exceptional voices of female singers (non-classical)


What I'm talking about here is what critics of classical singing refer to as "the instrument": the exceptional beauty or uniqueness of the timbre of the voice qua voice.  For the moment, put aside preferences w.r.t. repertoire, interpretation, performance, style, delivery, etc., and just consider the *sound* of the voice.  We're *not* talking about favorite female artists here, because that kind of preference is based on a whole amalgam of factors.

I suspect some of the top figures in the category I've tried to define often aren't very popular among audiophiles, because of those many other factors.

My first three nominations: Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, Eva Cassidy.

128x128twoleftears
Not one mention of Mary Fahl.
 Formally of October Project but has done solo stuff.

In the spirit of the OP (timbre, non-classical):

Julie Andrews

Karen Carpenter

Alison Krauss

 

If we were to add technical brilliance, I would mention:

Julie Andrews (again)

Ella Fitzgerald

Barbra Streisand