Hi Scott-- Your post helped better define what I'm trying to get at, ie distinctive, very well known singing voices-- thanks. I think it's easy to tell that you and I are from the same generation. I'm enjoying seeing others opinions on this, especially those singers that we didn't think of.
Ken-- Yep, the 5s are great and I'll have them forever. If you had to sell the 3As, I'm glad they went to a good home. Willie Nelson certainly has one of those very recognizable and widely known voices.
I also agree with Bing Crosby. I wanted to list Emmylou Harris, but my wife held out for Barbra Streisand. Dolly Parton has another one of those really distinctive and very well known voices. Cheers. Craig |
screamin' jay hawkins (hands down winner!!), dylan, johnny cash, roy orbison, billie holiday |
okay, how about ella fitzgerald, she has done everything from the great song writers, and even teamed up with satchmo, and not to mention one of the best jazz scatters of all time. |
Yeah Dylan, Sinatra, Maybe James Taylor. |
Sinatra and Streisand have to be on the list. Nat King Cole still sells tons of CDs and has to be considered. Frankly a top 5 is really tough. You almost have to go to ten. Hard to exclude Dylan and others. |
Dylan,Joplin,Sanatra,Etta James,Lou Reed.. |
Hi, Craig:
Interesting idea behind your post. I think that, as already noted, the choice of the 5 most recognizable (not the same thing as most famous) singers in American music will have a strong generational bias. Having said that, I think the 5 singers you listed are sufficiently well known to almost all Americans that they constitute the "foundation".
I'll nominate the following additional singers for consideration as among the "most recognizable" (again, not the same thing as famous):
1. Billie Holiday (certainly recognized by all jazz enthusiasts)
2. Ella Fitzgerald
3. Willie Nelson
4. Frank Sinatra
5. Bing Crosby
There are some other names that might also qualify, although some are not Americans, such as Mick Jagger. I can't help think of singers with very recognizable voices such as Roy Orbison, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, etc., although they probably don't qualify as among the "top 5". There are other people with very distinctive voices who, three decades or so ago, might have been included on this list, such as Mahalia Jackson, Sarah Vaughn, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis. |
Wmcmanus: "Interesting" is right - "American" most certainly does *not* include Bob Marley (Jamaican) or any of The Beatles (British). No matter where they eventually came to live after their careers and importance were already assured, they were the artistic products of not only their times, but of their formative surroundings, and America cannot rightfully claim them, despite being the birthplace of rock & roll. |
I thought this could be be a "generational" thing to some extent-- and my wife and I are pushing the 6th decade. As for the word "today"-- maybe a bad choice-- what I'm trying to get at are the most recognizable singing voices by the general public in America. They could be foreign singers that are popular here.
But even as an old codger, I heartily agree w/Tok2000 that M. Jackson is a strong contender, also Bob Dylan, and how could I forget "Old Blue Eyes" Frank Sinatra. Craig |
The word "today" has me hung up a bit. Recognizable today? Many of today's ears have never heard the King, the Boss, JT or even MJ! The good news is that some of them were fortunate enough to have missed Madonna and Cyndi Lauper (for years, I thought they were the same person - no, just kidding).
At age 40, my ears are slightly older than the average ears that are tuning into the FM waves these days, so I'd keep Elvis, and add Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, Britany and the "Beatles" - yes, lots of young folks recognize the Beatles but cannot name the individuals... sad!!! Interesting how 'American music' includes Bob Marley and Paul McCartney. |
Get rid of Barbra and put in Willie Nelson. Still Enjoying your 5s Craig? I just recently sold the 3s and bought ML Prodigys. there was just something about panel speakers that i missed. I did make sure that the 3s went to a good home. |
Is recognizable the only criteria? To who? Just about anyone? Then how about Elvis, Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Louis Armstrong. |
Bob Dylan has gotta be on that list. And I wouldn't be surprised if coast to coast, Reba McIntire or Shania Twain were on that list. There's a whole lotta ground between east and west. |
Bob Dylan has to be one of the top five. Depending on ones age, I agree with Michael Jackson - probably replaces Ray Charles. In the pop world (at least if the song is White Christmas)Bing Crosby probably replaces Streisand. |
Your list is definitely many famous voices, but of American music today? Maybe American music yesterday. I'll still agree with 'The King', however I may modernize the list just a tad.
(No particular order)
Elvis Presley
Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen
James Taylor
Paul McCartney
I'm not saying these are better voices, or even top favorites of mine (some are), but I think if you're talking about most recognizable voices in music TODAY, I feel these voices would be more recognizable to a larger portion of the general public today.
Regards,
John |
I hate saying this, but I would toss of Babs and put Michael Jackson up there. I think just about everyone on the planet bought his Thriller album, and people can recongnize his voice extremely readily.
KF |
