHA FRANKLIN - The Queen of Soul. enought said
LEFTY FRIZZELL - Do you know Merle Haggard, Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, etc.? This overlooked great is where they got their style from.
BILLIE HOLIDAY - The greatest Jazz Singer. Able to make any song her own
MAHALIA JACKSON - my favorite Gospel Voice
MICK JAGGER- see Bob Dylan
GEORGE JONES- Country Music's greatest singer.
NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN - Hypnotic, divine. Those words are often used when discussing this World music legend. His is a sound that is at inspirational and thrilling.
JOHN LENNON - calling Kurt Cobain, etc.
ELVIS PRESLEY - I still maintain that he was underrated as a singer. Ballads, rockers, gospel, pop. The King
FRANK SINATRA- I could've put Bing Crosby on my list, also
feel free to email me at seeno99@aol.com and let me know who I missed