Best Singers of 20th Century
100 years a long time. There were more than 100 good singers in 20th century, but only a few singers were best among all of them.I've tried my best to make list of the best of the best singers.
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 ...read more. Incredible talent, who was working till his death. He sang like an angel until the end. Listen "Motherlove", the last song...he had amazing voice in it, when he could barely walk and see (nearly blind in one eye), he had so much pain...and he sang in this condition, like nobody else. He deserves respect. He was very brave, when he appeared in the "These are the days of our lives" video, his appearance was scary and sad, but he wanted to say a last goodbye to his fans: "I still love you"...not a lot of people would have been so brave!
He can hit notes that no one else can. He is strong and brave. The greatest singer ever to be born. So strong to sing 'mother love' 'these are the days of our lives' 'I'm going slightly mad' and so on.
They say legends never die,and Freddie is a legend because he is not dead.
The greatest singer of all time, and he could sing in so much genre. He could do everything with his voice. Massive talent. RIP
Amazing vocal skills and vibratos, amazing stage presence and charisma.
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 relations, led him to both great success and initial controversy. ...read more. This man had the best voice I have ever heard. He can sing absolutely anything.
Perfect pitch, amazing range, ability to sing any genre.
The very best. King of Music. Full stop
He beats everyone combined.
Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce was an Italian operatic tenor who also crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most commercially successful tenors of all time. The absolute best of the tenors. That includes Caruso, Gigli, Domingo, Carreras. Maybe someone was better before recordings and my birth (1945) but no one can touch Luciano in his prime.
My favorite singers
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. Dubbed the King of Pop, he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. ...read more. Not even in the top ten? But... but... his voice is amazing!
Michael the first
Top two definitely
Michael is my # 1
Enrico Caruso was an Italian operatic tenor. He sang to great acclaim at the major opera houses of Europe and the Americas, appearing in a wide variety of roles from the Italian and French repertoires that ranged from the lyric to the dramatic. Generally considered by experts as the greatest male singing voice of all time, with Pavarotti second. Elvis, Freddie, Levi, and a few others are the greatest of rock and pop, but this guy was on another level altogether. A shame that due to the time he lived in, only a few poor-quality recordings of his performances still exist.
Greatest there ever was
Maria Callas, Commendatore OMRI, was a Greek-American soprano, and one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Many critics praised her bel canto technique, wide-ranging voice and dramatic interpretations.
Mario Lanza was an American tenor of Italian ancestry, and an actor and Hollywood film star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. Lanza began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16. Tenor without rasp
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. Without doubt the greatest popular singer of the last 100 years. in my opinion he took the interpretation of popular music to a new level. Brilliant breath control, with the unique ability to get inside the songwriters intention, and yet make the song his own.
His voice could go right through your soul, transporting you instantaneously in another state of mind.
Hands down, from the Bobbie-Socksers to the day he died...Ole blue eyes was the best...Guy Lawrence.
Phrasing, personalization, style.
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest and famed for his powerful wide ranging operatic voice.
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 ...read more.
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, on film, and in interviews. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history. Expressed his searing heart and brilliance through his amazing voice!
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.
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.
Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is one of the best-selling music artists from the second half of the 20th century to the present. All natural vocalist. Powerful voice that could sing highs and lows. Superb creativity. Did Not have to use sex appeal, props or other theatrics. Just pure talent of the Best Female Vocalist and maintained her voice into Old Age!
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame with the rock band the Beatles, one of the most popular and influential groups in the history of pop and rock ...read more.
Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin.
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. Chithra also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music.
Céline Marie Claudette Dion is a Canadian singer and businesswoman. She is best known for her song "My Heart Will Go On", which is the main theme of the 1997 film Titanic, which was the first film to gross $1 billion at the box office. How come she is not on this list. The world's greatest female singer
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard Carpenter, formed the 1970s duo Carpenters. Didn't need histrionics to convey the emotions of a song. She just sang naturally and it could touch you deeply.
Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and ...read more.
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, pianist and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has ...read more.
Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American singer, actress, and vaudevillian. The American Film Institute named her 8th greatest female star of classic American cinema. She's also the mother of actress and singer Liza Minnelli. "The World's Greatest Entertainer", first woman to win a Grammy for Album of the Year (Judy at Carnegie Hall), known for her contralto vocals. Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz".
There was no other singer.
Édith Piaf was a French cabaret singer, songwriter and actress who became widely regarded as France's national chanteuse, as well as being one of France's greatest international stars.
Ella Jane Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella.
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby, Jr. was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark warm bass-baritone voice made him one of the most popular recording artists of the pre rock and roll era. More #1 songs than anybody in history, even exceeding The Beatles. However, during his era of the 1920's to 1940's, there is zero information about how many actual sales he garnered.
David Eli Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of The Temptations during the group's "Classic Five" period as it was later known. All you need to know is that he was the lead singer on "My Girl".