Okay, he was a temporary vocalist in AC/DC but their songs arent the easiest stuffs to sing mind you. They had great operatic over the top voices. Kravitz struck out on his own, living out of his car and performing under the name Romeo Blue in California before returning to New York, where he recorded his debut album Let Love Rule. And he poured so much emotion into every song it was him who gave their songs sadness, spookiness and a heartbreaking feel. It was his voice which took Radiohead to another level. Country. Joe Cocker was the real king of Woodstock. Her star continues to rise as more and more recognize her as a musician and performer. . But Sinclairs gentlemanly British touch was missed after his departure. As an angelic high tenor, Jon Anderson challenged what a male rock singer was supposed to sound like. Otiel has the third most distinctive voice, but IS the best singer. Andersons ability to deliver a thoughtful lyric was at least as important to Tull as his trademark flute. Led Zeppelin was born soon after. Theyve had some huge hits too like Dude (Looks Like A Lady), Janies Got A Gun, and Cryin. Tyler and company finally hit #1 on the charts with I Dont Want To Miss A Thing in 1998. By 1981, the band had broken big with Dont Stop Believing. He stayed with the band, launching a brief solo career in 1984, before returning to Journey for a few years. The standard rap about Peter Hammill that his dexterity with his voice was what Hendrix did with his guitar is completely deserved. Born in Staffordshire, England, Plant was introduced to American blues music at an early age. Since he fell out with Yes, theyve had the unenviable task of finding singers who sound just like him. His voice gave King Crimson a lot of its drama not just anybody could record something as powerful as 21st Century Schizoid Man when barely out of their teens and later gave Emerson, Lake & Palmer its accessibility. For it's truly one of a kind. Known for his bass playing and songwriting skills, the distinctive sound of his voice separates Sting from so many other rock singers. Most of all, she provides what has to be the best vocal on any Mike Oldfield album, namely the gorgeous Hiawatha that fills Side Two of Incantations, and its reprise at Side Fours climax. Tyler is well-known for his vocal prowess, flamboyant clothing, and huge stage persona. Anderson has also regularly pursued collaborations and solo projects. Top 10 Most Unique Singing Voices - TheTopTens Ballads like StillYou Turn Me On also evinced sex appeal, not a common quality in prog rock singers. Roger Chapman wore his unconventional tones proudly, and he also had real soul. On Indiscipline, he adapted a letter (from his artist partner about her new painting) into progs greatest spoken-word vocal. There, he sang with a couple of bands before traveling to San Francisco and joining with a jazz-rock outfit called Journey. That really doesn't narrow down the many greatest rock singers in recent rock music history, though a certain few stand out as above and beyond all the rest. You dont have to be a fan to recognize the uniqueness of his voice. JOE COCKER: ONE OF ROCK'S MOST DISTINCTIVE VOICES - Rate Your Music Born David Robert Jones in London, David Bowie had a long, varied, storied musical career. In this list, we will go over the careers of 28 of the greatest and most popular rock singers. But he could also get avant with the best. Grace Slick is an American singer-songwriter who is known for her powerful and distinctive voice. Hot AC & Mainstream AC. He is greatly missed. 100 Greatest Female Vocalists - IMDb 8 Famous Songs That Are Actually Responses To Other Songs, 10 Greatest Live Albums In Rock Music History, 10 Hated '90s Rock Songs That Are Actually Really Good, 10 Greatest Rock Music Album Covers Of The 1980s 8.A few glaring omissions Mariusz Duda (Riverside), Ted Leonard (Enchant, Spocks Beard, etc. Guns N' Roses: Can You Name The Song From The Lyric? Saying that, of the singers Im aware of from your list, Kate Bush is probably the only one I know of whose voice is proggy and arty. From any other vocalist, all the little voicings in "Another One Bites the Dust" would just sound fake, but Mercury pulled it off naturally. Any list of greatest prog rock singers that does have Jon Anderson at #1 is flat out wrong. When his family moved to California, he began a musical career that would reach dizzying heights. Glastonbury Festival Arctic Monkeys find their voice but Lana Del Rey Not everyones a fan of grunge but as long as you have an ear for unique vocals, youll agree that Eddie Vedder has one of the most unique voices in rock. Wilson last released a solo album in 2015. Its pretty simple, actually. Needs Pete Nicholls (IQ), Stuart Nicholson (Galahad), and Neal Morse. After earning a degree in graphic design, he joined guitarist Brian May in a band that became Queen. Peter Hammill tends to sing too rough live, instead of using his beautiful soft low tone natural voice. Every single note that came out of his mouth was just laced with magic, it leaves you in awe. He would have an on-again, off-again relationship with the band but sang on the 1983 album 90125, the groups biggest-selling recording. Readers' Poll: Which Singer Has the Most Unique Voice? The 12 Most Distinctive Voices of the Pop/Rock/R&B Era - TheBlot Magazine 9. The pair joined, and the band took off nearly immediately. All rights reserved. She sang in choirs as a kid, but Joplin headed west after a short stint at the University of Texas. His technique was astonishing. However, he was adamant about not using their connections to further his musical career. Roy Orbison . Freddie Mercury especially had an amazing voice and was ranked second only to Mariah Carey by MTV for the best voices in music ever. A polarising entry right off the bat, Megadeth is very much the marmite of '80s thrash metal. On her earliest records, Kate Bush sounded like the imaginative teenager that she was. Born and raised in London, Rod Stewart could have taken the athletic route in life, as he was a gifted football player as a youth. Few people have a falsetto quite like Frankie Valli! She spent her childhood and teenage years feeling lonely, turning to singing to help her overcome her stutter. Though he built his first guitar out of a block of wood, Daltrey quickly became known as the singer, especially when he, Townshend, and Entwistle formed a skiffle band. Born Paul Hewson in Dublin, Ireland, Bono has turned a job as a rock singer into sweeping philanthropic efforts and an honorary knighthood. He used his distinctive, raspy voice in The Jeff Beck Group and a band called Faces with Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood. Sometimes, when we play some of her songs, theres no dry eye left in the room. Required fields are marked *. Still, these names rank high on the list of powerful singers whove found fame with their talents. Alternative, Rock & Triple A. CHR/Pop. With a few exceptions, a prog rock singer is only a prog rock singer because of the prog rock music behind him. Sure the bands Queen and Styx werent Prog, but they had Prog elements. Hes also had success as a solo artist and an actor. I used to write about Progressive Rock and have never heard of either of them. Image: https://i.imgur.com/V19Ev9A.png Frankie Valli's Wife: All About The 4 Women The Singer Married His voice became more flexible in his solo years, to the point where he could have hits with a sexy dance number (Sledgehammer) and a love ballad (In Your Eyes). They soon added drummer Keith Moon and became The Who, an iconic rock act driven as much by Daltreys singular vocals as anything else. Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury from Queen, John Lennon from The Beatles, Jim Morrison from The Doors, and Bob Dylan are only a few of some of the best rock vocalists ever, but also some of the most influential singers of all time. It sounds so new and so old at the same time, with this crazy European mystery to it. Alison Krauss. . Speaking of unique voices, many peoples first reaction to hearing Family was to be impressed by the uniqueness of that frontman. Six of her solo albums have hit the top 10 on the album chart and her songs "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," "Stand Back," and "Edge of Seventeen" are considered rock classics. September 9, 2021 By Tim Peacock What makes a truly legendary rock singer? He married and divorced actor Lisa Bonet, and the pair have one daughter, actress Zoe Kravitz. Not many public-school English guys could convincingly become a New York graffiti artist on a concept album. Ahem Demetrio Stratos? Sting embarked on a solo career soon after that and has continued to produce hits and interesting collaborations. Christian Vander of Magma, and with Stella Vander. Laura has over 12 years experience teaching both classical and jazz saxophone and clarinet. That wraps up our list of rock singers, we hope you enjoyed it. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He joined Lennon in a skiffle band when he was 16, and the Beatles were on their way to being formed. As a kid, he loved country music and played drums in several local bands in his youth. At 57, the singer is still on top of his game blowing many of the younger singers out of the water. Their energy embodies the spirit of the band - and with that unique responsibility comes an equally unique set of pipes. This isn't how volunteers should be treated. Its immediately identifiable, with a combination of brute force and subtlety that is easy to overlook amid the sonic assault of Guns n Roses. The Rolling Stone magazine on Axl Roses voice. That said, it is great to see Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, David Gilmour, and the amazing Justin Heyward (Moody Blues) all make the TOP 10. His golden pipes are just that precious and rare. Her soulful, unique singing voice and her ability to boldly turn any material that she confronted into her own music made her a superstar of her time. Im Dan and I run this website. : Ian Hunter And Mott The Hooples Golden Age Of RocknRoll, Gwen Stefani, Lil Wayne and Ne-Yo: Currently Trending Songs, Tony Scott: How A Bebop Jazz Clarinetist Invented New Age Music, A Brief History of Queer And Trans Women In American Music. This vehicle would propel the newly-christened Freddie Mercury to worldwide stardom. The 25 Best New And Rising Artists In 2023, Chosen With Bad Bunny The Voice Orbison, the Singer Who Gave Rock Its Full Range Jagger has had great success with the band and as a solo artist; he has also acted in a few films. When Genesis hemmed and hawed about promoting their drummer to lead singer, little did they know they had a voice that would practically define the 80s. Keyboardist/flautist van Leer had other standout vocal moments including the Latin chant in Round Goes the Gossip and his multitracked church choir that brings Hamburger Concerto to its peak. The singer of the band sounds familiar, but you can't quite place them. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Youve totally missed the era. His amazing song-writing abilities are well represented in the Gilmour entry but Roger always had to work very hard to get a lead vocal part correct he was IMO at his best in the early days making weird frightening vocal sounds like on Careful with that Ax Eugene. Greats like Robert Plant, David Bowie, Steve Perry and Neil Young come to mind, as do icons like Bono, Mick Jagger and Bruce Springsteen. His voice could easily put you in a trance. Hes better than the whole list together. After 1991's "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" and slower more melodic songs like "Under The Bridge", the audience gained a new appreciation for the singer. English singer-songwriter Roger Harry Daltrey went to the Acton County Grammar School for Boys in England, where he met two musicians named Pete Townshend and John Entwistle. This is a nice list. The Greatest Prog Rock Singers: A Top 30 Countdown The prog rock world has no lack of virtuosity, with its guitar heroes, keyboard wizards, and bass and drum monsters but this list salutes. He deserves a whole list of his finest musical moments yes, his voice is divine like that. Though his personal life has involved drug use and uproarious relationships, hes become a great-grandfather at the age of 70. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Adam Levine: I love his voice, it's super sexy and very manly (Even though I'm a man and I'm not gay :v) His high pitched squeaky voice is really cool to me! His full, rich tone included a distinctive rasp that audiences loved. 13 Modern-Day Singers With Distinctive Voices 4. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. John Wetton had one of the most distinctive voices in British rock, initially joining Family to sing harmonies with Roger Chapman. But their popularity began to wane in the early 80s as Tyler suffered a terrible motorcycle accident and the effects of addiction. Bob Dylan Soundtrack | Renaldo and Clara We stand united against Reddit's recent policy changes. Meet the Queens: 15 of the Best Female R&B Singers of All Time - SiriusXM She also deserves a spot for her soaring vocal on Steve Hacketts Voyage of the Acolyte. TLC defined the 90s for plenty of young R&B listeners. For Thom Yorke, its not just about his vocal range. His romantic streak is a longstanding trademark, seen in the tender Strawbs ballads Grace Darling and Out in the Cold. But what may be his best moment, the title track of Hero & Heroine, is intense from start to finish. Like many of her soul contemporaries, Warwick began singing in the church choir. The 20 Best Male Vocalists in Popular Music From the '60s and '70s Top 10 Most Unique Voices in Rock - I Love Classic Rock How can we forget the man with spine-chilling, goosebump-inducing voice? These singers have all sung with prog music behind them as well as more pop oriented music. We can go on and on about how stellar his voice is but all you have to do is listen to any Led Zeppelin song. 15 Most Distinctive Singing Voices In Rock & Metal - WhatCulture Hanley has pursued solo work, written and sung for television and movie projects, including Josie and the Pussycats. Right from the start, Cornell possessed all the little nuances of his voice only honing and mastering them with age. 14. The most absurd choice is Phil Collins above Peter Gabriel and Geddy Lee anywhere but at the bottom. Freddie Mercury especially had an amazing voice and was ranked second only to Mariah Carey by MTV for the best . His music was described by critics as operatic, earning him the nicknames "The Caruso of Rock" and ". While studying cinematography at UCLA, he met Ray Manzarek, and the two quickly formed The Doors. A perfect combination of range, power, articulation and control is needed to become one of the greatest vocalists of all time. Neither is Peter Hammill 2. 4 Sia Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, referred to mononymously as Sia, is an Australian singer and songwriter. That changed in the early 90s, and by the time of Staleys heroin-related death, he was known as one of rocks greatest voices. Burton Cummings is a songwriter and was the lead singer of The Guess Who from 1965 to 1975. In 1971, the two formed The Eagles, one of the biggest-selling rock acts ever. One of the best singers of all time, John Lennon had a tempestuous childhood growing up in Liverpool, England, but things to a great turn when, as a teenager, he met Paul McCartney, and the two eventually formed The Beatles. Currently one of the great technical wizards in prog, Steven Wilson also has an expressive singer-songwriter voice that really shines when he strips things down to basics (see Porcupine Trees wonderful acoustic EP, We Lost the Skyline). Who are the singers with the most distinctive voices you have ever She released one solo album (and a second posthumously), but her heroin addiction put her on a rapid downhill slide. The best rock vocalists of all time are the frontmen and leading ladiesof our favorite rock bands, or those solo artists whose voices are some of the best ever. Born in Staffordshire, England, Plant was introduced to American blues music at an early age. He also had a great musicality. Spanish operatic soprano Montserrat Caball. It was a hit in 1989. Let us know! For 16 years, the act scored hit after hit, but Turner finally left the band and her marriage to escape Ikes abuse. 9: Dionne Warwick. In this article, we'll explore 10 of the most distinctive and unforgettable singers who have left their mark on Find latest music news and articles about your favorite artists, charts and videos. Few other singers could have drawn actual pathos from Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?. Ike married her soon after, and the pair formed the Ike and Tina Turner Revue in 1968. Aretha Franklin The first singer on our list is Aretha Franklin. He is greatly missed. Truly great singers are dime a dozen and the ones that have such a special timbre you can recognize them whatever the project is are even rarer. He wrote and recorded incessantly, often making every sound on his records. Jon Anderson perfoms LIVE better than Peter Hammill, but either one could be number one. Known for her amazing mezzo-soprano vocals, Janis Joplin hailed from Port Arthur, Texas, and showed an interest in singing early. Even professional singers find it challenging to copy him. There are so many attempts to copy his trademark growl but unfortunately, nobody can ever do it like him. The band halted playing its country-rock music in the early 1980s, and Henleys solo career built to great success, though it took some time. Shortly thereafter, Lennon left The Beatles and embarked on a solo career with Ono. It didnt matter. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Bowie was a towering musical figure and acted in several films like Labyrinth and The Prestige. Much as anyone on this list, Procol Harums singer is steeped in classic R&B; you could see Whiter Shade of Pale as a successful attempt to make a wordier Otis Redding record. Also, its not just the range (although that plays a huge factor in some instances too), it could be the signature rasp or howl or wail. Freddie Mercury was far from your average frontman. Sure not everyone likes it but at the end of the day, hes still among the greatest singers in rock. There is also probably no other death metal singer who actually has such a good pronunciation when growling. TLC. He died in Paris in 1971 of an apparent drug overdose. Hello, I do not understand that Phil Collins, is in the 7th in front of Peter and other musicians with compositions in my opinion much more, PROG than him. All of those can be taught but the natural ability to have that golden voice, as all of these great rock vocalists possess, is nothing that can be learned. Its pure and original. and our These two groups had a significant influence on the burgeoning punk rock genre. If this was a folk-rock list, Maddy Prior would be near the top. Good list but italian prog band singers are sadly forgotten: Aldo Tagliapetra, Demetro Stratos and Banco del Mutuo Scorso singer are gems Greetings. : This could feel nostalgic too. Blind Lemon Jefferson. Anderson is also an accomplished painter. Sadly, he died of complications from AIDS in 1991 at age 45, leaving behind a huge body of work as one of the defining voices of rock and roll. When we think of unique vocals, hes one of the first rockers who come to mind. In talking with a group of music critics, they literally have NEVER HEARD OF Peter Hammill or Annie Halsom. But then, another song comes on straight after, and all it takes is one word from this new singer for you to go, "Now THIS one I know!". Rock music, or rock and roll, became popular during the 50s and 60s, and to date, it is still widely listened to by numerous fans who have fallen in love with the strong beat characteristic of this genre. It is if you're not talking about George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher who was able not only to develop an instantly recognizable growl but also to maintain the power in his voice 30 years into his career. There's a reason the lead singer of a rock or metal band is known as the frontperson. The band broke up for a brief period in the 90s but had more hits in the 2000s. Sun records also recorded one of the most distinctive voices in rock music. 15. of 20. Top 20 Rock Singers of All Time - LiveAbout But hes on this list of the greatest prog rock singers as the first artist to do prog a cappella and recognizing the possibility of layered vocals. McCartney and Lennon shared lead singing duties, and the differences in their voices played well off each other. You probably noticed it but whenever another artist covers her songs, fans become enraged. Any list that features the powerful voice of John Wetton (ASIA, King Crimpson, Roxy Music, UK) in the top 5 is worth reading. For all their avant-garde tendencies, King Crimson always had frontmen who knew and loved pop music. Even after heart surgery, his voice and stage presence are legendary and instantly recognizable. He certainly had a mighty set of pipes and classic tracks like Free Hand and Playing the Game show how well he could shout to the rafters. When he applied it to the bands sixth album, The Joshua Tree, the band shot to worldwide fame and began hauling in the Grammys. First, we have the legend that is Robert Plant, who stands as one of the great gods of rocks frontmen.