The 100 Best Vocalists Of All Time

[YosemiteSam]

Im

I know we all have different tastes and I’m not knocking it but I just can’t understand how Bob Dylan is on any list. But I do like your overall incomplete list. Lol

Another one, not on your list, that puzzles me is Frank Sinatra.

He was always there in my options and I definitely remember thinking of him. I suspect my own personal bias left him out. That, is on me. I'm straight Yosemite Sam when it comes to personal bias I guess. Piece, love and I win!

As for Dillion. Well, at some point you may figure it out. I don't get it either, but I've decided it doesn't deserve a thought because when you're ******** gold. You just accept it.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Did not look at the list because from the comments I knew it would probably irk me.

So just a few names.

Ronnie James Dio - really wish I would have been able to see him in concert before he passed.

Freddie Mercury

Geoff Tate...Operation MindCrime is still one of the best rock concept albums ever. But his opening to take hold the flame from earlier work is a game changer.

Bruce Dickinson - some do not like him, that is ok...I think he was perfect for Iron Maiden.

Rob Halford - Some of his work with his solo band Fight was great too.

Billie Holiday - Something so classic about some of her songs. So elegant, soft and sometimes whimsical.

Dolly Parton - Never a big country music fan...but Dolly is Dolly.

Different Genre so more that fits it versus normal vocals... John Tardy of Obituary and Glenn Benton of Deicide

Danzig - You put Elvis and Jim Morrision in a blender and add dark lyrics.

 

[DarkVader33]

Did not look at the list because from the comments I knew it would probably irk me.

So just a few names.

Ronnie James Dio - really wish I would have been able to see him in concert before he passed.

Freddie Mercury

Geoff Tate...Operation MindCrime is still one of the best rock concept albums ever. But his opening to take hold the flame from earlier work is a game changer.

Bruce Dickinson - some do not like him, that is ok...I think he was perfect for Iron Maiden.

Rob Halford - Some of his work with his solo band Fight was great too.

Billie Holiday - Something so classic about some of her songs. So elegant, soft and sometimes whimsical.

Dolly Parton - Never a big country music fan...but Dolly is Dolly.

Different Genre so more that fits it versus normal vocals... John Tardy of Obituary and Glenn Benton of Deicide

Danzig - You put Elvis and Jim Morrision in a blender and add dark lyrics.

I got to see Dio a couple times. I’ll never forget it.

An underrated singer is Ralf Scheepers from Primal Fear. He sounds similar to Rob Halford, and is often compared to him, but I actually think Ralf is better, though most won’t agree with me.

 

[Khartun]

Did not look at the list because from the comments I knew it would probably irk me.

So just a few names.

Ronnie James Dio - really wish I would have been able to see him in concert before he passed.

Freddie Mercury

Geoff Tate...Operation MindCrime is still one of the best rock concept albums ever. But his opening to take hold the flame from earlier work is a game changer.

Bruce Dickinson - some do not like him, that is ok...I think he was perfect for Iron Maiden.

Rob Halford - Some of his work with his solo band Fight was great too.

Billie Holiday - Something so classic about some of her songs. So elegant, soft and sometimes whimsical.

Dolly Parton - Never a big country music fan...but Dolly is Dolly.

Different Genre so more that fits it versus normal vocals... John Tardy of Obituary and Glenn Benton of Deicide

Danzig - You put Elvis and Jim Morrision in a blender and add dark lyrics.

I also would have loved to see RJD. I live in a little town that isn't close to where people come. But, Queensryche opened their Operation Mindcrime tour here. They were here for a week and I got to party with a few of them while they were here. They would come to the local rock bars and hang out after practice. And if you Google it, ChatGPT has it wrong, the concert started in Amarillo, TX. Keep questioning and it will get there. And Pamela Moore was here to the the Sister Mary parts!

 

[DarkVader33]

I also would have loved to see RJD. I live in a little town that isn't close to where people come. But, Queensryche opened their Operation Mindcrime tour here. They were here for a week and I got to party with a few of them while they were here. They would come to the local rock bars and hang out after practice. And if you Google it, ChatGPT has it wrong, the concert started in Amarillo, TX. Keep questioning and it will get there. And Pamela Moore was here to the the Sister Mary parts!

That is awesome. I got to see the Mindcrime tour in Long Beach, CA. Great show.

 

[ArtClink]

Any list that does not include the great Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Country Communion, The Dead Daisies, solo artist) in the top ten is a bogus list. I saw Glenn Hughes in 2025 and his vocal abilities are still jaw- dropping.

 

[pete026]

Any list that does not include the great Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Country Communion, The Dead Daisies, solo artist) in the top ten is a bogus list. I saw Glenn Hughes in 2025 and his vocal abilities are still jaw- dropping.

Ian Gillan wasn't bad either. This vocal is from the Jesus Christ Superstar album recording. His vocal control on both the softer voice passages and the agonizing screams about halfway through are amazing.

 

[ArtClink]

Ian Gillan wasn't bad either. This vocal is from the Jesus Christ Superstar album recording. His vocal control on both the softer voice passages and the agonizing screams about halfway through are amazing.

I love Ian Gillian and Deep Purple!!

 

[DFWJC]

Stevie Nicks at 64 and Beyonce at 6

What a ridiculous list ......... just beyond stupid.

It's so preposterously idiotic.

Not referring to the two you mentioned but what a silly, embarrassing list.

Some truly awful voices on the list ranking....greatest voices of all time.

Some fot them are like putting Shaq on a best free-throw shooting list.

Unreal

 

[cityochamps]

Just read an article earlier today who had Bob Dylan(56) and Janis Joplin(41) in the top five worst "Rock" vocalist of all time.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I don’t know the criteria of this list. Is it voices? A lot of these people are great artists but not sure if I’d call them vocalist. Luther Vandross should be top 5 in any list.

 

[TheMightyVanHalen]

I think we're biased when we make these greatest lists. I didn't bother looking at the list because the person who created this list hasn't heard every live performances of said singer. Instead of listing my personal favorites I'm going to list 3 singers that blew me away when I first heard them. I would probably guess these 3 are not in the list. I'm a hard rock/metal guy at heart but my taste is vast. One minute it's "Sink the Bismark" by Johnny Horton, then "I Saw the Light" by Hank Sr, followed by "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot ending with "El Paso" by Marty Robbins and "I'm not a Gentleman" by Geto Boys and everything in between.

Speaking of Marty Robbins. IMO, quite possibly the GOAT singer/songwriter. His storytelling lyrics to the Feleena/jealous Cowboy trilogy are second to none, imo.

Graham Russell from Air Supply. Yes, you heard that right. My wife loves Air Supply. In 2007 I surprised her by taking her to see them for the first time. I was blown away how great he sounded live. 7 days before that show we went to see the so-called Van Halen reunion with Diamond Dave. One singer took really good care of his voice and the other destroyed his. Diamond Dave is my man, but damn

And last but not least. Kenny Rodgers. Another surprise for my wife. I've seen thousands of shows, that Kenny Rodgers show is probably my favorite non-Van Halen show I've ever seen. I have a friend who doesn't look like me or Kenny. Since he only heard of his name, I let him listen to this version of "Lady" and I told him he looked like Kenny to throw him off. After listening to this live version of the song he said, "I can't believe I've never heard of him before." When I told him that Kenny looked like me instead him, he couldn't believe it and realized why he never heard of him. He turned me on the Geto Boys and I turned him onto Kenny Rodgers.

IMO, one of the greatest live performances ever. Kenny had some soul to his voice, that's for sure.

 

[IMGumby]

I think we're biased when we make these greatest lists.

Agree. Someone mentioned Frank Sinatra earlier in the thread and what about opera singers? These lists are usually made by people with a limited experience. The same group also left Roy Clark and Glen Campbell off the list for top 100 guitarists.

 

[Cowboys5217]

This list is lame. I loved Nirvana, but Curt Cobain was not a good singer. He was well below average.

Likewise, Springsteen had no vocal talent at all, and is irritating to listen to.

No Brad Delp on this list at all and he had more talent than nearly all the male vocalists on this list combined.

 

[DarkVader33]

This list is lame. I loved Nirvana, but Curt Cobain was not a good singer. He was well below average.

Likewise, Springsteen had no vocal talent at all, and is irritating to listen to.

No Brad Delp on this list at all and he had more talent than nearly all the male vocalists on this list combined.

I agree with your post. However, Cobain was not great in general, but he was great for the genre he performed. And Delp is greatly underrated

 

[cowboyec]

for me elvis will always be #1.
everybody else is fightin' for the rest.

 

[cowboyed]

I read that Elvis Presley thought the best singer ever was Roy Orbison.

Chris Cornell wasn't too shabby. Mick Hucknall (Simply Red)

 

[cowboyec]

I read that Elvis Presley thought the best singer ever was Roy Orbison.

Chris Cornell wasn't too shabby. Mick Hucknall (Simply Red)

he did.
its why he never covered a roy orbison song.
he was reported to have said.....you can't top it.
he also thought mahilia jackson was incredible.

 

[Runwildboys]

Thanks so much for the link. I don't agree with the order and some of the people on it. Bob Dylan and Elton John? Puleeze!! I'd also remove Mariah Carey out of spite. I have never owned a speaker that suffered one of her songs to completion.

Elton John is a great vocalist, IMO. Dylan not so much, but it suits a lot of his songs, the same as Neil Young.

 

[Runwildboys]

Karen Carpenter at 44 is a joke as she is easily top 10. Hated the music but had mad respect for her voice. She could do it all without all the pitch correction (autotune & other software) that most singers rely on. If you want to watch something freaky (in a good way) watch this video that compare her studio & live recordings.

IMO, Karen Carpenter had the purest vocals in music. I equate her with John Denver, in that their voices make me think of the ringing of a crystal wine glass.