Okay...I'll start this one up...

Freddie Mercury

Paul Stanley

Justin Hawkins

Chris Cornell

James Maynard

Dean Martin

Frank Sinatra

Jon Anderson of Yes (by far)

Roger Daltry of The Who

Steve Walsh of Kansas

I'm stuck in a 70's mode

I saw a film of Frank and Elvis together doing "My Way". You would think that Frank is the better singer, but Elvis was killing him. His voice was just stronger. So I give one nod to Elvis.

BTW, I love Kiss, but I would be hard pressed to put Paul Stanley in a list of best singers. I guess that means we can add Steven Tyler or Bon Scott, etc. LOL!

Geoff Tate of Queensryche

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden

King Diamond (just for the shear uniqueness)

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Rob Halford of Judas Priest because nobody can scream like him

Sorry I'm stuck in the 80's

Tuff catagory with SOOOO many different types of music.

Sammy Hagar

Karen Carpenter

Lionel Richie

George Michael

Elton John

Andy Williams

Steve Perry

Barbra Streisand

Lemme ponder this some more...

Barbara Steisand

Joni Mitchell

Neil Diamond

Tony Bennet

sarah mclachlan

lila downs

luciano pavarotti

andrea bocielli (man i suck with spelling today)

mel tormë

etta james

billie holiday

mario lanza

ella fitzgerald

barry white

to name a few.

If we are going with rock lead men, what about Diamond Dave?

You can dis Paul Stanley, but how many rock singers have appeared in a starring role in a Broadway production? I was able to catch him in Toronto at the Pantages theater. You know...the one that was built specifically for The Phantom of the Opera. He was spectacular!

Go back and listen to Alive! or his solo work. He's worthy of a 2nd look. Just because he's in a glitzy band called Kiss, most people want to dismiss him.

I'm not a big Elvis fan, but to have a list of best singers without him on top is ridiculous.

If we're choosing on style, I offer the following:

Joe Cocker

Frank

Natalie Merchant

Susan Tedeschi (beats Janis at her own game)

Peter Wolf

I'm sure I missed many.

LICK IT UP, LICK IT UP OOOOH OOOH OOOH...EEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSH!!!! Another Kiss reference on these lists AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!! GET OVER IT my man. THEY ARENT WORTHY!!!

I wont say best, but my favorite ROCK singers.

Robert Plant

Paul Rogers

Freddy Mercury

Rob Halford

Bruce Dickenson

OZZY

Bon Scott

Udo Dirkschneider (Accept)

Chris Cornel

Best Singers all other catagories;

Aretha Franklin

Elvis

Judy Garland

Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin ( Paint Your Wagon ) and let's not forget William Shatner ( Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds ). JonR

Marvin Gaye

Elvis

Johnny Cash

Paul Simon

Dave Matthews

Chris Martin

Nat King Cole

Ella Fitzgerald

Billie Holiday

Jewel

Norah Jones

Robert Plant

Annie Lennox

David Bowie

Ian Anderson

Probably the greatest are Opera stars

(I've sung both popular and classical techniques and

the classical stuff is generally much more demanding)

Luciano Pavarotti,

Placido Domingo

Joan Sutherland,

Beverly Sills

Outside of opera - the singers that impress me most with their vocal technique have been...

Celine Dion,

Mariah Carey,

Jon Anderson,

Elvis Presley,

James Taylor

DB

Oh, and I should also include Streisand

KAREN CARPENTER...

Stevie Wonder!

I like Cavallo's list the best so far. You can't miss with The Velvet Fog.