100 Most Technically Skilled Male Rock Vocalists

[Ligzig]

Based on the criteria set out in the moderator's original post, there is one person and one alone who should be at the top of the list.

Ok, I'll bite...I would say Elvis,Perry or Mercury. You say?

I would say Perry or Mercury, but I don't know exactly what Perrys full range was?

I know Mercury had at least 4 octave range.

[kgdjpubs]

Based on the criteria set out in the moderator's original post, there is one person and one alone who should be at the top of the list.

Ok, I'll bite...I would say Elvis,Perry or Mercury. You say?

I would say Perry or Mercury, but I don't know exactly what Perrys full range was?

I know Mercury had at least 4 octave range.

I'd say it's between those and John Farnham (who has considerably more range than he normally uses). For clarity, range, ability to sing anything from pop to hard rock to theatre, and the most consistent live vocalist I've EVER heard, Farnham should be in any discussion on best singers. I might throw in Roy Orbison on an outside chance also.

As far as ranges go, I'd say Perry and Mercury were fairly close, but neither had as much power in the extremely high range as someone like Freddy Curci or Mike Matejevic (sp?). I think Perry was technically better than either of those, which is why range shouldn't be extremely high on the list of ratings.

[Jeremey]

On the pretext that I don't consider Celine a "rock" singer, it would have to go to Roy Orbison, followed by Bobby Hatfield and George Michael. That's based on the original criteria posted by the forum moderator.

[steveo777]

On the pretext that I don't consider Celine a "rock" singer, it would have to go to Roy Orbison, followed by Bobby Hatfield and George Michael. That's based on the original criteria posted by the forum moderator.

There is one hell of a vocal range!

[Archetype]

14. Roy Kahn

He's an incredible vocalist. Great band

[Deb]

Based on the criteria set out in the moderator's original post, there is one person and one alone who should be at the top of the list.

Ok, I'll bite...I would say Elvis,Perry or Mercury. You say?

I would say Perry or Mercury, but I don't know exactly what Perrys full range was?

I know Mercury had at least 4 octave range.

I'd say it's between those and John Farnham (who has considerably more range than he normally uses). For clarity, range, ability to sing anything from pop to hard rock to theatre, and the most consistent live vocalist I've EVER heard, Farnham should be in any discussion on best singers. I might throw in Roy Orbison on an outside chance also.

As far as ranges go, I'd say Perry and Mercury were fairly close, but neither had as much power in the extremely high range as someone like Freddy Curci or Mike Matejevic (sp?). I think Perry was technically better than either of those, which is why range shouldn't be extremely high on the list of ratings.

LOL, pretty much just following your posts around and agreeing with you lately. I would probably even put Farnham above Mercury. And with the criteria that site has given.......I would definitely add Michael Sweet to that list also. Alot of my favorite singers just happen to have great range also, but personally it is very low on my criteria of what makes certain vocals a fave. Tone, power (texture/resonant/vibrato), passionate (on the rockers) or soulful (on the ballads) delivery make up at least 95% of my favorite vocal criteria. And I don't know if I fully understand what vibrato is, so not sure if I'm using it correctly there.

I just know that I'm usually more drawn to R&B influenced rock vocals in general. A great R&B sounding vocal run, randomly thrown into a song, can just melt me.

[Don]

George Michael
John Farnham
Steve Perry

[kgdjpubs]

LOL, pretty much just following your posts around and agreeing with you lately.

life works better--at least for me--when people do that. Not sure why I have so much trouble with that simple issue with some people...
Seriously, I think we just tend to agree on what makes a "good vocal".

And I don't know if I fully understand what vibrato is, so not sure if I'm using it correctly there.

The way I understand it, and Jeremey might be able to further clarify as I'm not all that knowledgeable on the technical terms....Vibrato is switching back and forth over two neighboring notes VERY rapidly to cut down on the piercing sound you get holding one note for a long time (especially the higher ones). There are better explanations on youtube for the exact technique, but that's the reader's digest condensed version.

See this video by John Farnham live with Vanetta Fields doing the first part of Amazing Grace for a good showcase of vibrato.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x6N94OEkZQ

I just know that I'm usually more drawn to R&B influenced rock vocals in general.

Same here.

Speaking thereof, check this out. All this talk of emotional vocal performances, this has to be right up there at the top. Marc Anthony singing a song to his daughter at a show in NYC about 10 years ago. There is a danger in injecting too much emotion into a song, and how he managed to finish it is amazing--much less agree to release it on a dvd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9PAxnks0tA

[Michigan Girl]

I just know that I'm usually more drawn to R&B influenced rock vocals in general. A great R&B sounding vocal run, randomly thrown into a song, can just melt me.

Deb knows how to speak my mind, so well!! Thanks, Deb!!

[Ehwmatt]

Based on the criteria set out in the moderator's original post, there is one person and one alone who should be at the top of the list.

Ok, I'll bite...I would say Elvis,Perry or Mercury. You say?

I would say Perry or Mercury, but I don't know exactly what Perrys full range was?

I know Mercury had at least 4 octave range.

I'd say it's between those and John Farnham (who has considerably more range than he normally uses). For clarity, range, ability to sing anything from pop to hard rock to theatre, and the most consistent live vocalist I've EVER heard, Farnham should be in any discussion on best singers. I might throw in Roy Orbison on an outside chance also.

As far as ranges go, I'd say Perry and Mercury were fairly close, but neither had as much power in the extremely high range as someone like Freddy Curci or Mike Matejevic (sp?). I think Perry was technically better than either of those, which is why range shouldn't be extremely high on the list of ratings.

LOL, pretty much just following your posts around and agreeing with you lately. I would probably even put Farnham above Mercury. And with the criteria that site has given.......I would definitely add Michael Sweet to that list also. Alot of my favorite singers just happen to have great range also, but personally it is very low on my criteria of what makes certain vocals a fave. Tone, power (texture/resonant/vibrato), passionate (on the rockers) or soulful (on the ballads) delivery make up at least 95% of my favorite vocal criteria. And I don't know if I fully understand what vibrato is, so not sure if I'm using it correctly there.

I just know that I'm usually more drawn to R&B influenced rock vocals in general. A great R&B sounding vocal run, randomly thrown into a song, can just melt me.

Deb, let me ask you - as a Canadian, are you familiar with the father of Canadian rock, Mr. Burton Cummings? If so, what do you think?

[steveo777]

100 Mary J. Blige
99 Steven Tyler
98 Stevie Nicks
97 Joe Cocker
96 B.B. King
95 Patti LaBelle
94 Karen Carpenter
93 Annie Lennox
92 Morrissey
91 Levon Helm
90 The Everly Brothers
89 Solomon Burke
88 Willie Nelson
87 Don Henley
86 Art Garfunkel
85 Sam Moore
84 Darlene Love
83 Patti Smith
82 Tom Waits
81 John Lee Hooker
80 Frankie Valli
79 Mariah Carey
78 Sly Stone
77 Merle Haggard
76 Steve Perry
75 Iggy Pop
74 James Taylor
73 Dolly Parton
72 John Fogerty
71 Toots Hibbert
70 Gregg Allman
69 Ronnie Spector
68 Wilson Pickett
67 Jerry Lee Lewis
66 Thom Yorke
65 David Ruffin
64 Axl Rose
63 Dion
62 Lou Reed
61 Roger Daltrey
60 Björk
59 Rod Stewart
58 Christina Aguilera
57 Eric Bourdon
56 Mavis Staples
55 Paul Rodgers
54 Luther Vandross
53 Muddy Waters
52 Brian Wilson
51 Gladys Knight
50 Bonnie Raitt
49 Donny Hathaway
48 Buddy Holly
47 Jim Morrison
46 Patsy Cline
45 Kurt Cobain
44 Bobby “Blue” Bland
43 George Jones
42 Joni Mitchell
41 Chuck Berry
40 Curtis Mayfield
39 Jeff Buckley
38 Elton John
37 Neil Young
36 Bruce Springsteen
35 Dusty Sprinfield
34 Whitney Houston
33 Steve Winwood
32 Bono
31 Howlin’ Wolf
30 Prince
29 Nina Simone
28 Janis Joplin
27 Hank Williams
26 Jackie Wilson
25 Michael Jackson
24 Van Morrison
23 David Bowie
22 Etta James
21 Johnny Cash
20 Smokey Robinson
19 Bob Marley
18 Freddie Mercury
17 Tina Turner
16 Mick Jagger
15 Robert Plant
14 Al Green
13 Roy Orbison
12 Little Richard
11 Paul McCartney
10 James Brown
09 Stevie Wonder
08 Otis Redding
07 Bob Dylan
06 Marvin Gaye
05 John Lennon
04 Sam Cooke
03 Elvis Presley
02 Ray Charles
01 Aretha Franklin

Here is the very authoritative list from Rolling Stone.
http://stereogum.com/34931/rolling_ston ... time/list/

Who's best is very opinionated at best.

[Rockindeano]

Deb, let me ask you - as a Canadian, are you familiar with the father of Canadian rock, Mr. Burton Cummings? If so, what do you think?

I can answer that. Firstly, you need to get the facts right. The father of Canadian rock is Stompin' Tom Connors who wrote perhaps the greatest song ever...The Hockey Song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZWxErEbQkY

Tell me I am wrong Deb?

[Ehwmatt]

Deb, let me ask you - as a Canadian, are you familiar with the father of Canadian rock, Mr. Burton Cummings? If so, what do you think?

I can answer that. Firstly, you need to get the facts right. The father of Canadian rock is Stompin' Tom Connors who wrote perhaps the greatest song ever...The Hockey Song.

Tell me I am wrong Deb?

Tom Connors is a rocker?

[Rockindeano]

Deb, let me ask you - as a Canadian, are you familiar with the father of Canadian rock, Mr. Burton Cummings? If so, what do you think?

I can answer that. Firstly, you need to get the facts right. The father of Canadian rock is Stompin' Tom Connors who wrote perhaps the greatest song ever...The Hockey Song.

Tell me I am wrong Deb?

Tom Connors is a rocker?

Tom Connors is a god dude. Rock, country, folk, you name it. A fucking legend up in Canada.

[Ehwmatt]

Deb, let me ask you - as a Canadian, are you familiar with the father of Canadian rock, Mr. Burton Cummings? If so, what do you think?

I can answer that. Firstly, you need to get the facts right. The father of Canadian rock is Stompin' Tom Connors who wrote perhaps the greatest song ever...The Hockey Song.

Tell me I am wrong Deb?

Tom Connors is a rocker?

Tom Connors is a god dude. Rock, country, folk, you name it. A fucking legend up in Canada.

So is Burton man... him and Randy Bachman... legends

[Archetype]

Bob Dylan and Kurt Cobain are ahead of Steve Perry on the Rolling Stone list. No credibility.

[Deb]

LOL, pretty much just following your posts around and agreeing with you lately.

life works better--at least for me--when people do that. Not sure why I have so much trouble with that simple issue with some people...
Seriously, I think we just tend to agree on what makes a "good vocal".

And I don't know if I fully understand what vibrato is, so not sure if I'm using it correctly there.

The way I understand it, and Jeremey might be able to further clarify as I'm not all that knowledgeable on the technical terms....Vibrato is switching back and forth over two neighboring notes VERY rapidly to cut down on the piercing sound you get holding one note for a long time (especially the higher ones). There are better explanations on youtube for the exact technique, but that's the reader's digest condensed version.

See this video by John Farnham live with Vanetta Fields doing the first part of Amazing Grace for a good showcase of vibrato.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x6N94OEkZQ

Ok yep it is what I thought it was. I love vibrato. I remember having a discussion on MR a little while ago about vibrato too and was told yes this is a good case of vibrato. Ronnie is the vibrato to Eddie's vocals, right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbhXmSBlS_U --also just another excuse to listen to this one again too, gawd I love this tune.

I just know that I'm more drawn to R&B influenced rock vocals in general.

Same here.

Speaking thereof, check this out. All this talk of emotional vocal performances, this has to be right up there at the top. Marc Anthony singing a song to his daughter at a show in NYC about 10 years ago. There is a danger in injecting too much emotion into a song, and how he managed to finish it is amazing--much less agree to release it on a dvd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9PAxnks0tA

Wow! Not sure if I totally dig the song or not, but now that is definitely delivering a song!

[Deb]

Deb, let me ask you - as a Canadian, are you familiar with the father of Canadian rock, Mr. Burton Cummings? If so, what do you think?

I can answer that. Firstly, you need to get the facts right. The father of Canadian rock is Stompin' Tom Connors who wrote perhaps the greatest song ever...The Hockey Song.

Tell me I am wrong Deb?

Tom Connors is a rocker?

Tom Connors is a god dude. Rock, country, folk, you name it. A fucking legend up in Canada.

So is Burton man... him and Randy Bachman... legends

Sorry Dean but I'm siding with Matt on this one. As much as I love the Good Ole Hockey Song and it IS probably THE most recognized song. I don't consider Stompin Tom as rock, IMO he's country. The Guess Who are Canadian rock legends. Love me some Burton Cummings, even though he doesn't rank in my top 5, he's got one of THE most unique voices out there.......you don't see many people trying to cover him.......his voice is just that hard to duplicate. Guess Who have some great tunes......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfPJJko-FM0

[Ehwmatt]

Deb, let me ask you - as a Canadian, are you familiar with the father of Canadian rock, Mr. Burton Cummings? If so, what do you think?

I can answer that. Firstly, you need to get the facts right. The father of Canadian rock is Stompin' Tom Connors who wrote perhaps the greatest song ever...The Hockey Song.

Tell me I am wrong Deb?

Tom Connors is a rocker?

Tom Connors is a god dude. Rock, country, folk, you name it. A fucking legend up in Canada.

So is Burton man... him and Randy Bachman... legends

Sorry Dean but I'm siding with Matt on this one. As much as I love the Good Ole Hockey Song and it IS probably THE most recognized song. I don't consider Stompin Tom as rock, IMO he's country. The Guess Who are Canadian rock legends. Love me some Burton Cummings, even though he doesn't rank in my top 5, he's got one of THE most unique voices out there.......you don't see many people trying to cover him.......his voice is just that hard to duplicate. Guess Who have some great tunes......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfPJJko-FM0

DId you see him at The Olympics? Susan (Triple S) was nice enough to rip the video for me and it was a STUNNING performance.

[Chubby321]

arnie boy pineda on that list????? What a joke!

http://www.daveling.co.uk/diaryjune08.htm

At one point Chris Squire from Yes wandered past, nodding stageward, smiling and remarking (about Arnel): "Every band should have one".

[Don]

arnie boy pineda on that list????? What a joke!

http://www.daveling.co.uk/diaryjune08.htm

At one point Chris Squire from Yes wandered past, nodding stageward, smiling and remarking (about Arnel): "Every band should have one".

I remember hearing guys say something like that when we were in Thailand and the Philippines.

[Deb]

I just know that I'm usually more drawn to R&B influenced rock vocals in general. A great R&B sounding vocal run, randomly thrown into a song, can just melt me.

Deb knows how to speak my mind, so well!! Thanks, Deb!!

You know it chicklet! LOL, I just love when a favorite vocalist is just feeling an R&B groove and just throws in a little vocal run, a whooa, or yaaahh, or hey baaaaby....into a song randomly. Two things I just love about EM's and JSS vocals are: to this day, they can still belt out a killer rock scream :22 mark http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXcAxJD9_xM and yet turn around and drop me vocally with a soulfully delivered ballad.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfPJJko-FM0 notice the little "hey baaaby" thrown in about half way through. (maybe not THE best examples, but damn Warner Music Group seems to pull any and all things Mr Big off youtube, so not much to choose from , not that I don't own it all already or anything. ) Same with JSS, as you know can still belt out a killer rock scream (Stand Up and Shout) and then turn around and floor me with his delivery on songs like Lonely Shade of Blue or W.E.T.s If I Fall. Not sure how SP's rock screams are coming these days , but he's definitely got the soulful/passionate delivery thing happening....in spades!

[Triple S]

Sorry Dean but I'm siding with Matt on this one. As much as I love the Good Ole Hockey Song and it IS probably THE most recognized song. I don't consider Stompin Tom as rock, IMO he's country. The Guess Who are Canadian rock legends. Love me some Burton Cummings, even though he doesn't rank in my top 5, he's got one of THE most unique voices out there.......you don't see many people trying to cover him.......his voice is just that hard to duplicate. Guess Who have some great tunes......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfPJJko-FM0

DId you see him at The Olympics? Susan (Triple S) was nice enough to rip the video for me and it was a STUNNING performance.

What makes it even more so is he's 62 years old! And on the keys? - still one of the best. OT - working on the Loverboy recording from the Olympics right now, also a stellar performance from Mike Reno. He sounds great!

[Saint John]

working on the Loverboy recording from the Olympics right now, also a stellar performance from Mike Reno. He sounds great!

I just saw him at World Stage a few weeks ago and he was very good. If he could lose some weight and regain some of the sustained power (he was out of breath a lot) he'd really sound great!

[Ehwmatt]

Sorry Dean but I'm siding with Matt on this one. As much as I love the Good Ole Hockey Song and it IS probably THE most recognized song. I don't consider Stompin Tom as rock, IMO he's country. The Guess Who are Canadian rock legends. Love me some Burton Cummings, even though he doesn't rank in my top 5, he's got one of THE most unique voices out there.......you don't see many people trying to cover him.......his voice is just that hard to duplicate. Guess Who have some great tunes......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfPJJko-FM0

DId you see him at The Olympics? Susan (Triple S) was nice enough to rip the video for me and it was a STUNNING performance.

What makes it even more so is he's 62 years old! And on the keys? - still one of the best. OT - working on the Loverboy recording from the Olympics right now, also a stellar performance from Mike Reno. He sounds great!

They didn't do any stuff from the last album did they?

BTW, Burton's performances of "I'm Scared" and "You Saved My Soul" ... ... wow.

[kgdjpubs]

Bob Dylan and Kurt Cobain are ahead of Steve Perry on the Rolling Stone list. No credibility.

how Bob Dylan makes it into the top 1000 singers is beyond me. Top Writers, quite possibly....but he's proof positive that singing ability is NOT required to be a singer.

[Triple S]

Sorry Dean but I'm siding with Matt on this one. As much as I love the Good Ole Hockey Song and it IS probably THE most recognized song. I don't consider Stompin Tom as rock, IMO he's country. The Guess Who are Canadian rock legends. Love me some Burton Cummings, even though he doesn't rank in my top 5, he's got one of THE most unique voices out there.......you don't see many people trying to cover him.......his voice is just that hard to duplicate. Guess Who have some great tunes......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfPJJko-FM0

DId you see him at The Olympics? Susan (Triple S) was nice enough to rip the video for me and it was a STUNNING performance.

What makes it even more so is he's 62 years old! And on the keys? - still one of the best. OT - working on the Loverboy recording from the Olympics right now, also a stellar performance from Mike Reno. He sounds great!

They didn't do any stuff from the last album did they?

BTW, Burton's performances of "I'm Scared" and "You Saved My Soul" ... ... wow.

No unfortunately they didn't - I think all those Olympic performances were about the 'hits' from all the bands who performed - which is OK I think, for what they were trying to accomplish.

[Triple S]

working on the Loverboy recording from the Olympics right now, also a stellar performance from Mike Reno. He sounds great!

I just saw him at World Stage a few weeks ago and he was very good. If he could lose some weight and regain some of the sustained power (he was out of breath a lot) he'd really sound great!

I didn't really notice an 'out of breath' issue with this concert - in fact, I kept thinking (especially towards the end) "I hope he doesn't keel over from all the effort" (because of his weight), but somehow he gets through it. I agree though, if he could drop some of that weight he'd be even better.

[kgdjpubs]

I just know that I'm more drawn to R&B influenced rock vocals in general.

Same here.

Speaking thereof, check this out. All this talk of emotional vocal performances, this has to be right up there at the top. Marc Anthony singing a song to his daughter at a show in NYC about 10 years ago. There is a danger in injecting too much emotion into a song, and how he managed to finish it is amazing--much less agree to release it on a dvd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9PAxnks0tA

Wow! Not sure if I totally dig the song or not, but now that is definitely delivering a song!

Not my favorite either, but that vocal is something else.

This is more my style. You Sang To Me (in a radically different--and much improved--version) from the same show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ACkHS7DI8

[ChildInTime]

And Kurt Cobain?! The guy MUMBLED half the time.

I think Rolling Stone's criteria might include songwriting or something, because Cobain and Dylan can't sing for beans, but Dylan can definitely write great songs and amazing lyrics.