All technicalities put aside, the definition of what it means to be a good singer is almost as subjective as what makes something a great piece of music.
While being a great singer certainly goes beyond the popular notion of being able to showcase vocal technicalities and ten thousands theatrics on-stage, it certainly doesn’t ignore them altogether.
But there’s more to a ‘great singer’, that separates one from a ‘great vocalist’.
While the ability to tell a story through a song, connect with an audience emotionally and bring to stage all the drama that comes with the lyrics is a gift in itself, being able to use your instrument to the best of it’s abilities and commanding an arena of audience with the power of your vocals, isn’t ignorable either.
Yet the greatest of singers are those, who are able to show restraint and command in both of these areas.
Amalgamating our previously created separate lists for male and female singers, we have put together 100 of the greatest voices in popular music – across multiple genres, era’s and generations.
Here Are the Top 100 Best Singers Of All Time:
100) AXL Rose
99) Bob Dylan
98) Ledisi
97) Steven Tyler
96) Gloria Estefan
95) Joan Armstrong
94) Patti LaBelle
93) Bono
92) Patti Smith
91) Ann Wilson
90) Paul McCartney
89) Christina Aguilera
88) Tracy Chapman
87) Lisa Fischer
86) Bryan Adams
85) Dean Martin
84) Keith Richards
83) Leonard Cohen
82) Louis Armstrong
81) Bobby Womack
80) Dinah Washington
79) Dionne Warwick
78) Tom Jones
77) Elaine Paige
76) Lena Horne
75) Tony Bennett
74) Tom Petty
73) Yolanda Adams
72) Tammy Wynette
71) Chuck Berry
70) Art Garfunkel
69) Steve Winwood
68) Hank Williams
67) Sylvester
66) Jackie Wilson
65) Teddy Pendergrass
64) Joni Mitchell
64) Curtis Mayfield
63) Jennifer Hudson
62) Stevie Nicks
61) Peggy Lee
60) Robert Plant
59) Dion
58) Chris Cornell
57) John Lennon
56) Annie Lennox
55) Dolly Parton
54) Shirley Bassey
53) Bruce Springsteen
52) Jim Morrison
51) Elvis Presley
50) Mariah Carey
49) Amy Winehouse
48) Elton John
47) Neil Young
46) David Bowie
45) Loretta Lynn
44) Van Morrison
43) Neil Diamond
42) Roy Orbison
41) Mick Jagger
40) Al Green
39) Celine Dion
38) Frank Sinatra
37) Bob Marley
36) Kurt Cobain
35) Chaka Khan
34) Dusty Springfield
33) Donny Hathaway
32) Smokey Robinson
31) Roberta Flack
30) Marvin Gaye
29) Patsy Cline
28) Karen Carpenter
27) Ben E. King
26) Billie Holiday
25) Judy Garland
24) Nat King Cole
23) Natalie Cole
22) Barbra Streisand
Streisand has been one of the most versatile storytellers through a song. The Oscar winning actress, composer and balladeer not only had the lungs of steel, when it came to her belting abilities, but could also put together a theatrical show while transitioning into each of the protagonists of her songs. Streisand kicks off our list not just because of her beautiful talent, but also the longevity of her artistry and career – that has managed to entertain the masses for so many years.
21) Ella Fitzgerald
Fondly remembered as the queen of Jazz and ‘the first lady of song’, Ella Fitzgerald has been an inspiration to most female artists who came after her time. Also regarded as the Queen of scat-singing, Miss Fitzgerald had the chops to make you feel every inch of the depth of a song. Such was her subtle, yet mesmerizing power of telling a tale.
20) Sarah Vaughan
“The Divine One” – Sarah Vaughan was blessed with one of the most gorgeous voices that transcended time and space. It wasn’t just her technical finesse and her impeccable vocal control, but also her emotionally charged and soulful deliveries that elevated her songs and performances to a divine level – hence an apt honorific name for this timeless diva of Jazz and Blues.
19) Tina Turner
No other female singer had it in them to rock the stage this intensely, before Tina Turner came shimming into our television sets with her earlier hits back in the 60’s. But apart from her iconic moves and gorgeous legs, Turner had the soulful intensity of a vocalist bred through an African American church and it burned vividly in whatever she chose to sing. Be it her exclaiming to ‘Stay Together’ or crooning to seek some ‘Help’, Tina always made you feel the pain of the narrative in its most raw form.
18) Ottis Redding
17) Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin had a small career and catalog, due to her early demise, but she shone bright enough in that limited time-frame to be remembered as one of the most iconic female Rock singers of all time. Joplin’s ability to switch between ‘Rock’ to ‘Bluesy’ in the same song, made her one of the most charismatic performers of her time.
16) Prince
15) Michael Jackson
One of the most unique voices of the past 100 years. MJ was as unconventional as a vocalist as path-breaking he was with his performances. His incorporation of vocal hiccups and a sleek-sounding high-pitched voice, was later seen in the vocal styles of singers like El DeBarge, Usher and even Chris Brown. MJ’s passionate vocal performances in songs like ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Something’, ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ and ‘Billie Jean’ – are as much a part of his artistic legacy, as his ability to set the stage on fire with his moves.
14) B.B. King
One of the most heavily touring artists of his time, who was also referred to as the ‘King Of the Blues’, B.B. King’s voice was both powerful and vulnerable. With his rough-sounding, gritty and passionate tone, King was still able to induce Goosebumps, each time he’d hit a crescendo with his masculine, rich and chesty tone and the way he would finish phrases with an almost breathless exhilaration. B.B. King was one of the greatest interpreters of song and rightfully earned his title as one of the most influential artists to ever do it.
13) Johnny Cash
One of country music’s greatest icons, Johnny Cash’s dark, deep and gut-wrenching tone, gave him a unique sound amongst other high-pitched voices that came in his wake. Cash’s ability to infuse unspeakable grief in his vocal performances and take the listener on a journey of life and his own experiences, was a part of his interpretative genius and gift. His incredibly delicious sounding low register and his phrasing style, put him in a class of his own.
12) Etta James
The moment Etta James layed her instrument to ‘At Last’ – she created one of the most fondly remembered and widely played love-ballads of all time. But like most great singers – it was in a live performance – the true artistry and personality of James came to fore. Etta was one of those non-traditional singers who worked a swag in their voices to serve the purpose and meaning of a song. And as age continued to change her instrument, she continued to find ways to make her audience feel every word of the song she sang.
11) Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder was one of those singers, who were easily able to transform between multiple genres, changing their vocal style. The gifted musician, composer and songwriter started off with Rock-infused Soul and Funk music, and went on to reshape what it means to be a vocalist in Rhythm and Blues with equal finesse. When singing RnB, Stevie had his own style of producing vocal runs and riffs, and belting in an incredible high chest voice. Stevie’s voice had soul, groove and a gorgeous timber, that made his a standout vocalist, even among other greats.
10) Gladys Knight
The rich thick tone of Gladys Knight, belting out ‘Midnight Train To Georgia’ has forever been etched in our memories as one of the greatest musical masterpieces in history. The music she created in collaboration with The Pips showcased her artistry to the max. With songs like ‘Heard It Through The Grapevine’ and ‘Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me’ – Knight showcased her exotic chesty voice. She is also one of the rare vocalists of her age (73 at the time of writing this) who have managed to retain their instrument almost as it was in their prime.
9) Freddie Mercury
Perhaps the most popular choice when it comes to picking ‘the best male voice of the past 100 years’, Freddie Mercury was blessed with a broad vocal range of nearly 4 octaves and his theatrical execution of the same. Freddie’s voice was different than all of his contemporaries in Rock music, as he sang with a more effervescent, dramatic and thespian style, than others. His ability to belt out in the fifth octave so effortlessly that it would make you feel as if it was a cakewalk for him, was one of the many things about his vocal legacy that contributed to his legendary status in music. His high F’s and G’s as heard in songs like ‘One Year of Love’ and ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ can still induce Goosebumps.
8) Little Richard
Referred to as the The Architect of Rock and Roll, Little Richard was naturally and most effortlessly a gift to the genre. His ability to inject maniatic energy into his songs with his raspy shouted vocals, helped laid the foundation of Rock ‘n’ Roll, as we know it, while his charismatic personality and ability to tell a story through his performances, made him a pioneer among popular vocalists. His performance in songs like ‘Tutti Frutti’ and ‘Long Tall Salli’ is still worshipped by singers that have followed him.
7) Sam Cooke
Also referred to as the King of Soul, Sam Cooke rendered his glorious instrument to classics like ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’, ‘Bring It On Home To Me’ and ‘You Send Me’. Despite his life being cut down short at the age of just 33, Sam built a legacy that regarded him as one of the most influential singers of the century. With a voice that was both smooth and gritty at times, Cooke’s vocal gift is something that has been referred to as vocal instrument that could ‘never be surpassed.’
6) Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross was the king of Smooth RnB/Soul. His voice served as a beautiful instrument in the popular tunes he sang, which allowed him to employ his trademarks riffs and inflections. The softness in his voice, when he’d sing in his falsetto and the usage of melisma, would allow him to convey the sense of loss and grief in a song like ‘Dance With My Father’, yet he was someone who could put together a brilliant show, with countless vocal theatrics singing something like ‘A House Is Not a Home’. Either way, his smooth as butter voice, would always melt the toughest of hearts. And that is his legacy.
5) Nina Simone
Nina Simone was an artist of many talents. Her involvement in the Civil Rights Movements made her a cultural icon, but her contribution to music puts her in the league of the ‘Gods of music.’ Nina was not afraid to bare her soul on stage, and she did it so unabashedly that it took your breath away to see or hear her. The way she tells a story with a song, caressing each word with great sentimental details made for an impassioned delivery.
4) Ray Charles
Everything Ray Charles sang came from the very depth of his soul – whether it was unspeakable sorrow or sheer joy. It was always a sight to see him get completely lost in music, as he would sit in front of his piano and sing like he meant every word that came out of his mouth. And he probably did. Even a patriotic song like ‘America The Beautiful’ would make you choke, when sung by this musical legend. While there have many great voices in soul music in this timespan, Ray’s was one of those that felt the most organic and effortless.
3) Aretha Franklin
The undisputed Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin had the breathtaking ability to turn each song into her own – no matter who she covered. Franklin’s raw, rusty approach towards her jaw-dropping belting abilities turned her into one of the most powerhouse performers of an era, but it was also the control she showcased while holding back on several occasions – that set her apart from her peers. With a Gospel fire in her voice that could chill your spine every time she “went in for the kill” – Franklin, no doubt, has been a singer of singers.
2) James Brown
James Brown had it all as a vocalist. The range, the sass, the soul and charisma and the ability to take the listener on a journey, by living his music on stage. Even though he has been popularly regarded for his impeccable stage presence and the ability to break a leg on-stage, his vocals were always the greatest thing about his complete artistry. With a raspy tone and a powerful punch in his voice, Brown amalgamated several traits of what makes what a great contemporary vocalist. His stellar vocal performances of ‘This Is A Man’s World’ from back in the day, are a proof of his sublime gift.
1) Whitney Houston
Regarded as ‘The Voice’ – for the quintessential sound of her instrument, that had the capacity to encompass various genres from one performance to another – Houston’s voice was one that exuded almost every essence of the very art of singing. It was not just her range, technique and an exquisite, rich tonal quality – , but also an emotional depth and lyrical understanding that set her apart from her peers in Pop. As popular as her studio recordings became with her 11 number one hits and 200 million records sold, her talent was showcased in its greatest detail when she performed in self-controlled live settings. What set her apart from other ‘perfect’ Pop balladeers, was her impromptu interpretations and improvisation skills showcasing her musicianship and genius, which would feature her performing distinct versions of the same song – starting from her spine-tingling soft head voice, and imminently shifting to roaring gospel belts, prompting her band to follow the lead . Hers was a voice so monumental in its artistic impact, that it still lingers among young performers decades after her advent to the scene in the early 80’s.
While the list has been curated with utmost objectivity, it still boils down to some “subjectiveness” and hence may vary from a lot of personal opinions. One thing that doesn’t quite change though is – no matter how you jumble it around, the names will pretty much remain the same, amongst the countless others who have come before or since.
These are 100 of the greatest voices we have had.