Rolling Stone readers - 10 best lead singers of all time

[BuckyBuckner]

Any list without Robin Zander of Cheap Trick is not valid.

[BuckyBuckner]

You want a POC then how about Phil Lynott?

[Bene Futuis]

I mean, how about James Brown? Bob Marley? I guess there's a point with regards to the "lead singer" concept, but also Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and about a gazillion more.

[[echo]]

Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford...

[Pauly]

You want a POC then how about Phil Lynott?

My first suggestion was a POC....

[Gregg]

I'd also have to fit John Fogerty in there somewhere. I love his voice. I'm not sure who I'd cut though. Probably Lennon, who, like Cobain, seems to be on the list because of how amazing and big the Beatles were and are and not because he had the best voice.

Fogerty needs to be in there.

This list seems to be lead vocals of Rock Groups and does not take into consideration other genres.

Personal tastes come into play. Bono is a good singer. He would not appear on my top 20 list. Paul Rodgers of Bad Company would. I think Robert Plant is a great rock singer but not ahead of Roger Daltry. Does Buddy Holly leading the Crickets need to be on the list? What about Willie Nelson and the Record Men. I don't think he would fit the intention of the list. I like groups better than Queen, but no doubt Freddie has chops. i can see him at #2 but would drop him to 3.

Roger Daltry
Robert Plant
Freddie Mercury
Mick Jagger
Grace Slick
Eddie Vedder
Chris Cornell
John Fogerty
Ann Wilson
Neil Young
Paul Rodgers

I turned it up to 11.

[Bene Futuis]

Honestly, for me, the only one that absolutely has to stay on the list is Robert Plant. All the rest are great frontmen but not necessarily great singers, imo. Chris Cornell is an exception, although he pretty much broke his voice later in his career. Freddie Mercury, too. But guys like Mick Jagger and Roger Daltrey and Jim Morrison, while unbelievable performers, are not the greatest singers.

[DMT]

My off-the-top-of-my-head top 10 favorite singers

Sam Cooke
Billie Holliday
Robert Plant
Freddie Mercury
Paul McCartney
Aretha Franklin
Otis Redding
David Bowie
Allison Krauss
Hector Lavoe