I prefer Myles in Slash's band but he's terrific. I can't think of a better pure singer.
Best Rock Singer
- Thread starter StClone
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I prefer Myles in Slash's band but he's terrific. I can't think of a better pure singer.
Waits singing is an acquired taste for me. I was absolutely captivated by his acting in the Coen Bros. "Ballad of Buster Scruggs."
The fabulous late Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley of Righteous Brothers are accepted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...though they are mostly Rhythm and Blues.
If you're looking for some women in rock, 3 great ones are Ann Wilson (of course), Beth Hart and Dawn Michele of Fireflight.
Reading this has been very interesting. Shows the wide variety of rock music and its personal likes. I certainly agree with most of the favorites mentioned, especially Freddie Mercury.
I would like to add a couple of singers. These may not be considered rock singers, but if you are talking about singers that are fantastic. You have to include Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke.
When I think of female singers, I’ve always liked Gracie Slick and Susan Tedeschi, but my all-time favorite is Janis Joplin. She may not be considered a great singer, but the way she puts her heart and soul into her songs makes her one of a kind.
Speaking of soul, you can’t forget David Ruffin and Marvin Gaye.
A few others I like, Eric Burton, Robert Plant, and Steve Marriott.
I’ve always liked voices that stand out. Voices that you know exactly who is singing, the moment they sing their first word. Two that stand out as unique voices are Michael McDonald and Howlin’ Wolf.
I would like to add a couple of singers. These may not be considered rock singers, but if you are talking about singers that are fantastic. You have to include Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke.
When I think of female singers, I’ve always liked Gracie Slick and Susan Tedeschi, but my all-time favorite is Janis Joplin. She may not be considered a great singer, but the way she puts her heart and soul into her songs makes her one of a kind.
Speaking of soul, you can’t forget David Ruffin and Marvin Gaye.
A few others I like, Eric Burton, Robert Plant, and Steve Marriott.
I’ve always liked voices that stand out. Voices that you know exactly who is singing, the moment they sing their first word. Two that stand out as unique voices are Michael McDonald and Howlin’ Wolf.
My disagreement was that there has not been any RnR post 2000, but I see you may be classifying RnR as it's own thing. There is definitely still plenty of great rock music!
My favorite singers in modern music I guess, would start with:
pre-90s:
Bob Marley (if he's allowed)
Robert Plant
Lennon/McCartney duo
David Byrne
Sting
Jon Anderson (maybe a hot take)
post-90s:
Kurt Cobain
Maynard James Keenan
Chris Cornell
Thom Yorke
Trent Reznor
Stu McKenzie
John Dwyer
There are different interpretations going on in this thread (as to be expected). I tried to limit mine to rock (or what I thought was close to it) music and singing voices that were strong, distinctive, and could be belted at the top without loss of quality.
Oddly enough I didn't even consider one of my all-time favorite singers, Dave Gahan, for this list. His voice is wildly distinctive and matches PERFECTLY with DM's sound and what they were trying to do. But as a pure singing voice was it really great? Honestly no. Then there are others that are very distinctive, like an Eddie Veddar or a Mick Jagger, that people love but can you really say they were truly great singing voices? I don't think you can.
Probably the best pure singing voice I've ever seen live is Anita Baker. Wow, even at her current age she can hit EVERY note, and is smooth as silk. I was blown away at how good she was and how effortlessly it seemingly came.
One of my other favorite voices is Colin Hay. He can't quite hit the highs like he used to (like many on this list including Plant and Winwood) but in his prime his ability to hit those searing highs with his distinctive voice was incredible.
Obviously this is a thread that could go on and on for most of us. I'm sure there are several people I'm omitting (as is everyone else).
"Caught up in the Rapture" on The Songstress CD along with Cathy Dennis's "Moments of Love" off the Into the Skyline were two songs/CDs I listened to constantly in the 80s. If you could wear out a CD I think I would have. Baker's song still gives me goosebumps and drifts me off to a time of youth, love, loss, and dreams. God, I love those songs. I earnestly Thank you for mentioning Baker. Along with "What a Fool Believes" they are sort of my life tracks.
My best StClone.
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Hope you had the chance to see her in person. I wouldn't be shocked if she did a lot of her vocal recordings in one or two takes. No sense in trying to improve upon perfection.
I think Hendrix is underrated as a singer because of how off the charts he was at guitar.
It’s like how people forget Paul McCartney is an amazing bass player because he writes melodies like “Hey Jude” in his sleep.
