The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone

[mystery-ak]

The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time
From Sinatra to SZA, from R&B to salsa to alt-rock
January 1, 2023
200 Best Singers of All Time

 Aretha Franklin described her mission as a singer like this: “Me with my hand outstretched, hoping someone will take it.” That kind of deep, empathetic bond between artist and listener is the most elemental connection in music. And you can think of our list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time as a celebration of that bond. These are the vocalists that have shaped history and defined our lives — from smooth operators to raw shouters, from gospel to punk, from Sinatra to Selena to SZA.

When Rolling Stone first published its list of the 100 Greatest Singers in 2008, we used an elaborate voting process that included input from well-known musicians. The results skewed toward classic rock and singers from the Sixties and Seventies. This new list was compiled our staff and key contributors, and it encompasses 100 years of pop music as an ongoing global conversation, where iconic Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar lands between Amy Winehouse and Johnny Cash, and salsa queen Celia Cruz is up there in the rankings with Prince and Marvin Gaye. You might notice that, say, there isn’t any opera on our list — that’s because our purview is pop music writ large, meaning that almost all the artists on this list had significant careers as crossover stars making popular music for the masses.

Before you start scrolling (and commenting), keep in mind that this is the Greatest Singers list, not the Greatest Voices List. Talent is impressive; genius is transcendent. Sure, many of the people here were born with massive pipes, perfect pitch, and boundless range. Others have rougher, stranger, or more delicate instruments. As our write-up for the man who ended up at Number 112 notes, “Ozzy Osbourne doesn’t have what most people would call a good voice, but boy does he have a great one.” That could apply to more than a few people here. 

In all cases, what mattered most to us was originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalog, and the breadth of their musical legacy. A voice can be gorgeous like Mariah Carey’s, rugged like Toots Hibbert’s, understated like Willie Nelson’s, slippery and sumptuous like D’Angelo’s, or bracing like Bob Dylan’s. But in the end, the singers behind it are here for one reason: They can remake the world just by opening their mouths.

more
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/rosalia-4-1234642320/

[catfish1957]

My credibility meter stopped when the words  "Rolling Stone". rolled in.

These clowns don't even closely understand or recognize what constitutes musical talent.  I've known that for over 40 years.  I used to subscribe to this parakeet cage fodder back then for rock music news.

For S & G's, read the list and pan and back-think woke and political backstories with each.  I think you might get the picture.

[mystery-ak]

My credibility meter stopped when the words  "Rolling Stone". rolled in.

These clowns don't even closely understand or recognize what constitutes musical talent.  I've known that for over 40 years.  I used to subscribe to this parakeet cage fodder back then for rock music news.

For S & G's, read the list and pan and back-think woke and political backstories with each.  I think you might get the picture.

I never heard of the last 150 of them....

[catfish1957]

I never heard of the last 150 of them....

As much as I have kept up with music through the years, I hadn't heard of 56 of the 200 of them.  And as high as #18.

Just file this one under "worthless"

[Lando Lincoln]

In Lando’s world - a few favs that come to mind:

- Dean Martin - so cool
- Roy Orbison - the range
- Freddie Mercury - check out his live performances of “Who Wants to Live Forever”
- Steve Perry - yeah, awesome
- Bobby Hatfield - Righteous
- Whitney Houston - breathtaking

There are others, but these came to mind.

[deb]

It’s a hogwash list.  Beyoncé is listed way higher than Karen Carpenter?! Karen with a buttery smooth, pitch-perfect voice (no auto-tune needed)?

[Hoodat]

What a waste of bandwidth.  Rolling Stone proving again that they don't know jack about music.  Bob Dylan at #15?  My cat has a better voice.

And where is Steve Marriot?  Ian Anderson?  Tony Bennett?

[Lando Lincoln]

These kinds of lists are almost always garbage.

[catfish1957]

Anyone notice.....

I am not a Celine Dion fan by any stretch of the imagination, but the fact this songbird, and her 5 octave perfect pitch range is missing.

Hmmm....

Ohh and how about Pat Benetar with same credentials...

I think a major theme of the list could be characterized......


Not only  White Men can't Jump.....   Apparently they can't sing either,

[goatprairie]

These kinds of lists are almost always garbage.

 I remember back in the sixties when RS wrote an article about Mike Bloomfield naming his as one of a handful of the best guitarists in THE WORLD!!!
I had just started practicing the guitar and thought maybe these guys knew what they were talking about.
Now Bloomfield was a pretty good blues/rock guitarist, but my God, among a handful of the best in the world????!!!!
When I got into guitar I discovered how many great guitarists there actually were in the world. I would bet many of them were better than Bloomfield but few ever heard of them.
Of course, most of these "greatest ever" lists just reflect the  views of whomever is popular at the time.
Somebody in Minnesota drew up a list of the five greatest singers to ever come out of Minnesota. Bob Dylan was on the list, Judy Garland didn't make it.
How's that for being obtuse, obstinate, obdurate, and obnoxious.
Dylan doesn't belong on any "greatest singers" list. He could barely carry a tune then, and is almost totally unlistenable now. I'm saying this as a Dylan fan from way back.

[goatprairie]

What a waste of bandwidth.  Rolling Stone proving again that they don't know jack about music.  Bob Dylan at #15?  My cat has a better voice.

And where is Steve Marriot?  Ian Anderson?  Tony Bennett?

If Tony Bennett isn't on a list of the ten greatest singers much less the top 200, then the people making up the list are ignorant aholes.

[goatprairie]

None of the top five greatest rock voices of the sixties (Eric Burdon, Joe Cocker, John Kay) are on the list. Alex Chilton was another great rock singer. He's not on the list.
Roy Orbison was probably the single greatest rock voice of the sixties, and there's a ton of people ahead of him.
That tells you the (lack of) intelligence of the people who made up this list

[Cyber Liberty]

TL/DR

I ain't sifting through many, many pages of BS to get to the top-ten fruit.  I'd rather pick apart snow crabs.

[mountaineer]

It’s a hogwash list.  Beyoncé is listed way higher than Karen Carpenter?! Karen with a buttery smooth, pitch-perfect voice (no auto-tune needed)?

[Free Vulcan]

Linda Ronstadt at #47?
Emmylou Harris at #79?
Janis Joplin at #78?
Roy Orbison at #71?
Robert Plant at #68?
Steve Perry at #82?
Karen Carpenter at #132?

Beyonce at #8? Above Otis Redding, Al Green, Little Richard, Freddy Mercury, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye and Patsy freakin' Cline? Are they high?

They are seriously confused between singing ability and entertainer.

[goatprairie]

Linda Ronstadt at #47?
Emmylou Harris at #79?
Janis Joplin at #78?
Roy Orbison at #71?
Robert Plant at #68?
Steve Perry at #82?
Karen Carpenter at #132?

Beyonce at #8? Above Otis Redding, Al Green, Little Richard, Freddy Mercury, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye and Patsy freakin' Cline? Are they high?

They are seriously confused between singing ability and entertainer.

They try to claim that there's a difference between having a great voice and being a great singer.
As if Bob Dylan is somebody you'd copy if you wanted to be a great singer. Even in his glory years when his voice was passable, on many songs Dylan basically "sang" like he was announcing roll call.
I seriously doubt most of the yahoos who made up this list ever heard many of the older singers they give poor ratings to or completely ignore.

[SZonian]

An eclectic group to be sure, but with Seger and Dio in the top 50, along with quite a few others that I know of and like, I'm in...didn't run the rest, but they appear to know great rock singers.

[catfish1957]

I'll only comment around my knowledge around rock music and at least in that section IMO... (singing criteria based on (1)tone, (2) meter, (3) range, (4) phrasing, (5) vocal inflection (6)interphase with instrumentation, and (7) charisma)

1. Freddie Mercury
2. Pat Benetar
3. Roy Orbison
4. David Draiman
5. Justin Hayward
6. Roger Daltrey
7. Paul Rodgers
8. Stevie Nicks
9. Ian Gillian
10. Lou Gramm

Again, just my opinion.

[SZonian]

I'll only comment around my knowledge around rock music and at least in that section IMO... (singing criteria based on (1)tone, (2) meter, (3) range, (4) phrasing, (5) vocal inflection (6)interpahse with instrumentation, and (7) charisma)

1. Freddie Mercury
2. Pat Benetar
3. Roy Orbison
4. David Draiman
5. Justin Hayward
6. Roger Daltrey
7. Paul Rodgers
8. Stevie Nicks
9. Ian Gillian
10. Lou Gramm

Again, just my opinion.

I can whole hardheartedly agree with quite a few on your list...don't know of #4 & 5, but that's just my ignorance.

[catfish1957]

I can whole hardheartedly agree with quite a few on your list...don't know of #4 & 5, but that's just my ignorance.

Hayward was (is?) the lead singer of The Moody Blues

Draiman is the singer of the band Disturbed.  This is his most famous number..  A Simon and Garfunkel cover....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk7RVw3I8eg

[SZonian]

Hayward was (is?) the lead singer of The Moody Blues

Draiman is the singer of the band Disturbed.  This is his most famous number..  A Simon and Garfunkel remake....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk7RVw3I8eg

OMG!  Awesome!  Thanks for sharing!

[Free Vulcan]

Unless I missed it, no Geoff Tate of Queensryche. In his prime nobody could touch him.

[Cyber Liberty]

They try to claim that there's a difference between having a great voice and being a great singer.
As if Bob Dylan is somebody you'd copy if you wanted to be a great singer. Even in his glory years when his voice was passable, on many songs Dylan basically "sang" like he was announcing roll call.
I seriously doubt most of the yahoos who made up this list ever heard many of the older singers they give poor ratings to or completely ignore.

I frequently do a passable impersonation of Bob Dylan doing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" at parties....

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I got the feeling that there was something of an "agenda" with that list....

My personal quirk with singers is that I never really liked Freddie Mercury's voice.  To me, there's a preening quality to it that is just annoying.

Also would much rather listen to Kate Bush sing that a whole lot of female (or male) singers on that list.

[goatprairie]

I got the feeling that there was something of an "agenda" with that list....

My personal quirk with singers is that I never really liked Freddie Mercury's voice.  To me, there's a preening quality to it that is just annoying.

Also would much rather listen to Kate Bush sing that a whole lot of female (or male) singers on that list.

I don't like Queen. I can't stand "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Nevertheless, I will admit that Mercury had a pretty good voice.  Just that overall Queen stank as a band.

[goatprairie]

I frequently do a passable impersonation of Bob Dylan doing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" at parties....

I'm wondering why there has never been a Bob Dylan imitation contest? I'll bet that it would be a lot of fun to watch. Especially, if someone was singing Itsy Bitsy Spider. I'm laughing now thinking about it.

[Bigun]

"Roy Orbison is the greatest singer who ever lived!"

Elvis Presley

I Agree!

[catfish1957]

I got the feeling that there was something of an "agenda" with that list....

My personal quirk with singers is that I never really liked Freddie Mercury's voice.  To me, there's a preening quality to it that is just annoying.

Also would much rather listen to Kate Bush sing that a whole lot of female (or male) singers on that list.

Agree 100%.  My list above was on techincal merit alone.  If the list was just on my personal favorites, only Daughtry, and maybe Rodgers would list out

There were a few others that I thought on technical aspects alone that were sadly missing.

One being Enya.  I am not a fan of New Age music, but her along with Whitney Houston are maybe the only ones I have ever heard who have the ability to hold that .1-.3 Hz crisp warble with any power or volume.  That is a trait of perfect vocal chord inflection.

Another one overlooked was the country crooner Jim Reeves (1923-1964).  This guy had a phenomenal expansive perfect voice ever for a man.  I liken his singing to a mirror like silver bell.  No distortion, perfection in the highest quality.  Here is a random example ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOCCvN8YDuc

And not to nic pick further, but I didn't see any opera singers, who might want to stake a claim too.

[Cyber Liberty]

I'm wondering why there has never been a Bob Dylan imitation contest? I'll bet that it would be a lot of fun to watch. Especially, if someone was singing Itsy Bitsy Spider. I'm laughing now thinking about it.

You would love my version. 

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I don't like Queen. I can't stand "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Nevertheless, I will admit that Mercury had a pretty good voice.  Just that overall Queen stank as a band.

I wouldn't claim he had a bad voice.  He clearly had great range, etc..  I personally just didn't enjoy his voice, whether it was the tone, his phrasing, or whatever.

I'd take Paul Rodgers over him 10/10, though whoever thought Rodgers could sing Queen's material was nuts because he didn't have anything close to Mercury's range.   But the tone of his voice was just killer to me.  Love Gabriel's voice, Greg Lake before he blew it out, etc..

[Cyber Liberty]

I wouldn't claim he had a bad voice.  He clearly had great range, etc..  I personally just didn't enjoy his voice, whether it was the tone, his phrasing, or whatever.

I'd take Paul Rodgers over him 10/10, though whoever thought Rodgers could sing Queen's material was nuts because he didn't have anything close to Mercury's range.   But the tone of his voice was just killer to me.  Love Gabriel's voice, Greg Lake before he blew it out, etc..

Sadly we lost Greg Lake.  Keith Emerson too.

[deb]

I wouldn't claim he had a bad voice.  He clearly had great range, etc..  I personally just didn't enjoy his voice, whether it was the tone, his phrasing, or whatever.

I'd take Paul Rodgers over him 10/10, though whoever thought Rodgers could sing Queen's material was nuts because he didn't have anything close to Mercury's range.   But the tone of his voice was just killer to me.  Love Gabriel's voice, Greg Lake before he blew it out, etc..

I’m not a huge fan of Mercury either. Much prefer Paul Rodgers. He’s one of the best rock singers.
Does anyone know if either Brad Delp (Boston lead singer) or Marilyn McCoo of The 5th Dimension were on the list? She was Whitney before Whitney was Whitney. Phenomenal voice.

[Hoodat]

Steve Marriott




Incredible range.

[godblessRonaldReagan]

No Carl Wilson? Listen to "I Can Hear Music" or "Good Vibrations" for one of the purest voices ever. At least Brian made the list.

And as much as I love Leonard Cohen, I would never put him on this list.

[berdie]

It was explained to me once by a very respected musician that the vocalist is very much like another instrument. They should complement the song. Consequently, I'm not really interested in their range, etc. (heck, my voice has a several octave range if I'm annoyed, lol) If their goal is to take over the music it doesn't count with me. The vocal gymnastics exhibited by many, for instance.


Just as a side note...not really relevant at all...I am more likely to listen to male vocalists with deep voices. Johnny Cash, Waylon, Toby Keith, Tennessee Ernie Ford. Same with female. Patsy Cline, Cassandra Williams, MaMa Cass.

Although I usually listen to classic rock...I generally find the octave range  that appeals to me in older C&W, jazz.

Disclaimer: I didn't read the list. Rolling Stone, well ya know.

[Bigun]

It was explained to me once by a very respected musician that the vocalist is very much like another instrument. They should complement the song. Consequently, I'm not really interested in their range, etc. (heck, my voice has a several octave range if I'm annoyed, lol) If their goal is to take over the music it doesn't count with me. The vocal gymnastics exhibited by many, for instance.


Just as a side note...not really relevant at all...I am more likely to listen to male vocalists with deep voices. Johnny Cash, Waylon, Toby Keith, Tennessee Ernie Ford. Same with female. Patsy Cline, Cassandra Williams, MaMa Cass.

Although I usually listen to classic rock...I generally find the octave range  that appeals to me in older C&W, jazz.

Disclaimer: I didn't read the list. Rolling Stone, well ya know.

Just so you know @berdie I didn't read it either.

[berdie]

Just so you know @berdie I didn't read it either.

 

[Hoodat]

It was explained to me once by a very respected musician that the vocalist is very much like another instrument. They should complement the song.

I would agree that it complements the music like another musical instrument.  Italian opera is a prime example.  Plenty of people who don't know any Italian beyond 'bravo' have no problem sitting through an opera without understanding a word.

The rock band that mimics this concept the most is YES.  Their lyrics make zero sense, yet it sounds so awesome.

Take a straight and stronger course to the corner of your life.
Make the white queen run so fast she hasn't got time to make you a wife.
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time and its news is captured
For the queen to use.
Move me on to any black square,
Use me any time you want,
Just remember that the goal
'Sfor us to capture all we want, anywhere,
Yea, yea, yea.
Don't surround yourself with yourself,
Move on back two squares,
Send an Instant Karma to me,
Initial it with loving care
Don't surround
Yourself.
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time and
its news is captured
For the queen to use.

[Cyber Liberty]

I would agree that it complements the music like another musical instrument.  Italian opera is a prime example.  Plenty of people who don't know any Italian beyond 'bravo' have no problem sitting through an opera without understanding a word.

The rock band that mimics this concept the most is YES.  Their lyrics make zero sense, yet it sounds so awesome.

Take a straight and stronger course to the corner of your life.
Make the white queen run so fast she hasn't got time to make you a wife.
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time and its news is captured
For the queen to use.
Move me on to any black square,
Use me any time you want,
Just remember that the goal
'Sfor us to capture all we want, anywhere,
Yea, yea, yea.
Don't surround yourself with yourself,
Move on back two squares,
Send an Instant Karma to me,
Initial it with loving care
Don't surround
Yourself.
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time and
its news is captured
For the queen to use.

Loved that album and song.  Jon Anderson was a nut.  I partied with the Keyboardist, Tony Kaye once.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Sadly we lost Greg Lake.  Keith Emerson too.

Both in pretty sad ways, too.

Lake's voice as a young man was incredible.  On the 50th anniversary of the band, King Crimson put out a version of their song "Epitaph", from 1969, with only Greg Lake's vocal track, and no other instrumentation until the very end.  Amazingly good.

There's an intro by a producer, but the vocals themselves start at 2:40


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssUWSiMlFBU

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Loved that album and song.  Jon Anderson was a nut.  I partied with the Keyboardist, Tony Kaye once.

I guess Tony Kaye partied with a few too many people -- apparently bad alcohol issues.  The lyrics made sense to Anderson, but unless you knew where he was going, good luck figuring it out on your own!  And even then, there were some head-scratchers in there.  But like you said, to him, the sound of the words was as important as their literal meaning, so sometimes it was just stream of consciousness of whatever sounded good.

I love classic-era Yes -- Bruford's drumming was perfectly suited to keeping those weird time signatures moving and transitioning.  Even on Yours is No Disgrace, which you mentioned earlier, if you focus on Bruford's drumming you can see exactly how he keeps it moving along with galloping drums and touch on the cymbals while still remaining in the background.

My favorite song of theirs is Close to the Edge.  It's a bit out there for some, but I've been listening to it for 40+ years and still hear something new each time.

[Sighlass]

I got the feeling that there was something of an "agenda" with that list....

My personal quirk with singers is that I never really liked Freddie Mercury's voice.  To me, there's a preening quality to it that is just annoying.

Also would much rather listen to Kate Bush sing that a whole lot of female (or male) singers on that list.

Kate Bush was a very special voice (and I have the posters to prove she was one of my faves)..They did put her down as #60 at least... She wasn't much on public appearances (and that was ok)... I would add Elizabeth of the Cocteau Twins. @Maj. Bill Martin


https://youtu.be/1uWbEe7U3ZY


https://youtu.be/Jc8en0fx0wE

______________________________________________

Just an observance, but 10 of the top 11 were of a certain color... (with one Hispanic thrown in for good measure).

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Kate Bush was a very special voice (and I have the posters to prove she was one of my faves)..They did put her down as #60 at least... She wasn't much on public appearances (and that was ok)...

I was arguing with some people last year that I thought she was the most deserving nominee for the Hall of Fame because of her originality, etc..  They basically said "Kate Who".  Then the Stranger Things broke that summer, she got a lot more notoriety, and then the tune changed.

Just an observance, but 10 of the top 11 were of a certain color... (with one Hispanic thrown in for good measure).

Exactly.  And I don't think that was an accident.

[goatprairie]

I wouldn't claim he had a bad voice.  He clearly had great range, etc..  I personally just didn't enjoy his voice, whether it was the tone, his phrasing, or whatever.

I'd take Paul Rodgers over him 10/10, though whoever thought Rodgers could sing Queen's material was nuts because he didn't have anything close to Mercury's range.   But the tone of his voice was just killer to me.  Love Gabriel's voice, Greg Lake before he blew it out, etc..

Rodgers has a good voice. Not one of my favorite bands, but Bad Company had some decent songs.
Didn't hear enough of Greg Lake. What I discovered over the years is that (like the heavy metal guy who sang Sounds of Silence) many singers adapt their voices to the songs they're singing.
I never thought much of Chubby Checker, but he's actually got a very strong voice when he wasn't singing about doing the Twist.
Some people who get great ratings are just not very good singers. Dylan for one, Mick Jagger is another one. Jagger's voice is just too thin.
Neither McCartney nor Lennon were great singers. But a lot of their songs were great, and their voices fit the songs.
I don't know if a singer with a great voice can overcome poor material, but a great singer can make a mediocre song sound a lot better.

[Hoodat]

Roger Hodgson

[Hoodat]

Ian Anderson