Who are your three favorite female singers?

Eliane Elias
Blossom Deary
Alison Krauss 
Eva Cassidy 
Moms Mabley

I still have a credit of one so...I think Melissa Etheridge deserves a shout out. She's a rocker but damn good at it.

1- Lisa Gerrard
( IMVHO, simply the most extraordinary voice  ... )

2- Elizabeth Fraser
( another extraordinary case ... )

3- Siouxsie Sioux
( the one who is singing is mesmerizing, putting you on a spell and bewitching ... )

and I also like very much ...

To johnnyotto, I agree with your Shirley Horn. Try Carmen McRae "Alone" Live at the Dug. JVC cd. I also have on LP.

Jann Arden
Karen Bergquist (Over The Rhine)
Neko Case
Rosanne Cash
Dominique Durand (Ivy)
Martha Johnson (Martha & The Muffins)
Marti Jones
Wendy MaHarry
Michelle McAdorey (Crash Vegas)
Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde)
Hope Nicholls (Fetchin Bones)
Sinead O'Connor
Sam Phillips
Kim Richey
Tracey Thorn (Everything But The Girl)

Also, check out Austin guitarist Monte Montgomery's cover of "Sara Smile" when he was a guest on Live At Daryl's House way back in the early days when it was just an internet only show.