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 worked until his death. He sang like an angel until the end. Listen to "Motherlove," the last song he recorded. He had an amazing voice in it, when he could barely walk and see (nearly blind in one eye), and he was in so much pain. Despite these challenges, he sang 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!
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... read more I have listened to his songs since I was 5, and I have loved them. His voice gives a feeling of the deepest emotions.
This man had the best voice I have ever heard. He can sing absolutely anything.
Perfect pitch, amazing range, ability to sing any genre.
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. Perhaps someone was better before recordings and my birth (1945), but no one can touch Luciano in his prime.
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 Caruso was on another level altogether. It's a shame that, due to the time he lived in, only a few poor-quality recordings of his performances still exist.
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more Not even in the top ten? But his voice is amazing!
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.
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... read more Extraordinarily unique vocal instrument with perfect pitch, vibrato, and legato. He dramatically innovated vocal styling through unparalleled breath control, which facilitated best-in-class phrasing, dramatic interpretation, and riveting syncopation.
He influenced all who came after him and even some who came before. Just as relevant today as in 1960, he was a musical genius who steered orchestras to perform at their best.
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. His breath control was brilliant, with a unique ability to understand the songwriter's intention and yet make the song his own.
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.
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. She also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. Being an Indian, I have heard her name being said and her voice being praised in nearly every household.
In this era, she is the best singer.
The Newcomers
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
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 All-natural vocalist. Powerful voice that could sing highs and lows with superb creativity. She did not have to use sex appeal, props, or other theatrics. Just pure talent from the best female vocalist who maintained her voice into old age.
John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980), was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and political activist. He rose to worldwide fame as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in... read more He 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
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. No one else on this list had the vocal range to match his charisma, except maybe Freddie Mercury.
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.
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," the 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".
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
Ella Jane Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz and Lady Ella.
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.
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
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 number one songs than anybody in history, even exceeding The Beatles. However, during his era from the 1920s to 1940s, there is zero information about how many actual sales he garnered.
Mariah Carey, born March 27, 1970, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is one of the biggest best-selling women in the music industry, with 18 number 1 records to her name. She is regarded as a sex symbol through her songs and music videos, and she is "well known" for her over-the-top... read more