Updated March 2024
"What mattered most to us was originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalog, and the breadth of their musical legacy". This is one of the ways Rolling Stone describes their rankings of the 200 Greatest Singers Of All Time. The first time they've updated their list in 15 years. I look at their explanation and then laugh that Elvis Presley ended up at #17 on this updated list. In 2008 he was #3, behind Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan.
But that's how it is with lists like this. Rolling Stone knows what they are doing. Controversy creates web clicks. And their lists create traffic. As usual there are puzzling omissions like Celine Dion and Dionne Warwick. Puzzling inclusions, mostly near the bottom of the list. RS lists are a world in which Gladys Knight is ranked behind Toni Braxton. I’m not saying Braxton is not a great singer. But a more influential vocalist than Gladys? There were nice surprises like El DeBarge, Sylvester, Patty Loveless, Charlie Rich and Russell Thompkins, Jr. In the end it wasn't the artists included that rankled many but the rankings themselves. Just not their rankings. After listing my own favorite singers, I actually sympathize with Rolling Stone's undertaking. If it was was impossible for me to stop at 200 names, imagine what it was like for them? So in the end, I just kept going with an unranked list that may go on forever.
My favorite singers list would be very different than yours. Rolling Stone has attempted an all-genre list, save for Opera. Which is why there are so many notable omissions, even when listing 200 singers. My own list is very similar. However I must say that my list is poor on World Music singers. I know many of the names in those genres, but not enough to populate a list with them.
To save my brain from exploding, I'm also presenting an unranked list. And I'm also not limiting myself to a set number. It's going to be a running list of great voices that will be added on forever. But for the record my Top 3 singers are Elvis, Aretha and Sam Cooke.
What defines a great singer to me? I agree with RS that originality and influence matter. Also, a distinctive voice that is easy recognizable the moment you hear it.
Below is an A-Z listing of my favorite singers of all time.
Aaron Neville
Adam Lambert
Adele
Agnetha Faltskog
Al Green
Al Jarreau
Al Jolson
Al Stewart
Alan Gorrie
Alan Jackson
Alicia Keys
Alison Krauss
Allan Clarke
Amanda Shires
Amy Winehouse
Andrea Bocelli
Andrews Sisters
Andy Williams
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Anita Baker
Ann Wilson
Anne Murray
Annie Lennox
Aretha Franklin
Arlo Guthrie
Art Garfunkel
Arthur Alexander
Axl Rose
Barbara Mandrell
Barbra Streisand
Barry Gibb
Barry White
B.B. King
Belinda Carlisle
Ben E. King
Benjamin Orr
Bessie Smith
Betty Wright
Bettye Lavette
Beyonce
Big Joe Turner
Bill Anderson
Bill Medley
Bill Monroe
Bill Withers
Billie Eilish
Billie Holiday
Billy Davis Jr.
Billy Eckstine
Billy Joel
Billy Ocean
Billy Stewart
Bing Crosby
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Blind Willie Johnson
Bob Dylan
Bob Marley
Bob Seger
Bobbie Gentry
Bobby Bare
Bobby “Blue” Bland
Bobby Darin
Bobby Hatfield
Bobby Smith
Bon Scott
Bonnie Raitt
Bono
Boz Scaggs
Boy George
Brad Delp
Brad Paisley
Brandi Carlile
Brian Johnson
Brian Wilson
Bruce Springsteen
Bryan Ferry
Brenda Lee
Brittany Howard
Brook Benton
Buddy Guy
Buddy Holly
Bunny Wailer
Burl Ives
Caetano Veloso
Candi Staton
Carl Perkins
Carl Wilson
Carole King
Carly Simon
Carmen McRae
Carrie Underwood
Carter Family
Cat Stevens
CeCe Winans
Cecile McLorin Salvant
Celia Cruz
Celine Dion
Chaka Khan
Charlie Rich
Charlie Wilson
Charley Pride
Cher
Chet Baker
Chris Cornell
Chris Robinson
Chris Stapleton
Chrissie Hynde
Christina Aguilera
Christine McVie
Chuck Berry
Chuck Willis
Cissy Houston
Clint Black
Clyde McPhatter
Colin Blunstone
Connie Francis
Connie Smith
Conway Twitty
Crystal Gayle
Curtis Mayfield
Cyndi Lauper
D'Angelo
Darius Rucker
Darlene Love
Daryl Hall
David Bowie
David Byrne
David Crosby
David Gates
David Lee Roth
David Ruffin
Dean Martin
Debbie Harry
Del Shannon
Delbert McClinton
Della Reese
Deniece Williams
Dennis Edwards
Denny Doherty
Diana Ross
Dickie Betts
Dinah Washington
Dion DiMucci
Dionne Warwick
Dolly Parton
Dolores O'Riordan
Don Henley
Don Williams
Donald Fagen
Donna Summer
Donny Hathaway
Doris Day
Dorothy Love Coates
Dottie West
Doug Gray
Dusty Springfield
Earl Thomas Conley
Eartha Kitt
Eddy Arnold
Eddie Cochran
Eddie Kendricks
Eddie Levert
Eddie Money
Eddie Rabbitt
Eddie Vedder
Edwin Starr
El DeBarge
Ella Fitzgerald
Elton John
Elvis Costello
Elvis Presley
Emmylou Harris
Engelbert Humperdinck
Eric Burdon
Eric Carmen
Eric Clapton
Erykah Badu
Esther Phillips
Ethel Waters
Etta James
Eugene Record
Everly Brothers
Faith Hill
Faron Young
Fats Domino
Fela Kuti
Florence Welch
Frank Sinatra
Frankie Lymon
Frankie Beverly
Frankie Valli
Freddie Jackson
Freddie Mercury
Freddy Fender
Garth Brooks
Gary Brooker
Gary Stewart
Geddy Lee
Gene Pitney
Gene Vincent
George Benson
George Harrison
George Jones
George Michael
George Strait
Gerald Alston
Gerald Levert
Gerry Rafferty
Gilberto Gil
Gladys Horton
Gladys Knight
Glen Campbell
Glenn Frey
Glenn Shorrock
Glenn Tilbrook
Gloria Estefan
Gordon Lightfoot
Gram Parsons
Grace Slick
Gregory Isaacs
Gregg Allman
Hamish Stuart
Hank Snow
Hank Williams
Hank Williams Jr.
Harry Belafonte
Harry Wayne Casey (KC)
Helen Reddy
Henry Fambrough
Howard Hewitt
Howard Tate
Howlin' Wolf
Hozier
Ian Gillan
Ian Hunter
Ink Spots
Iris DeMent
Isaac Hayes
Ivory Joe Hunter
Jack White
Jackie Wilson
James Brown
Rev. James Cleveland
James Taylor
James “JT” Taylor
Janelle Monae
Janet Jackson
Janis Joplin
Jason Isbell
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey Osborne
Jennifer Holliday
Jennifer Hudson
Jenny Lewis
Jerry Butler
Jerry Garcia
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Reed
Jill Scott
Jim Croce
Jim Morrison
Jim Reeves
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Cliff
Jo Stafford
Joan Armatrading
Joan Baez
Joe Cocker
Joe Diffie
Joe Ely
Joe Simon
Joe South
Joe Strummer
Joe Tex
Joe Williams
Jon Anderson
John Anderson
John Conlee
John Denver
John Fogerty
John Oates
John Waite
John Lee Hooker
John Legend
John Lennon
John Prine
John Waite
Johnny Ace
Johnny Bush
Johnny Cash
Johnny Gill
Johnny Hartman
Johnny Mathis
Johnny Paycheck
Johnny Ray
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rodriguez
Johnnie Taylor
Joni Mitchell
Jose Luis Rodriguez
Judy Collins
Judy Garland
Julie London
Julio Iglesias
June Christy
Justin Hayward
Kacey Musgraves
Karen Carpenter
Kay Starr
KD Lang
K.T. Oslin
Keith Urban
Keith Whitley
Kelly Clarkson
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds
Kenny Loggins
Kenny Rogers
Kitty Wells
Kurt Cobain
Lady Gaga
Larry Gatlin
Laura Nyro
LaVern Baker
LeAnn Rimes
Lefty Frizzell
Lena Horne
Lenny Williams
Leon Russell
Leonard Cohen
Lesley Gore
Levi Stubbs Jr.
Levon Helm
Liam Gallagher
Linda Ronstadt
Lionel Richie
Little Anthony
Little Richard
Lindsey Buckingham
Little Willie John
Liza Minnelli
Lizzo
Lloyd Price
Loretta Lynn
Lorrie Morgan
Lou Ann Barton
Lou Gramm
Lou Rawls
Lou Reed
Loudon Wainwright III
Louis Armstrong
Louis Jordan
Louvin Brothers
Lowell George
Luciano Pavarotti
Lucinda Williams
Luther Vandross
Lyle Lovett
Lynn Anderson
Madonna
Mahalia Jackson
Mama Cass
Mandy Barnett
Marc Anthony
Marcia Ball
Mariah Carey
Marilyn McCoo
Mark Knopfler
Martha Reeves
Martina McBride
Marty Balin
Marty Robbins
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Junior
Mary J. Blige
Mary Wells
Maurice White
Mavis Staples
Maxwell
Mel Tillis
Mel Torme
Memphis Minnie
Merle Haggard
Michael Hutchence
Michael Jackson
Michael McDonald
Michael Stipe
Mick Hucknall
Mick Jagger
Mick Jones (Clash)
Mike Love
Millie Jackson
Mills Brothers
Minnie Riperton
Miranda Lambert
Mississippi John Hurt
Morrissey
Muddy Waters
Nat King Cole
Narvel Felts
Natalie Maines
Natalie Merchant
Neil Diamond
Neil Sedaka
Neil Tennant
Neil Young
Neko Case
Nickolas Ashford
Nicolette Larson
Nils Lofgren
Nina Simone
Norah Jones
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Odetta
Olivia Newton-John
Osborne Brothers (Bobby & Sonny)
Otis Redding
Ozzy Osbourne
Pat Benatar
Patsy Cline
Patti LaBelle
Patti Page
Patty Loveless
Paul Carrack
Paul McCartney
Paul Rodgers
Paul Simon
Paul Weller
Paul Williams (Temptations)
Peabo Bryson
Peggy Lee
Perry Como
Pete Ham
Pete Seeger
Pete Townshend
Peter Cetera
Peter Frampton
Peter Tosh
Petula Clark
Phil Collins
Phil Ochs
Philip Bailey
Philippe Wynne
Phyllis Hyman
Pink
Placido Domingo
Pointer Sisters
Pops Staples
Porter Wagoner
Prince
Randy Crawford
Ralph Stanley
Randy Meisner
Randy Newman
Randy Owen
Randy Travis
Raul Malo
Ray Charles
Ray Price
Rhiannon Giddens
Ric Ocasek
Richard Manuel
Rick Danko
Rick James
Rick Springfield
Ricky Martin
Ricky Nelson
Ricky Skaggs
Rihanna
Ringo Starr
Rob Halford
Rob Thomas
Robert Johnson
Robert Plant
Robin Gibb
Robin Zander
Rod Stewart
Rodney Crowell
Roger Daltrey
Roger Miller
Ronald Isley
Ronnie Dunn
Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Spector
Ronnie Van Zandt
Rosanne Cash
Rosemary Clooney
Roy Hamilton
Roy Orbison
Rufus Wainwright
Russell Thompkins Jr.
Ruth Brown
Sade
Sam Cooke
Sam & Dave (Moore & Prater)
Sam Smith
Sammy Davis Jr.
Sandy Denny
Sarah Vaughan
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Selena
Shakira
Shania Twain
Sheena Easton
Shelby Lynne
Sheryl Crow
Shirley Bassey
Shirley Caesar
Shirley Owens
Sinead O'Connor
Siouxsie Sioux
Sly Stone
Smokey Robinson
Solomon Burke
Son House
Stephanie Mills
Steve Goodman
Steve Marriott
Steve Perry
Steve Winwood
Stevie Nicks
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Wonder
Sting
Sturgill Simpson
Susan Tedeschi
Susanna Hoffs
Sylvester
Taj Mahal
Tammi Terrell
Tammy Wynette
Tanya Tucker
Taylor Swift
Teddy Pendergrass
Teena Marie
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Terence Trent D'Arby
Tim Buckley
Tina Turner
Toby Keith
Todd Rundgren
Tom T. Hall
Tom Johnston
Tom Jones
Tom Petty
Toni Braxton
Tony Bennett
Tony Joe White
Tony Williams
Toots Hibbert
Townes Van Zandt
Toy Caldwell
Tracy Chapman
Trisha Yearwood
Tyrone Davis
Usher
Valerie Simpson
Van Morrison
Vern Gosdin
Vince Gill
Walter Williams
Walter & Wallace Scott
Wanda Jackson
Waylon Jennings
Webb Pierce
Whitney Houston
Willie Nelson
William Bell
William Hart
Wilson Pickett
Woody Guthrie
Wynonna Judd
Yolanda Adams
Youssou N'Dour
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