Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This is a category that is likely to spark some debate since being on placed on a list of the very best male rock vocalists is quite a subjective choice.

I nominate Freddie Mercury of Queen as being the best overall in this category and I will stand aside and let you add to the list. I chose Freddie because he could sing the phonebook. His range and his perfect pitch voice were uncontested in his day. His stage prescence was legendary and he knew how to sing to an audience of sixty and also an audience of sixty thousand. His songwriting was unbelievably brilliant and his delivery was perfect even when he was very ill.









The list can be anyone from the 50's to the present.

Have fun and let's see who it is that you think should be on this list and why.

This is a tough call, as there are so many greats. My top 10 are:

1)Roy Orbison
2)John Lennon
3)Roger Daltrey
4)Paul McCartney
5)Elvis Presley
6)Little Richard
7)Freddie Mercury
8 )Mike Smith
9)James Brown
10)Bruce Springsteen
Hon Mention: Brian Wilson

For me, these guys are it. The order may change from time to time, but Orbison is always damn close to tops. They are incredibly expressive and have all given definitive performances that are tremendously influential.

I second Freddie Mercury, as he really had the whole package.

I agree..you gotta do at least a top 10 ..so many great ones....up near the top for me...

I nominate Gene Clark. Great songwriter, and a voice to match.

David Crosby, no one could sing those harmony parts the way he did.

JimK

Though not technically perfect, for me it has to be John Lennon.

Ozzie
Roger Daltry
Robert Plant
Mark Farner

That's for the hard rock guys. For rock overall:

They didn't call him "The Voice" for nothing - Roy Orbison
Sir Paul

Phil Lynott
Colin Hay (Men At Work)
Ronnie James Dio
Peter Cetera
Michael Kiske
Jeff Scott Soto
Bruce Dickinson
Jon Anderson (pre-90125)
Jack Rucker
Rik Emmett
John Arch
King Diamond

in no order
. Marvin Gaye
. Curtis Mayfield
. Wilson Pickett
. Levi Stubbs
. Otis Redding
. Freddie Mercury
. Morrissey

scotty wrote:in no order
. Marvin Gaye
. Curtis Mayfield
. Wilson Pickett
. Levi Stubbs
. Otis Redding
. Freddie Mercury
. Morrissey

Ahhhh, now, that's a whole different ball game. I thought we were talking rock. If we can get into my other love of early Tamla and Northern Soul then that is different.

A new list to follow......

Its meant to be rock but im not conforming

im a rebel Oh how tough

HUGE ADDITION to my list.





Steve Marriott

Steve Marriott is the man! Pure genius!

although i can't stand to listen to either of them now (exccpt for their earliest work), ROD STEWART,in the early jeff beck group/faces days was one of THE rock singers,and paul rodgers of FREE was right up there with him. i am a huge fan of the general prog scene of the 70's,so jon anderson,greg lake,et.al are favorites as well. macca/jagger/davies/burdon are also classic of course. and if you're venturing into soul/rock territory todd rundgren/darryl hall....