Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
best rock singer?
- Thread starter MJ_Sotti
- Start date
...Elvis Presley?!
It all began with Elvis, He was the father of all you mentioned. No Elvis, no Rock
The early 50's Elvis obviously, pre-movie era.
Bill Haley and his Comets preceded Elvis.
The term "rock 'n' roll" was coined years before Elvis even appeared on the scene.
Last edited:
Nobody has mentioned Roy Orbison? Great range, could be both powerful and tender. The man could flat out sing. From really early rock and roll, right through to The Travelling Wilburys.
I LOVE Steve Winwood and can listen to him sing just about anything. Rod Stewart in The Jeff Back group and with the Faces? fuhgetabout it. SO GOOD. I think the best rock and roll singer- before we lost the roll, was Little Richard.
Good one. Forgot about R. O.
And Neil Sedaka early on, a compelling voice whether you like his music or not.
I was fortunate enough to see Kansas on the 'Point of Know Return' tour and was amazed by Steve Walsh. As good as he sounded in the studio he was better live.
Ian Anderson, Paul Rodgers, Freddy Mercury, Lou Gramm were/are great live performers.
Ian Anderson, Paul Rodgers, Freddy Mercury, Lou Gramm were/are great live performers.
I didn't go through the entire thread. Lots of great singers out there. Was Phil Collins mentioned? Peter Cetera?
Last edited:
It's not a philological matter IMHO
Obviously rock'n'roll started before, with hillibilly, rhythm'n'blues, cajun etc...
But Bill Haley was a well dressed almost middle-aged man in the Fifties.
Elvis had a different attitude, a Rock attitude, before he was domesticated.
This question needs to be fine tuned in order to come up with valid candidates. The criteria should include: widest range, most powerful, most believable (or sincere), best phrasing, best technique, best falsetto... I always root for the underdog, so my picks may seem strange to you, yet each of them has some quality which makes them stand out. Gregg Allman, Randall Bramblett, Bonnie Raitt, Colin Cooper (Climax Blues Band), Don Brewer (Grand Funk), and Pete Rivera (Rare Earth). I do agree with so many posters here about the undeniable talent of Burton Cummings, Freddie Mercury and Paul Rodgers.
