Best Male Singers of the 20th Century

I think the late Lou Rawls could get a vote. That man is
smooth! Steve

Vince Gill certainly deserves consideration.

Johnny Mathis - I agree w/ R-Burke. You've gotta listen to "Open Fire, Two Guitars". Amazing! Actually beautiful. Hey, and I'm a solid blues and rock 'n roll fan.

Louis Armstrong. He was the first to use modern phrasing and he had perfect pitch. Nobody felt and expresed music the way he did. If no Louis > no Holliday > no Fitzgerald > no Vaugh > no Crosby > no Sinatra > no Cole > no Bennett > etc. EVERY modern singer ows a huge debt to Pops. God rest his beautiful soul.- Jim

To choose 1 male singer as the best across all genres from the whole century is difficult. I really enjoy Joe Williams and Mel Torme for Jazz and Roberto Goyenetche for Tango. Frank Sinatra's album "September Of My Years" (on vinyl) get's me every time; not b/c his singing is so great but because his sentiment is so sincere, his song are choicees so elegant, and the orchestrations are impeccable.