looking for nominations for best rock voice, NOT best vocal performance.......looking for the rock-quality of the voice itself........my first obvious choice is the ORIGINAL Rod Stewart
Jennifer Knapp is a christian Rock singer. Not well known, I suppose, but in my estimation she has an incredible vocal style & attitude that fits the best rock voices criteria.
Dont apologise for that. I suspect most people here would not have heard of him. He's an Australian singer. In the late 70's at 16yrs he made his name in a band called cold chisel( which became one of the biggest bands in Austalian rock, period). He's now a solo artist that does more soul/rock material. He sings more agressive now than he did when he was younger. If you like that vocal style you will love this guy. I have seen one of the worlds leading throat specialists say that he would be one of only three people max that is capable of singing this way without fatigue or damage. If your interested I can get you the name of some of his better cd,s. Cold Chisel (if you like rock) is really worth having a listen to, they were truly brilliant.
Many of the names mentioned here are worthy, I'd like to add Chris Cornell and Jimmy Barnes. Barnes has amazing technique, he can sing with more strain than anyone, do it all day and not wind up hoarse.
Dfrigovt that was Jim Dandy Mangrum, though I'm not sure of the spelling of the last name. I saw them in concert in 1978 opening for Blue Oyster Cult.
I'm pleasantly surprised to see several mentions of Ronnie James Dio. He is definately the best singer in heavy metal, and possibly in Rock and Roll! There are many others that I like, but are not really great singers, but that's why there are so many different answers here. Although I have to wonder if the guy who suggested Bon Scott was serious or still under the influence???
I still like Ian Andersons voice. I like to listen to Bob Dylan, but I'm not sure that makes him a good singer!?!
Roger Daltry/ Pete Townshend Jeff Beck ( In know... he doesn't sing. But the sounds he gets out of his guitar .... ! Check out this CD : Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop, and you'll know whay I mean. )
Johnette Napolitano, Siouxsie Sioux, Joan Osborne, Joan Jett, courtney Love, Patti Smith, Shirley Manson, Sinead Oconner, Marianne Faithful, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Lucinda Williams, Joan Armatrading, tina Turner, Laurie Anderson, Ani Defranco
Bryan Ferry, Freddie Mercury & David Bowie are obvious, how about Roland Gift of the FYC's and Steve Perry from Journey??? Any votes for Geddy Lee (Rush)? Jon Anderson of Yes? I kinda like Springsteen too.
Steve Winwood Harry Nilsson Marvin Gaye Van Morrison Felix Cavaliere Bryan Ferry Leon Russell Jennifer Warnes Art Garfunkel Freddie McGregor Tim Buckley
definitely grace slick and then robert plant although I don't like more of their stuff. Slick doine White Rabbit was simply fantastic.
Also, when I caught a middle aged Slick with a reformed Jefferson Airplane at the Fillmore (ten years back??) she was simply outstanding doing "Somebody to Love".
Jerry Garcia had a fairly weak voice but his timing/phrasing was up there with the best on a good night (which happened regularly enough to keep me going to over 200 Dead and Garcia shows since 1979).
If we include doo-wop, R&B, the MoTown sound, the California surfer sound, etc., as part of rock history, we then need to include a lot of other candidates for "best voice". I propose that we revise the thread to better define the categories of rock, and then choose the "best voices" in each category. Here the link to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame that lists all of the inductees:
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