Best Male Singers of the 20th Century

Louis Armstrong, his gravely voice proves forever that it is the heart & soul that makes a great vocalist, the sound is important, but secondary.Bing Crosby, for starting a new style of singing (soft,intimate vocals, thanks to recording technology). Sinatra, best all around communicator, Little Richard, Rock and Roll incarnate. Elvis, croons and rocks. Johnny Cash, because he could carry the weight, John Lennon, the coolest channel for good in history. Caruso, even through those stinky recordings he sends out such a depth of power that you cannot help but be moved. BB King, the Rolls Royce of the blues. Steve Winwood, anyone else know a better recording by a 15 (16?) year old? than Gimme Some Lovin'. Ray Charles, you can rest in peace after you have heard him live! John Lee Hooker, a living part of American history. More than honorable mention to Nat King Cole. Strange choice of the day: Robert Plant, the most charming screech ever. It is said that the true measure of musical greatness is when a musician creates a new genre.

Good post, Bmpnyc. You get the point. I'd been thinking of Little Richard and Robert Plant, too. And I think we'd have to add Roy Orbison to the list as well as Rod Stewart. You might not love all their material, but they stand out from the field in terms of contributions to the genre.

Michael, I would have to vote for Sam Cooke before Rod Stewart. Although Rod has given us some memorable moments he often gets tacky and too commercial. Sam was his biggest influence and Rod tried to emulate him. I also thought to mention Otis Redding, and Eric Burden.

Can't argue with Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, but they have an advantage over Stewart -- they didn't live long enough to cut anything really atrocious, which seems to happen to even the best of 'em. Look at McCartney. And though I like Eric Burden quite a bit, I'd say his contribution to the 20th Century is not up there with the others we've mentioned. The people who win my nod for honors beyond the Merely Good not only do great work, but do a lot of it. Burden's been around as long as Jagger, but he hasn't recorded much of anything since, what, 1971?

Well I guess most of the well known artists from Caruso to the latest contemporary artists were pretty much covered. But here is a question for one and all. WHO WAS RCA'S FIRST MAJOR POPULAR RECORDING ARTIST? Clue... he was a contemporary of Caruso and in his time was quite well known he was a trained in Bel Canto but no one above mentions him. WHO IS HE?