5 most recognizable voices in American music?

The word "today" has me hung up a bit. Recognizable today? Many of today's ears have never heard the King, the Boss, JT or even MJ! The good news is that some of them were fortunate enough to have missed Madonna and Cyndi Lauper (for years, I thought they were the same person - no, just kidding).

At age 40, my ears are slightly older than the average ears that are tuning into the FM waves these days, so I'd keep Elvis, and add Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, Britany and the "Beatles" - yes, lots of young folks recognize the Beatles but cannot name the individuals... sad!!! Interesting how 'American music' includes Bob Marley and Paul McCartney.

I thought this could be be a "generational" thing to some extent-- and my wife and I are pushing the 6th decade. As for the word "today"-- maybe a bad choice-- what I'm trying to get at are the most recognizable singing voices by the general public in America. They could be foreign singers that are popular here.

But even as an old codger, I heartily agree w/Tok2000 that M. Jackson is a strong contender, also Bob Dylan, and how could I forget "Old Blue Eyes" Frank Sinatra. Craig

Wmcmanus: "Interesting" is right - "American" most certainly does *not* include Bob Marley (Jamaican) or any of The Beatles (British). No matter where they eventually came to live after their careers and importance were already assured, they were the artistic products of not only their times, but of their formative surroundings, and America cannot rightfully claim them, despite being the birthplace of rock & roll.

Hi, Craig:

Interesting idea behind your post. I think that, as already noted, the choice of the 5 most recognizable (not the same thing as most famous) singers in American music will have a strong generational bias. Having said that, I think the 5 singers you listed are sufficiently well known to almost all Americans that they constitute the "foundation".

I'll nominate the following additional singers for consideration as among the "most recognizable" (again, not the same thing as famous):
1. Billie Holiday (certainly recognized by all jazz enthusiasts)
2. Ella Fitzgerald
3. Willie Nelson
4. Frank Sinatra
5. Bing Crosby

There are some other names that might also qualify, although some are not Americans, such as Mick Jagger. I can't help think of singers with very recognizable voices such as Roy Orbison, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, etc., although they probably don't qualify as among the "top 5". There are other people with very distinctive voices who, three decades or so ago, might have been included on this list, such as Mahalia Jackson, Sarah Vaughn, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Get rid of Barbra and put in Willie Nelson. Still Enjoying your 5s Craig? I just recently sold the 3s and bought ML Prodigys. there was just something about panel speakers that i missed. I did make sure that the 3s went to a good home.