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March 2005
Posts: 417
Location: Cicero, NY | Just saw GC on CMT talking about how Roy Orbison was the best - bar none - singer he had ever heard. Not that I don't like Roy but the question started running rampant in my head. Who is / was the absolute best singer I have ever heard? Not biggest selling, nor greatest rock voice; Not the best player, nor the sweetest writer and certainly not "my cousin Eddy who can do Sinatra better than Frank himself. Badda bing - you know what I'm sayin'". I'm talking about a voice that could really make you sit back, shut up and listen.
Then I thought I'd have to throw it out to the OFC panel for discussion. Male and female nominations are welcomed...go!... |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 1609
Location: Colorado | Roger Whittaker, Ann Murray, John Denver, Carly Simon, Barry White, Sandy Patti, The Gatlin Brothers all put together, Mel Torme, Nat Cole, Steve Perry, and me come to mind! |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Female: Sandy Denny, Barbra Streisand, Judy Collins, Annie Haslam, Sonja Kristina.
Male: Michael Crawford, Gary Brooker, Ashley Holt, Art Garfunkel, and whoever the Irish dude is that sings God Bless America at Yankee Stadium. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Ray Peterson (Tell Laura I Love Her).
Absolutely stunning live with a 4-5 octave range. Sent chills down my spine the last time I heard him do "Fever". |
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May 2005
Posts: 327
Location: Evansville,IN | Definitely not me. I couldn't carry a tune in a bushel basket. :D
Female: Linda Ronstadt, Connie Francis, Janis Joplin.
Male: Roger McGuinn, Gordon Lightfoot, John Sebastian. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I can carry a tune in a bucket but, it has a big hole in it.
Male: Jim Reeves, Elvis, Larry Gatlin,(Brothers included), nothing like family harmony.
Female: Sandy Patty, (her Dad is a trmendous singer as well), Linda Ronsadt, Allison Krause. |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Wynonna. Julie London. Ella Fitzgerald. Linda Ronstadt.
Lionel Richie. Percy Sledge. Frank Sinatra. Vince Gill. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 349
Location: Snellville, GA | Carly Simon, Karen Carpenter, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Bette Middler...
Gino Vanelli, Justin Hayward, John Denver, Ian Gillan, Art Garfunkle... |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Gary Brooker
Greg Lake
Jon Anderson
James Taylor
Ian Gillan
Phil Collins (BEFORE he turned into Celine Dion)
Joe Cocker
Eric Clapton
Harry Chapin
Bonnie Rait
Rosie Clooney
Annie Haslam
Sam Brown
Kristy McColl
Maria Muldaur
Claudia Linnear |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | Male: Paul McCartney, Elvis, Glen Campbell, Eric Clapton, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Roger Whittaker, Don McClean.
Female: Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt, Martina McBride, Sheryl Crow, Amy Grant, and I guess I have to include for sheer talent (though I can't stand her otherwise), Barbra Streisand.
These may not necessarily be "the best" in terms of training and/or technique, but they are voices that command my full attention whenever I hear them.
Jeff |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | soul/blues= Ray Charles
country= Johnny Cash
Pop/Rock/Gospel= Elvis
female= Linda Ronstadt for pure vocal ability.
alternative/punk/rap/opera= who cares! |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | Ray Charles is another one that should've been on my list. It's hard doing this off the top of your head!
Jeff |
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August 2004
Posts: 604
Location: Tampa, FL | Laura Brannigan |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Kneel Diamond, he's soo good! |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Harry Nilsson. Aretha Franklin. |
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August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | The songs are not my favorites at all by any means, but Karen Carpenter's voice just knocks me over. The unfortunate goody-goody image aside, there's a depth there in her sound that just grabs my soul. She doesn't have the most amazing range or technical ability, but the heart in that voice is an angel's and she will always be one of the greats in my book.
There is a huge # of vocalists who have an impressive range and knock my socks off...far too many to list. S'pose Cliff would have to be on there! |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 417
Location: Cicero, NY | Ray Charles, Michael McDonald, James Taylor and George Michael all somewhere in line behind the King.
Patsy Cline, Ann Wilson, Susan Tedeschi and Queen Aretha are all wonderful but Linda Ronstadt makes me sit up straight every time. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Michael Crawford
Brad Delp (Boston)
David Crosby
Steve Perry
Freddie Mercury
Joni Mitchell
Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls)
Karen Carpenter
Ann Wilson
Melissa Etheridge |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The Check's in the Mail, Johnny.
;) |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Toronto | Damn Cliff you are right - I wondered where Phil Collins was - and lo and behold on stage in Vegas with a French accent...
Ann Wilson, Annie Lennox, Karen Carpenter, Robert Plant, Dean Martin, Axel Rose, Smokey Robinson - voices that make me listen. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Selah, all three of them.
Nancy Griffith |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks) Oh My Gosh, has this girl got a set of pipes! She is a bit on the edgy side but Wow, what power! In my mind she is one of the two best female country singers around...the other?....
LeAnn Rimes. Have you heard her sing the old Patsy Kline stuff? It's freaking spooky, like ol' Patsy has been re-incarnated.
Speaking of back from the dead, have you heard Joss Stone? This girl does Janis Joplin better than Janis could. Not to mention all her own unique things, she is an awesome blues singer and is only something like 18 years old, quite a future ahead.
Male vocalists. lets see...
Johnny Lang, amazing vocalist. I've also always admired Burton Cummings from the "Guess Who", what a golden voice he has. I have also always liked Glenn Frey and Don Henley. Steve Perry is also incredible....makes my throat hurt just listening to that guy sing, what a range! |
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Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 86
Location: Detroit area | Ann Wilson, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, David Gilmour, the dude from Queensryche (Empire was a masterpiece). |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Got to remember Melissa, she can sing. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Not to mention Melissa can do one hell of a Janis Joplin.
Jennifer Warnes...just close your eyes and listen to "Famous Blue Raincoat". |
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Suh-weet singers
