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.