Best Deceased Singers

The Top Ten
1 Michael Jackson Michael Jackson (Michael Joseph Jackson; August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 500,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael is also known as The King of Pop (a title given to him by Elizabeth Taylor) or under the initials MJ... read more

From the womb to the tomb, the all-time best. Please don't compare, because only Sammy Davis Jr. and a few others were jamming as hard as Michael at the age of 4. All too often these days we witness the caliber of half-baked, high school talent show, now-how. The next thing you know that person is called a genius. Michael never had to marinate. He was music unabridged. Example: My grandson just turned 9 in April of 2019 and obviously was born after Michael Jackson's passing. What did he want for his birthday? He wanted a Michael Jackson cd. I got him the Off The Wall album instead. He wanted to play the Michael album before his other gifted item, a Play Station 4 game. Enough said.

I dislike him whatsoever his voice is just a horrible thing on top of it all Freddie should win he's an optimist and was proud and didn't hold back his voice was just gravy on it all Michael is ugghh

He is amazing his death is the saddest thing ever I just wish he came back to life

2 Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5th September 1946 - 24th November 1991) was a Zanzibari-born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter and record producer, known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band Queen. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Before he became a singer he has been in 3 other bands (Ibex, Sour Milk Sea,... read more

Why isn't he number 1? Well, because he isn't, and ranks well behind Pavarotti, Bjorling, Caruso, Callas, and any number of classical singers, and even in the pop/rock world he is far inferior to Sinatra, Presley, and several more.

How is Freddie not top? Freddie was such a great man with such a flamboyant stage presence. He made such good music with the band and in his solo albums as well. He deserves to be top next to Michael.

And why isn't he number 1? Wait... No, Michael and Freddie both at least deserve first place. But, still, in my eyes, Freddie was the greatest.

3 Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race... read more

The biggest-selling solo act of all time by a mile.
True that The Beatles sold a little more than Elvis, but he has sold more than MJ, Queen, and everyone else on this list put together.

Never seen someone climb to fame so fast and die so young at 42. Elvis was really good

There only one who's the Greatest of all time, ELVIS

4 Michael Hutchence Michael Kelland John Hutchence (22 January 1960 – 22 November 1997) was an Australian musician and actor. He was a founding member, lead singer and lyricist of rock band INXS from 1977 until his death in 1997.

Not only was Michael an incredible singer with a 5 octave voice going from tenor to baritone, he also was an incredibly charasmatic frontman who put on the best show in Rock 'n Roll. He was also an incredible lyricist writing the lyrics for at least 300 songs, some of them are some of the most iconic songs ever recorded. He also was a caring human being and along with INXS did many concerts for charity.

I believe Michael should be higher than Michael Jackson. Michael Hutchence in my opinion had more talent,vocal range, charisma, and access to his seen fans. He didn't need to moon walk or hee hee on stage. Michael commanded the stage. A true artist who gave it all!

This legend should be at the top. Not only was he probably THE best frontman of a band but an awesome lyricist and beautiful soul. His down to earth Aussie persona endeared him to thousands and thousands of fans...still twenty years on after his passing.

5 John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980) was an English singer and songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as a co-founder of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in the history of popular music. He was assassinated by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980 at age 40. Lennon was characterised by the rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, writing and drawings,... read more

Absolute legend even covering Ben E. Kings Stand By Me sounded almost as great

Unequivocally number one!

Best singer ever!

6 Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time. Houston is one of pop music's best-selling music artists of all-time, with an estimated 170–200 million records sold worldwide. She released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums,... read more

She should be number 1 she was the best singer but I don't know if he beated Michael jackson there the same lol

One of a kind of singer. Her voice could not be duplicated. So sad she is gone.

Best singer to step foot on planet earth rip Whitney Houston

7 Frank Sinatra Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.

He's not dead to the people who adore him.

Him and Dean martin are the best

Was, and will always be, "The Man"

8 David Bowie David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie (January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016) was an English singer born in London, the son of a fundraiser and a waitress. He is credited for his experimental and creative musical discography which has won praise and accolades for many critics and fans... read more

My favourite artist! While listening to David Bowie's songs you listen to so many different genres, it just makes me think about the great legacy he left behind. I hope so much that this legacy and the brilliant man who created it will live on in the minds of us and the generations after us as time passes.

I don't understand how Bowie isn't in the top ten. Bowie was such an amazing singer who brought happiness to everyone. Another one gone too soon. I love you, David Bowie.

My favourite singer of all time!

9 Layne Staley Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains, which he founded with guitarist Jerry Cantrell in Seattle, Washington in 1987. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s. In 2002, Staley was found dead in his home of a drug overdose.

I miss you so much

10 Amy Winehouse Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter known for her deep expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, and jazz. She is also a well-known member of the 27 Club, as she overdosed on alcohol at age 27.

I really admired Amy; she could sing Rock, Ska, Blues, Jazz and Soul. Her Voice was extremely unique and I still miss her music two years on. A real loss to the music industry.

No one could have the passion as amy winehouse rip

Favourite singer of all time

The Newcomers

? Eric Carmen
The Contenders
11 Chris Cornell Christopher John "Chris" Cornell was an American rock musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter and rhythm guitarist for Seattle rock band Soundgarden and as former lead vocalist and songwriter for the supergroup Audioslave. His vocal range was C2 to A5, while ...read more.
12 Buddy Holly Buddy Holly, born Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959) was an American musician and singer-songwriter who was a central figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. He was a rising star when a tragic plane crash struck him down at age 22.

During his short career, Holly wrote, recorded, and produced his own material. He is often regarded as the artist who defined the traditional... read more
13 Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix (born November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as "arguably... read more
14 Bon Scott Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980. He was born in Forfar and lived in Kirriemuir, Scotland, for 5 years before moving to Melbourne, Australia,... read more
15 Bob Marley Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley was a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist who achieved international fame and acclaim.

Bob Marley because he stood for justice for Jamaica perhaps all over the world! He sang because in trench town Jamaica there is a lot of violence not only there but all over the world when he got shot in his house he survived! 3 gun shots in the chest! Then the shooting got worse so he gave away a free concert his wife Rita Marley said Are you sure you want to do this? Bob says yes then he said I know that god protects me I got the full armor of God on. Then he died of melanoma sadly in the year 1981 but he still lives in our hearts. He jah pon our heads thxs Bob! I was born in Jamaica

He was the best. He spoke truth. He was blessed, as is anyone who listens to his music and takes it to heart. Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery none but ourselves can free our minds.

Are you kidding me with Valens more famous than Bob

16 Ritchie Valens Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959), known as Ritchie Valens, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens' recording career lasted eight months, as it abruptly ended when he died (aged 17) in a plane crash, on what has become known as "The Day the Music Died", an accident that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. Three albums recorded by him were released posthumously. Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

Come on now... ahead of his time, some beautiful love songs, a voice that resonates...

17 George Harrison George Harrison (1943 - 2001) was an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and music and film producer who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles.
18 Prince Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21st, 2016) was an American musician, best known for being one of the most popular and influential artists from the 80s, with songs such as "Purple Rain", "Little Red Corvette", "1999", and "When Doves Cry" .

Greatest voice

A gifted artist!

19 Scott Weiland Scott Richard Weiland (October 27, 1967 - December 3, 2015) was an American musician, singer and songwriter. During a career spanning three decades, Weiland was best known as the lead singer of the band Stone Temple Pilots from 1989 to 2002 and 2008 to 2013.

Nice Variety of Singing Ability.

20 Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was an American rapper and actor born on June 16, 1971 in East Harlem, New York. Tupac sold over 75 million records worldwide and has been referred to in multiple major publications such as Rolling Stone as one of the greatest music artists of all time. 2Pac was assassinated on September 1996 at the age of 25... read more

Music is supposed to inspire... The only authentic voice from the rap community who, at the ripe age of 22, summoned the country to grow up into what America aspires to become. He had some frailties that come along with youth, but his grassroots empathy for the people helped us accept that our existence isn't relegated to being "the little people". His wild virtue, pinch-point insight, raw honesty are a breath of fresh air. I miss Tupac.

Tupac is the one who seldom Rapped about human desires. He rapped about the problems a society faces and the remedies of those poblems. He was a leader and a movement himself. He was A true great.

He was a great man who had a hard life and like the person before me commented he didn't rap about desires he rapped the truth R.I.P hommie.

21 J.P. Richardson
22 Chester Bennington Chester Charles Bennington (March 20th, 1976 - July 20th, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known for being the lead singer of Linkin Park. Before he was known for Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of post-grunge act Grey Daze who was heavily inspired by Stone Temple Pilots they released two albums with Chester before his death. Wake Me and No Sun Today, a third album called Amends would be released in 2020 consisting of voice samples from Bennington. After Grey Daze dissolved, Bennington would join Linkin Parkin in 1999 formerly called Hybrid Theory, replacing former vocalist Mark Wakefield, who would go on to become Taproot's producer. Even with Bennington's ...read more.

I don't support his action but I feel deeply for the troubled soul he had... not everyone is strong and they can't keep fighting but at least he wanted to inspire others to keep moving and fighting their inner battles! Rip Chester

I think Chester b was the best. The heart he put into his music you can see the pain the hurt the laughter the happiness the emotion he put into his music he will be miss always!

Should be like on 4or 5 because he has got the most powerful voice and best vocals.He screams like a devil and sings like an angel.the most talanted and the best of all.He will always be remembered by each and everyone through his songs

Such a powerful voice

23 Ronnie James Dio Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona; July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture in metal culture and is known for his medieval themed lyrics. Dio possessed a powerful versatile... read more
24 Johnny Cash John R. "Johnny" Cash (1932-2003) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author, who was widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. He died of complications from diabetes in 2003. It was suggested that Cash's health worsened due to a broken heart... read more

Why the hell is this guy not in the top tens I haven't even heard of most of these other guys so...why...the...! IS THIS OLD MUSIC LEGEND NOT IN THE TOP TENS

He is a LEGEND in country music. He should be on the top 10. So should his wife June Carter.

Hell no he should be in the top 20

25 Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 - August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. She began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was minister. ...read more.
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