Fantastic list, glad to see Mel ( the velvet fog) included. Can’t wait for the Sinatra highlight. You may not be be inclusive of solving world peace m, but you certainly calm my mornings down and be appreciative of the sounds out there.👍👍
I don't know if you will read this, but I will write anyway... I've discovered your channel lately as I wanted to explore the jazz world and wow, what a great knowledge you have! I'm really enjoying your videos, I found a lot of beautiful music thanks to you and I just want to say thank you. Watching your channel is always a great experience! Greetings from Poland!
Thanks for all your videos Kenny. You've got great taste and always get me to spend more time with artists that I neglect on my shelf. Doing that today with Andy Williams (probably need to take some time to listen to a bit of Perry Como as well.) Great list overall. I think one of the omissions (like you said, unavoidable to have them) I personally love is Chet Baker. His delivery always felt like a male counterpart to Julie London -- not just because of the lack of vibrato / overall cadence but because of how intimate the early records feel. The dude was a piece of work though (to say the absolute least.)
Chet Baker had a nice voice for sure. Not sure if he is one of the all time greats but he was excellent for sure especially as a trumpet player. He did a duet with Astrud Gilberto called "Far Away" thats excellent.
Can't argue with this list! I would struggle to put them in any rank order. I agree about the greatness of Luther I saw him twice in concert when he came to Glasgow and he was simply sensational. We seem to have very similar musical tastes and I assume we are of the same vintage, I'm 63 and have been collecting music since 1973. I have a vary varied taste in music but my first love is Soul, R&B, Jazz. I really enjoy your video posts as you raise awareness of great music that often gets overlooked on similar channels where the focus tends to be on white rock acts of the 60s and 70s. Great to see you broadening the scope of what's out there for younger folks to discover and enjoy.
Great list! All my music top 10 list have 15 to 20 on them too lol! Lutha put on a heck of a show! So does Stevie Wonder his concert is on a different level than any artist I've ever seen live. More like a spiritual retreat. He reaches down and touches something deep inside.
Great list, Kenny! And thanks to all the others that added their list in the comments. I do not have a vinyl collection but I do have a desktop hifi setup for streaming. Going to add of these into my rotation
My Top Ten 1. Sam Cooke 2. Otis Redding 3. Frank Sinatra 4. Marvin Gaye 5. Van Morrison 6. Al Green 7. John Lennon 8. Howlin Wolf 9. Paul McCartney 10. Johnny Hartman
I really appreciated being reminded about some of those talents. I had to resist being envious of the quality of the records he was using as examples. I don't mind a subtle brag, it comes with being a collector, or maybe just being male. I just wish so many of those exceptional records he shows were actually easily obtainable ,
Very nice post, mate. This subject is SO vast. I can only give a few of my favorites. My two fav soul slingers are Billy Stewart and Otis Redding. My three favorite reggae singers are Gregory Isaacs, John Holt and Bunny Wailer. For a long time I did not care for Louis Armstrong's singing. Now as I've grown older, I love It! Such emotion from this beautiful soul. My two favorite blues singers are Blind Willie Johnson and John Lee Hooker. (Although some might say Willie was a religious singer)
Kenny! Thanks for your response…I know you have that Beatles poster behind you! I think most of us love the FABFOUR! Looking forward to reaching out to you again. Picking a top ten is difficult and all the vocalist you mentioned I love and admire…It’s great that so many of us LOVE music and we can share our thoughts with each other…GOD Bless
Another excellent video. Thanks for sharing your personal opinions as such and keeping it real. I'm about to clean a copy of "Moon River" from my parents collection.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews My parents copy is a little too rough for my Platinum Tibre but when I listened in it on Tidal I realized that with the sweet tea in my bottle and Otis Redding in one of my infant ears I had Andy in the other ... truly deja-vu listening experience. I think Andy is my #2 and Nat King Cole #1. BTW ain't nobody more country than Cash. I'm not "into" rap but I'm totally down with OutKast and Public Enemy so I wouldn't say I don't like it. I'm into old school country and find Nashvegas Pop on par with smooth jazz, of which I totally share your opinion. Your vids have been a real blessing the last couple of days. I live less than 10 miles from AppalacheeHS. ✌️🙏
Hi Kenny. I like the honorable mentions list because, for me, a couple of them would be on my top ten. So it made me wonder who made it. The cool part is that I learned about a couple of singers I had never even heard of before. So that is very, and they were jazz singers, of which I am an aspiring one myself as well as pianist. Thanks for the great list.
I hope that you have a nice piano playing and singing career and I hope that you exceed all of your desires and expectations. Thank you very much for watching my video 😊 ✌️
I'm really liking your videos. I think you would make an excellent DJ. I value your opinions and your range - wow, you have an exceptional range. I will look for that top ten female vocalist list. I hope to see Chaka and Donna Summer over there. You are my preverbal big brother, who's record collection I raid, but since I can't raid your record collection, I come here. You sir, are fantabulious!
I'm so glad you mentioned Eddie Jefferson he's a favorite of mine too! Criminally underrated. My list in no particular order: Eddie Jefferson, Hector Lavoe (amazing salsa singer), Nat King Cole, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandros, Teddy Pendergrass (I love his pleading), Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney (I grew up listening to the Beatles and his solo work heavily with my Dad so it's a sentimental pick), Prince. There's so much I'm missing though for sure!
It's an interesting story - told by Carlos Alomar and Robin Clark - of how Luther Vandross got involved in the making of Bowie's Young Americans album. My top 10 would have to include Scott Walker - 'it's raining today' etc. Thinking of Elvis and Otis, I was reminded of the soundtrack to Jim Jarmusch's film, 'Mystery Train'. Glad you made another video with your son, Kenny. I saw it belatedly but enjoyed it. Thanks 👍🏻
Yes, I very much agree that Sammy Davis Jr. was the best entertainer to ever live pound for pound. The singing, tapping, impersonations, comedy, and acting are atrobutes and contributions that he had and gave to the world with no one else ever filling his shoes quite the same way he did.
Is it because of his sad end that no one seems to remember Donny Hathaway? You had Stevie in your honourable mention, but Stevie's best period was when he started using a similar style to Donny.. Just curious..I love your top lists..it.leaves me with future listening .
For me it's prince and Donny Hathaway ...prince will get his dues for his vocal ability in probably 50 to 100 years ..dude was painfully ahead of anyone's game
Great stuff and some real surprises here. One suggestion regarding Sinatra: I think he hit his peak with the Only The Lonely album arranged by Nelson Riddle. Great songs like the title tune (Not the Roy Orbison tune) and Angel Eyes and Ebb Tide and One For my Baby. Might move him back up a notch?
I like the variety on the list. Obviously there's people that I like that didnt make the list and thats cool. I love Roy Hamilton. Not as popular but one of the greatest voices ever. Donny Hathaway is another. Rance Allen is a name not mentioned much because he sang gospel but still one of the most powerful voices ever. Just discovered your channel. Keep up the food work and God bless.
Mel Torme's album "Swings Shubert Alley" is CONSTANTLY on repeat in my brain. one of the most colorful voices I have ever heard. I really cannot think of another word to describe it other than "colorful"!!! James Brown... oh man what a pick.
Thanks for this! An anecdote or two about Johnny Hartmann: When asked who his favorite singer was the great Nat King Cole instantly replied, "Johnny Hartmann." You mentioned John Coltrane and his album with Johnny Hartmann. The big name singers of the time, Sinatra, Mel Torme and others all wanted to have Coltrane on their albums. Coltrane refused all requests until asked to record by Johnny Hartmann, his only album with a vocalist. Let me tell you, the album is fantastic. Find your special, slow dancing partner and be in heaven!
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews She did. She also liked and introduced me to a few on your list and runners up. Harry Belafonte in particular. I enjoy your videos Keep it up.
Good list....somebody beat me to it with Andy Bey and Johnny Hartman those were the first names that came to my mind instantly...and the most important voice for me personally, whenever I think of vocal sound and style, the voice of Gil Scot Heron will be going on and on in my head forever. Maybe not as technically good as the others lol...but that man sure made a powerful impression on me like nobody else.
Two artists on this great roster (Eddie Jefferson and the jazz vocal trio Hendricks, Ross & Lambert) I've never heard of before --- But thankful I've learned of them today. Legendary Johnny Mathis should've been on the list but it's all good😄 Thanks Kenny, for another great video for the books💯
You have a good ear! I thought you might omit Luther. He's my number one! My dad thought Frank was number 1, but I remember hearing and believing Andy Williams had a purer voice. For me Frank Sinatra's best singing was his earliest recordings. I think Johnny Hartman belongs in the top 10. Ahead of Frank. His tone is even more special than Nats and that's saying a lot. For me number 2 is Marvin Gaye. Like Luther a generational voice. 2 on your list I haven't heard, so I will gladly find and listen. One voice you never mentioned, Ronald Isley. A simply magnificent singer who out lasted everyone you discussed. 🎉
I keep telling people to stop sleeping on Mel Torme. And you're right about Eddie Jefferson, so underrated. Thanks, Kenny, for your videos and suggestions.
I'm listening to Al Green's 'Call Me' as I watch this video..cant argue..although he was the sorcerers apprentice to the great man himself Sam Cooke, they owe it all to Sam. Levi Stubbs could handle a tune too!
Great list. I may disagree with a couple entries but it's "your" list. I only know Andy Williams from his tv show from way back when I was a kid. I'm surprised that Sammy Davis Jr. didn't make the list. I hold him higher than Sinatra. Also, Billy Eckstein. My "left field" choice would be Greg Walker from when he was lead singer for Santana. Maybe Jose Feliciano?
Sammy Davis Jr. is the best overall entertainer who ever lived as far as I'm concerned and he was a fantastic singer, I just do not think that he is a top 10 singer...perhaps a top 20 singer.
Kenny, go back and listen to a few Beatles and solo McCartney, I think you will find that McCartney, could sing many different styles and had many different voices…Fool on the Hill, Maybe I’m Amazed, Oh Darling and many others - Keep up the great work! Love the videos and wishing you all the BEST!
I should have told you that I'm a huge Beatles fan. I that I have all off the Beatles albums, most on LP and others on CD and on HI-RES digital formats and all of the reissue deluxe sets that have been released over the past several years and I have listening to there music hundreds of times over the last 55 years and I think that they are the greatest pop band ever and its not close. The poster in the back of my music room in my videos behind me is a Beatles poster. But, how they compare individually to some of the greatest vocalist of all time, that's a different conversation. I sincerely appreciate you and your opinion 😊
you spoke of your top 10 female singers. i have one who you probably don't know but who will knock your socks off. you could do a video on how you rate this person as you hear her for the first time. she's THAT good.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews check out Eva Cassidy - Somewhere Over The Rainbow and You've Changed. Both live performances that I think you'll appreciate.
Hi 👋 Tony Bennett is definitely a favorite of mine. I like Chet Baker's soft vocal style. He was widely known for his jazz trumpet playing , but his singing was terrific.
Hi Kenny, nice interesting list. As you said it's all subjective and people shouldn't get all bent out of shape just because you left off one of their favorites. Personally, in my top ten I would have Paul McCartney. I just think he has tremendous range, from ballads like Yesterday to rockers like Long Tall Sally. But, to each his own and as they say, that's what makes horse racing.
Very Interesting list. Mine: 1. Sam Cooke, 2. Johnny Hartman 3. The Senior Dagar Brothers, 4. Marvin Gaye 5. David Ruffin 6. Bob Dylan, 7. Al Green 8. Otis Redding 9. Bob Marly 10. Paul McCartney. Honourable mention: Luther Vandross, Bon Scott, Shirley Strachan, Smokey, Merle Haggard, James Brown, Skip James, Curtis Mayfield. Some aren't the most technical singers but really moving.
My top 10 #1 hands down Elvis Presley #2 Gary Morris #3 Al Green #4 Bobby Darin #5 Jackie Wilson #6 B J Thomas #7 Tom Jones #8; Dion #9 Jeffrey Osborne #10 Paul Anka
My top list: 1-Frank Sinatra 2-Sam Cooke 3-Van Morrison 4-Johnny Hartman 5-Mel Tormé. 6-Tony Bennett* 7-Marvin Gaye 8-Bob Dylan 9-Nat King Cole 10-Al Green *Two albums with Bill Evans are timeless. Too Louis Armstrong, Otis Redding, Jimmy Scott...
Kenny! Check it out: Billy Eckstine, SAM COOKE!!!!!!, PHILIP BAILEY from EWF!!, Luther Vandross was an INCREDIBLE singer.....The cat with the ridiculously amazing falsetto voice from the Stylistics(who was a big influence on Philip Bailey)...
I don’t have a lot of male singer albums ( I do have the John Coltrane album ‘Standards’ with Johnny Hartman guesting) but a favourite track of mine is Mel Tormé with the Marty Paich Orchestra and their rendering of ‘Too Close for Comfort’ which I have on the ‘ Verve Story’ 4 cd set. I just remembered Johnnie Taylor and ‘Disco Lady’ which is a great track and we mustn’t forget ‘Who’s Makin’ Love (To Your Old Lady While You’re Out Makin’ Love)’.
Hey Kenny 🙌 How's it going My Top 10 favorite and a favorite song: 1° Nat King Cole (Laughing On The Outside Crying On The Inside) 2° Marvin Gaye (Just To Keep You Satisfied) 3° Ray Charles (Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin') 4° Elvis Presley (Any Day Now) 5° Tom Jones (Once Upon A Time) 6° Bob Seger (Momma) 7° Lou Rawls (Not The Staying Kind) 8° Bobby "Blue" Bland (Twenty-Four Hours Blues) 9° Joe Simon (If) 10° Johnnie Taylor (I Can Read Between The Lines) Honorable Mentions: Frank Sinatra Al Green Bill Withers Michael Jackson Tony Bennett B.B. King Freddie King Paul McCartney Elton John Sam Cooke Phillip Bailey Bobby Womack Teddy Pendergrass James Brown Wilson Pickett Johnny Cash Peace and God bless 🙌🙏✊✌
I am doing well and I hope all is well with you too. That list and your honorable mentions list is great. Thank you very much for posting your list, I appreciate that 😊 ✌️
As a huge Sinatra fan I'll always place him at number one but that being said I do so with an eye at reality or at least my reality. From 1953 (not a fan of the Columbia years) until 1971 no one could touch Frank in terms of vocal ability, phrasing, breath control, emotion, conveying of the composers intent, groove, singing in the pocket just a tick behind the beat. He may not be the most improvisational alla Anita O'Day or Ella but man he was in the groove and could swing and his ballad interpretations are incomparable. If there's a better ballad LP than September Of My Years or Only The Lonely and Wee Small Hours I've yet to hear it and those 3 LPs alone make him the greatest male singer of all time. His work with Basie, Ellington and Q speaks for itself, especially Sinatra At The Sands which is one of the great live LPs of all time. Now back to reality, after 1971 his reed was toast and I often think that he should have stayed retired but there was some worthy material there and his constant touring gave the masses the chance to see him. Love your channel.
Hey Kenny, as you stated, compiling a 10 Best is subjective and truthfully impossible. Two singers that would be on my list that were not mentioned, Marvin Junior of the Dells and David Ruffin Temptations and Solo. Peace Brother enjoy your narrative and impressive LP Collection🤙
My top 10, in no particular order (very different to your own) Gregg Allman, Michael Sadler (Saga), Ronnie James Dio, Freddie Mercury, Russell Allen (Symphony X), Bruce Cockburn, Damian Wilson (Threshold, Ayreon etc), David Longdon (BigBigTrain) , Ian Gillan, John Jones (Oysterband). Other notables - Roddy Woomble, Rob Thomas, Rob Lamothe, Phil Mogg, Nick Cave
This list is extremely admirable, but as all lists go it's still Apples & Oranges, but as long as long as you put Mel Torme in it I'm fairly content...But no Bing Crosby, No Bing, No Big Bang in the the Pop World of the 1930's/40's...Here's some of my honorable mentions Andy Bey, Billy Eckstin, George Benson, Louis Jordan, Lou Rawls, Joe Williams, T-Bone Walker, Sammy Davis Jr. and the Father of all things music Louis Armstrong...From the Rock World, Van Morrison, Joe Cocker, and Eric Burdon...Pop Singing, Tom Jones, just go back and watch his old television show...He held his own with anybody including Tony Bennett, Joe Cocker, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin...The man was a performer non pareil...and lets not miss some of the superb male vocal bands such as The Chambers Brothers, The Coasters, The Ravens, The Ink Spots, The Persuasions, The Mills Brothers,etc,etc...When I put my music list of favorite singers together for my 1st I-pod 20 years ago I told myself "A nice crisp list for about 3 hours"...Turned out to be 3 days long!...Lists are controversial, but they are definitely fun, and leave you something to contemplate...Thanks for this...and keep it up.
Great list 👌 👍 👏...I agree with you on Tom Jones. I listened to his music as a young child and some of this albums are in my collection. There are many other singers that I could have mentioned in both my male and female singers videos but those videos would have been two hours each if I were to do that 😊...but your comments and singers mentioned are awesome; Thank you very much for taking the time to post your list and comments.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews My mother went batshit crazy when the Tom Jones show was on in the late 60's/early 70's, but not nutty enough to tear off her panties, and throw it at the television in front of us children. I heard this was quite a popular occurrence at his live shows of that time...This next little ditty has nothing to do with great singers...Around 1967 my uncle invited my parents to a club that was located at the bottom of the Empire State Building. It was a promotional gig for Van Morrison becoming a solo artist...The opening act was "Tiny Tim"...3 months later he appears on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In 1968. He became a cultural phenomenon!...My mother when she saw this was totally flabbergasted, shocked, and in hysterics! ("I saw him!")...Which goes to show you all you need is the right gimmick at the right time, and any thing is possible in this country...(PS, My parents that night received several sleeves of clear plastic cups labeled "Van Morrison Blowin Your Mind" in which they had near close to 45 years until they became too brittle...The 60's...What a Time!)
You can probably tell by my username that I am partial to Johnnie Wilder, Jr. of Heatwave. You must be exceptional if Luther Vandross covers your iconic song. Also love the voice of Harry Williams of Bloodstone (RIP 11/22/24)
I would include Raul Malo - The Mavericks Cat Stevens Robert Cray James Taylor Caruso Steve Winwood Johnny Cash EltonJohn Barry White Harry Connick jr Kurt Elling
Glad I'm not the only person to think FS was a number 1 choice. He was very popular, for a very long time, but for me, he was just okay. Andy Williams was pretty good too. I would choose Luther Vandross as number 1 as well, because of his tone, control and his ability to use his voice as an instrument. His backing vocals were also outstanding. Number two for me is Johnny Mathis. I own lots of his recordings, but "Misty" will always be my favorite. "When Sunny Gets Blue" is another of my favs. Nat King Cole will always be in my top 5.
I love Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine brings back memories of AM radio in the long summer of 1971 (I think that was the year....). Grandma's Hands - too many others to name.
You’ve got really great posts n choices here. I’d put Nat as #1 with his Gordon Jenkins arrangements. I’d also have Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme, Donny Hathaway somewhere. However it’s my belief that Ray, James n Aretha were from another planet!! 😁
I really appreciate your videos; you share your knowledge and opinions in a very engaging way. And you are right taste and preferences are highly although not completely personal and subjective. But this time the personal drifts far beyond the bounds of reasonableness. I was already quite surprised to see Johnny Hartman and Tony Bennett only as honorable mentions. But I kept in mind that this was because you had looked beyond soul and jazz musically. And then that could be a reasonable explanation, however still arbitrary. But you did limit yourself more or less to these genres and then your choice is really quite odd. When came across Frank Sinatra only at spot 5 my surprise gave way to concern about you. Because this grand misunderstanding can only be the result of weird dreams one experiences when one has a severe fever. Then when Andy Williams was placed above Sinatra I thought for a moment it was just a joke. Kenny is kidding us all and is going to see if we fall for it. But when I saw who put you at number 1 . I let go of that suspicion. Because Luther Vandross as best male singer that's such a bad joke, I cannot imagine you doing that. I grant everyone their own preferences but Luther Vandross is not one of the 10 best male singers. Nor of the 20, 30, 40 or 50. His voice is smooth but so flat that it is almost emotionless. I'll trade his entire body of work for one Otis Redding song. I see a similarity with Art Garfunkel in the honorable mentions. His voice is also angelic but in such a way that the real soul disappears from it. To quote an album title by Elvis Costello (a limited but very good singer) “all this useless beauty". But you and I agree on Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Harry Bellafonte and of course Nat King Cole. And I can well imagine your choice of Eddy Jefferson. Although I find him a very interesting rather than a very good singer. Not giving Terry Callier a spot I think is a missed opportunity to give a severely underrated musician and singer for once the spot he deserves. It's a pity you didn't include non-jazz/soul singers in the actual top 10. This leaves out such possible candidates as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Fred Neil. Also, your list is exclusively American. Where is Tom Jones, Collin Blunstone, Nick Drake, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, José Alfredo Jiménez or Joao Gilberto? I admit that a top 10 then actually becomes impossible but a more diverse top 20 without honorable mentions would have been a good possibility. In the end, this commentary is one with a wink. And so I thank you for the pleasant way you made me think again about my own musical preferences
Thank you very much for your comments, it's sincerely appreciated 😊. In my videos I feel a responsibility to the people who view my videos to be totally honest, even if my opinions do not vibe with the majority opinion. If I wanted to please a audience, I would make "safe" choices all the time and tell the audience what they want to hear and put Frank Sinatra at then #1 spot as an example. As I say a lot in my videos, music is very subjective and we all listen and perceive what we hear differently, based on a variety of factors (a class could be taught on those factors alone). When I decided I was going to do these videos, I would be totally honest about how I perceive music ( while being respectful how others perceive music) even if the opinion is not popular, otherwise I am not being honest and true to myself....nonetheless I really appreciate your opinions and comments 😊✌️
Like you, I love to hear the female voice, I have some favorite male singers. I wanted to offer Donald Fagan, technically not Jazz but he's worth a listen. I don't think he has more than four solo albums, prior to that, he is the voice of the rock band Steely Dan. Maybe it's not his voice as it's his skills as a musician and composer.
Hey, Kenny ~ Speaking of great male singers, I recently got a record called "Mr. Ray Charles and Jimmy Witherspoon" on Crown records. Two things about this record: (1) it doesn't appear in any list of Ray Charles records that I can find, and (2) it damn sure doesn't sound like Ray Charles singing! Are you familiar with this record? If not, you can look it up online and listen to a cut or two ... I'd be interested to get your take on it. I'm wondering who the vocalist is, 'cause I sure don't think it's Ray Charles!
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Well, I'm embarrassed. Judging by the cover I figured it was a Ray Charles record, so he'd be doing most of the singing. It's a great record, and I should have figured that out for myself. Anyway ~ thanks, Kenny! I always enjoy watching your channel.
@@davidcopson5800 Yes, he did popular and opera. He always ‘sounded’ operatic even if he wasn’t actually doing opera. If you look at his album output only about a third is opera, so officially I don’t think he can be classed first and foremost as an opera singer. Opera singers of the day though thought he would have done well in their world if he had chosen to fully go in that direction.
Not many of these would have made my top ten, but we are all different. Listen to the live version of Tom Jones singing 'I'll Never Fall in Love Again' (1967) and tell me he doesn't deserve a place in a top ten male singers list.
For me its prince hands down ...followed by donny Hathaway,sinatra and a scottish singer called pat kane ..argubaly the most underated singer britians ever produced
Jackie Wilson. Joe Williams. David Ruffin. Tony Williams. Sinatra was very good with Dorsey but lost his voice and was pretty bad afterward. He never forgot how to swing though. His attack - modeled after Lady Day - was superb even when his voice wasn't.
Since you had on your list a couple of people that I was going to put on my own I replaced them with a couple of people that I think we're just as good if not better as singers. Here's my top 10 including some info at the end. Al Jarreau, Johnny Mathis, Stevie Wonder, Daryl Hall, Pat Upton, Frankie Valli, Marty Balin, EL Debarge, Steve Perry, Sammy Davis Jr. Now, since you mentioned Andy Williams, I replaced him with Frankie Valli. Since you mentioned Frank Sinatra, I replaced him with Sammy Davis Jr. who I think was a better singer and performer than Frank Sinatra. The reason being is Sammy Davis Jr. could probably impersonate Frank Sinatra and everyone in the Rat pack but Frank Sinatra or everyone in the Rat pack couple never impersonate him. Daryl Hall was also an underrated singer. Here's a live song that you might want to check out (Wait For me Live) Here's a channel and a video I was just looking at today of Sammy Davis Jr. (One media Music Sammy Davis Jr. Legends in concert). It's performances like this, that I think Sammy Davis Jr. would have an all around edge on Frank Sinatra including the Rat pack. Enjoy👍 Before I forget. Pat Upton is one that most forget about that was a great singer & song writer. (More than yesterday) is a vocal masterpiece along with others like (Broken Hearted man). He also does a remake of (Our day will come) which you might find interesting?
Sammy Davis Jr is in my mind the best overall entertainer to ever live, no doubt. Thank you very much for mentioning El Debarge. I'm a huge Al Jarreau fan and he was tremendous as well 👏
Great list my list is number 10 Gar Brooks number 9 Eddie Kendrick number 8 Michael Jackson number seven Ray Charles number six Cat Stevens number five male Torme number four Al Green number three being Crosby number two mat king Cole my second number two Luther Vandross number one depends on which day Ronald Isley or underrated Louis Armstrong
Always good choices. Good channel thx😊❤
Thank you very much 😊 ✌️
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews I can't believe you didn't have my second favorite singer Teddy Pendergrass.
Fantastic list, glad to see Mel ( the velvet fog) included.
Can’t wait for the Sinatra highlight.
You may not be be inclusive of solving world peace m, but you certainly calm my mornings down and be appreciative of the sounds out there.👍👍
I appreciate you, thank you very much for your comments 🙏 😊 ✌️
I don't know if you will read this, but I will write anyway... I've discovered your channel lately as I wanted to explore the jazz world and wow, what a great knowledge you have! I'm really enjoying your videos, I found a lot of beautiful music thanks to you and I just want to say thank you. Watching your channel is always a great experience! Greetings from Poland!
Thank you very much for watching my video from Poland 😊, I really appreciate it and thank you for your kind comments 😊 ✌️
Thanks for all your videos Kenny. You've got great taste and always get me to spend more time with artists that I neglect on my shelf. Doing that today with Andy Williams (probably need to take some time to listen to a bit of Perry Como as well.)
Great list overall. I think one of the omissions (like you said, unavoidable to have them) I personally love is Chet Baker. His delivery always felt like a male counterpart to Julie London -- not just because of the lack of vibrato / overall cadence but because of how intimate the early records feel. The dude was a piece of work though (to say the absolute least.)
Chet Baker had a nice voice for sure. Not sure if he is one of the all time greats but he was excellent for sure especially as a trumpet player. He did a duet with Astrud Gilberto called "Far Away" thats excellent.
Can't argue with this list! I would struggle to put them in any rank order. I agree about the greatness of Luther I saw him twice in concert when he came to Glasgow and he was simply sensational.
We seem to have very similar musical tastes and I assume we are of the same vintage, I'm 63 and have been collecting music since 1973. I have a vary varied taste in music but my first love is Soul, R&B, Jazz.
I really enjoy your video posts as you raise awareness of great music that often gets overlooked on similar channels where the focus tends to be on white rock acts of the 60s and 70s.
Great to see you broadening the scope of what's out there for younger folks to discover and enjoy.
I appreciate your thoughtful and kind comments, thank you very much. You are correct, I'm 63 too and I have been a fan of music most if my life 😊 ✌️
We Really Love You Kenny.
Thank you very much 😊 ✌️
Kenny great info. I respect your opinion and looks like I am not alone. It's not an easy task. Keep rockN, my friend.
I appreciate that brother Tony, thank you very much ✌️
That Sinatra record is the rare jacket..Mr. S is looking away from the young lovers rather than to them. Keep truckN my friend.
My Brother from Another Mother! I LOVE your taste!
Great list! All my music top 10 list have 15 to 20 on them too lol! Lutha put on a heck of a show! So does Stevie Wonder his concert is on a different level than any artist I've ever seen live. More like a spiritual retreat. He reaches down and touches something deep inside.
Great list, Kenny! And thanks to all the others that added their list in the comments. I do not have a vinyl collection but I do have a desktop hifi setup for streaming. Going to add of these into my rotation
I hope that you enjoy the music from me and the recommendations from the comments 😊 ✌️
Great list, well presented. Donny Hathaway and James Ingram come to mind as deserving mention.
My Top Ten
1. Sam Cooke
2. Otis Redding
3. Frank Sinatra
4. Marvin Gaye
5. Van Morrison
6. Al Green
7. John Lennon
8. Howlin Wolf
9. Paul McCartney
10. Johnny Hartman
Fabulous top 10...its cool that you included the great Van Morrison...Astral Weeks is one of the best albums ever 👍
Astral weeks is one of the greatest albums ever. Moondance is an all time classic as well in my opinion.
Based Johnny Hartman enjoyer
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Richard Davis provides some of the greatest bass playing ever on a pop album on Astral Weeks.
I really appreciated being reminded about some of those talents. I had to resist being envious of the quality of the records he was using as examples. I don't mind a subtle brag, it comes with being a collector, or maybe just being male. I just wish so many of those exceptional records he shows were actually easily obtainable ,
Love these choices Kenny I got Hartman Coltrane vinyl this summer thanks Kenny age of Aquarius Fifth Dimension live! Also
Thank you very much Dave 😊
Very nice post, mate. This subject is SO vast. I can only give a few of my favorites. My two fav soul slingers are Billy Stewart and Otis Redding. My three favorite reggae singers are Gregory Isaacs, John Holt and Bunny Wailer.
For a long time I did not care for Louis Armstrong's singing. Now as I've grown older, I love It! Such emotion from this beautiful soul.
My two favorite blues singers are Blind Willie Johnson and John Lee Hooker. (Although some might say Willie was a religious singer)
Billy Stewart and Otis Redding were great. My favorite blues singer is Howlin Wolf.
Great stuff enjoyed your thoughts.
I appreciate that, thank you 😊 ✌️
Kenny! Thanks for your response…I know you have that Beatles poster behind you! I think most of us love the FABFOUR! Looking forward to reaching out to you again. Picking a top ten is difficult and all the vocalist you mentioned I love and admire…It’s great that so many of us LOVE music and we can share our thoughts with each other…GOD Bless
God bless you too and it was cool sharing opinions with you 😊 ✌️
Another excellent video. Thanks for sharing your personal opinions as such and keeping it real. I'm about to clean a copy of "Moon River" from my parents collection.
Great album 👌 👏 👍 🎶
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews My parents copy is a little too rough for my Platinum Tibre but when I listened in it on Tidal I realized that with the sweet tea in my bottle and Otis Redding in one of my infant ears I had Andy in the other ... truly deja-vu listening experience. I think Andy is my #2 and Nat King Cole #1. BTW ain't nobody more country than Cash. I'm not "into" rap but I'm totally down with OutKast and Public Enemy so I wouldn't say I don't like it. I'm into old school country and find Nashvegas Pop on par with smooth jazz, of which I totally share your opinion. Your vids have been a real blessing the last couple of days. I live less than 10 miles from AppalacheeHS. ✌️🙏
Thank you for that. I really appreciate that you watch my videos ✌️
I truly sorry for what happened at that high school, they have been in my prayers 🙏
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Thanks. We really appreciate the way everyone in the country has been lifting up the community.
I enjoyed your list...with such talent it gets pretty hard to rank them. I might have included Kenny Rankin and Harry Nilsson. Keep up the great work.
My Top 5: Jimmy Scott, Andy Bey, Johnny Hartman, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole.
Magnificent list...its cool that you included the great Andy Bey 👏 👍
jimmy Scott under rated
Andy Bey ❤ and I spent countless hours listening to Johnny Hartman 🙏
Top shouts for Little Jimmy Scott and Andy Bey.
Hi Kenny. I like the honorable mentions list because, for me, a couple of them would be on my top ten. So it made me wonder who made it. The cool part is that I learned about a couple of singers I had never even heard of before. So that is very, and they were jazz singers, of which I am an aspiring one myself as well as pianist. Thanks for the great list.
I hope that you have a nice piano playing and singing career and I hope that you exceed all of your desires and expectations. Thank you very much for watching my video 😊 ✌️
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Thank you. I appreciate it.
I'm really liking your videos. I think you would make an excellent DJ. I value your opinions and your range - wow, you have an exceptional range. I will look for that top ten female vocalist list. I hope to see Chaka and Donna Summer over there. You are my preverbal big brother, who's record collection I raid, but since I can't raid your record collection, I come here. You sir, are fantabulious!
That was super cool of you to say that, thank you very it's much appreciated 😊 ✌️
I'm so glad you mentioned Eddie Jefferson he's a favorite of mine too! Criminally underrated.
My list in no particular order: Eddie Jefferson,
Hector Lavoe (amazing salsa singer), Nat King Cole, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandros, Teddy Pendergrass (I love his pleading), Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney (I grew up listening to the Beatles and his solo work heavily with my Dad so it's a sentimental pick), Prince.
There's so much I'm missing though for sure!
Love your list 👏 👍...Eddie Jefferson was a tremendous vocalist 👏.
It's an interesting story - told by Carlos Alomar and Robin Clark - of how Luther Vandross got involved in the making of Bowie's Young Americans album.
My top 10 would have to include Scott Walker - 'it's raining today' etc.
Thinking of Elvis and Otis, I was reminded of the soundtrack to Jim Jarmusch's film, 'Mystery Train'.
Glad you made another video with your son, Kenny. I saw it belatedly but enjoyed it. Thanks 👍🏻
Thanks for your comments about my video with my son 😊. Scott Walker had a nice voice and was great with the Walker Brothers 👍
Good comment. Vandross was indeed one of David Bowie's backing singers. Bowie himself would be in my top ten as well.
Yes, I very much agree that Sammy Davis Jr. was the best entertainer to ever live pound for pound. The singing, tapping, impersonations, comedy, and acting are atrobutes and contributions that he had and gave to the world with no one else ever filling his shoes quite the same way he did.
I agree 💯
I second that. He was 50 lbs of talent in a 5 lb bag and did it with style!
Is it because of his sad end that no one seems to remember Donny Hathaway?
You had Stevie in your honourable mention, but Stevie's best period was when he started using a similar style to Donny..
Just curious..I love your top lists..it.leaves me with future listening .
Donny Hathaway was a great singer, no doubt 👏 Thank you very much for your comments ✌️
I just wonder about it..I found out about him much later. I had only heard his more romantic tunes on compilations..
Anyway..thanks again..
For me it's prince and Donny Hathaway ...prince will get his dues for his vocal ability in probably 50 to 100 years ..dude was painfully ahead of anyone's game
Great list! Johnny Hartman is top three for me. Such a unique voice. Tommy Duncan from Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys would be high on mine as well.
Great stuff and some real surprises here. One suggestion regarding Sinatra: I think he hit his peak with the Only The Lonely album arranged by Nelson Riddle. Great songs like the title tune (Not the Roy Orbison tune) and Angel Eyes and Ebb Tide and One For my Baby. Might move him back up a notch?
I appreciate your love for Sinatra as he was magnificent for sure 😊
I like the variety on the list. Obviously there's people that I like that didnt make the list and thats cool. I love Roy Hamilton. Not as popular but one of the greatest voices ever. Donny Hathaway is another. Rance Allen is a name not mentioned much because he sang gospel but still one of the most powerful voices ever. Just discovered your channel. Keep up the food work and God bless.
I agree Roy Hamilton and Donny Hathaway were great vocalist. Thank you very much for watching my video and God Bless 😊
Very interesting
Thank you for watching ✌️
Mel Torme's album "Swings Shubert Alley" is CONSTANTLY on repeat in my brain. one of the most colorful voices I have ever heard. I really cannot think of another word to describe it other than "colorful"!!!
James Brown... oh man what a pick.
Torme had a sweet voice for sure...I'm not sure if I heard that album so I'll have to check it out at some point 😊
Thanks for this! An anecdote or two about Johnny Hartmann: When asked who his favorite singer was the great Nat King Cole instantly replied, "Johnny Hartmann." You mentioned John Coltrane and his album with Johnny Hartmann. The big name singers of the time, Sinatra, Mel Torme and others all wanted to have Coltrane on their albums. Coltrane refused all requests until asked to record by Johnny Hartmann, his only album with a vocalist. Let me tell you, the album is fantastic. Find your special, slow dancing partner and be in heaven!
I have a couple of CD versions of the album and although I have not listened to them in a while I do have to say it's great 😊 ✌️
Johnny Mathis ❤
He has a great voice...stellar choice 👍 👏 🎶
Kenny! As one of your viewers suggested Paul McCartney covering Long Tall Sally WOW!!!!! Now that’s a scorching vocal.
That's a great McCartney performance 👏
Andy Williams! If my mother was still alive, you would have made her very happy. Practically the soundtrack of my early childhood.
Your mother had great taste in music 😊
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews She did. She also liked and introduced me to a few on your list and runners up. Harry Belafonte in particular.
I enjoy your videos Keep it up.
Good list....somebody beat me to it with Andy Bey and Johnny Hartman those were the first names that came to my mind instantly...and the most important voice for me personally, whenever I think of vocal sound and style, the voice of Gil Scot Heron will be going on and on in my head forever. Maybe not as technically good as the others lol...but that man sure made a powerful impression on me like nobody else.
Gil Scott-Heron was tremendous 👏 He sang well but at the same time had something meaningful to say.
Two artists on this great roster (Eddie Jefferson and the jazz vocal trio Hendricks, Ross & Lambert) I've never heard of before --- But thankful I've learned of them today. Legendary Johnny Mathis should've been on the list but it's all good😄 Thanks Kenny, for another great video for the books💯
You have a good ear! I thought you might omit Luther. He's my number one! My dad thought Frank was number 1, but I remember hearing and believing Andy Williams had a purer voice. For me Frank Sinatra's best singing was his earliest recordings. I think Johnny Hartman belongs in the top 10. Ahead of Frank. His tone is even more special than Nats and that's saying a lot. For me number 2 is Marvin Gaye. Like Luther a generational voice. 2 on your list I haven't heard, so I will gladly find and listen. One voice you never mentioned, Ronald Isley. A simply magnificent singer who out lasted everyone you discussed. 🎉
I agree with you on Ronald Isley, his voice was sensational 👏🎶
I keep telling people to stop sleeping on Mel Torme. And you're right about Eddie Jefferson, so underrated. Thanks, Kenny, for your videos and suggestions.
I appreciate that, thank you very much 😊 ✌️ Mel Torme was very much a great singer 🎶
I'm listening to Al Green's 'Call Me' as I watch this video..cant argue..although he was the sorcerers apprentice to the great man himself Sam Cooke, they owe it all to Sam. Levi Stubbs could handle a tune too!
Al Green's "Call Me" is great 👍 👌
How about Paul Robeson? Americas’s balladeer , his deep emotional majestic voice was amazing , especially old man river . 😊
Great list. I may disagree with a couple entries but it's "your" list. I only know Andy Williams from his tv show from way back when I was a kid. I'm surprised that Sammy Davis Jr. didn't make the list. I hold him higher than Sinatra. Also, Billy Eckstein. My "left field" choice would be Greg Walker from when he was lead singer for Santana. Maybe Jose Feliciano?
Sammy Davis Jr. is the best overall entertainer who ever lived as far as I'm concerned and he was a fantastic singer, I just do not think that he is a top 10 singer...perhaps a top 20 singer.
Kenny, go back and listen to a few Beatles and solo McCartney, I think you will find that McCartney, could sing many different styles and had many different voices…Fool on the Hill, Maybe I’m Amazed, Oh Darling and many others -
Keep up the great work! Love the videos and wishing you all the BEST!
Thank you very much I really appreciate that you watch my videos 😊
I should have told you that I'm a huge Beatles fan. I that I have all off the Beatles albums, most on LP and others on CD and on HI-RES digital formats and all of the reissue deluxe sets that have been released over the past several years and I have listening to there music hundreds of times over the last 55 years and I think that they are the greatest pop band ever and its not close. The poster in the back of my music room in my videos behind me is a Beatles poster. But, how they compare individually to some of the greatest vocalist of all time, that's a different conversation. I sincerely appreciate you and your opinion 😊
you spoke of your top 10 female singers. i have one who you probably don't know but who will knock your socks off. you could do a video on how you rate this person as you hear her for the first time. she's THAT good.
Who is she ?
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews check it out. Also her version of You've Changed,,, wow
th-cam.com/video/2rd8VktT8xY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JJMhm6oZICamMWtS
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews check out Eva Cassidy - Somewhere Over The Rainbow and You've Changed. Both live performances that I think you'll appreciate.
the black power fist in the beginning ✊
Hi 👋 Tony Bennett is definitely a favorite of mine. I like Chet Baker's soft vocal style. He was widely known for his jazz trumpet playing , but his singing was terrific.
Also: Johnny Ray, Gene Pitney, Roy Orbison, George Michael, Joe Williams.
👏 👏 ...totally agree 👍 🎶
Hi Kenny, nice interesting list. As you said it's all subjective and people shouldn't get all bent out of shape just because you left off one of their favorites. Personally, in my top ten I would have Paul McCartney. I just think he has tremendous range, from ballads like Yesterday to rockers like Long Tall Sally. But, to each his own and as they say, that's what makes horse racing.
I'm a hugely Beatles fan so I definitely can appreciate your opinion. Thank you very much for your comments 😊
Vocals are very subjective and tough to agree on (like everything else) Wilson P and Otis R always end up on my list. Good choices Kenny.
Very Interesting list. Mine: 1. Sam Cooke, 2. Johnny Hartman 3. The Senior Dagar Brothers, 4. Marvin Gaye 5. David Ruffin 6. Bob Dylan, 7. Al Green 8. Otis Redding 9. Bob Marly 10. Paul McCartney. Honourable mention: Luther Vandross, Bon Scott, Shirley Strachan, Smokey, Merle Haggard, James Brown, Skip James, Curtis Mayfield. Some aren't the most technical singers but really moving.
Great list but I love that you mentioned Curtis Mayfield and David Ruffin 😊 ✌️
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews I also love Charles Pope. He's hardly Ella Fitzgerald, but his voice really gets me.
My top 10 #1 hands down Elvis Presley #2 Gary Morris #3 Al Green #4 Bobby Darin #5 Jackie Wilson #6 B J Thomas #7 Tom Jones #8; Dion #9 Jeffrey Osborne #10 Paul Anka
Tom Jones was great, I should have mentioned him in the video ✌️
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Elvis was better !!?!
My top list:
1-Frank Sinatra
2-Sam Cooke
3-Van Morrison
4-Johnny Hartman
5-Mel Tormé.
6-Tony Bennett*
7-Marvin Gaye
8-Bob Dylan
9-Nat King Cole
10-Al Green
*Two albums with Bill Evans are timeless.
Too Louis Armstrong, Otis Redding, Jimmy Scott...
👏 👏 👍 🎶....Great top 10 !
Bobby Hatfield 1-9 That album of theirs you held up is my favorite. Bobby's side was just beautiful.
Respect the choices, but to omit Armstrong, Cole, Mathis and Bing needs some 'splainin' Lucy!
Do you mean Nat King Cole ?
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Of course he does.
Am I the only one who remembers and appreciates the amazing Frankie Lymon?
I have a small collection of Nat King Cole, including 3 albums recorded in Spanish between 1958-1961.
Very complete singer.
I've never heard him in Spanish but I agree he was the complete singer 😊
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews
1-Nat King Cole en Español y algo mas (1958)
2-Nat King Cole "A mis amigos" (1959)
3-More cole en español (1962)
Give Vic Damone a listen...you may add him to the list!
Kenny! Check it out: Billy Eckstine, SAM COOKE!!!!!!, PHILIP BAILEY from EWF!!, Luther Vandross was an INCREDIBLE singer.....The cat with the ridiculously amazing falsetto voice from the Stylistics(who was a big influence on Philip Bailey)...
I don’t have a lot of male singer albums ( I do have the John Coltrane album ‘Standards’ with Johnny Hartman guesting) but a favourite track of mine is Mel Tormé with the Marty Paich Orchestra and their rendering of ‘Too Close for Comfort’ which I have on the ‘ Verve Story’ 4 cd set. I just remembered Johnnie Taylor and ‘Disco Lady’ which is a great track and we mustn’t forget ‘Who’s Makin’ Love (To Your Old Lady While You’re Out Makin’ Love)’.
I remember Johnnie Taylor very well and those memorable hits 👏
I have to watch again, did you mention Otis Reading?
No I did not and I definitely should have...great choice 👏
Hey Kenny 🙌 How's it going
My Top 10 favorite and a favorite song:
1° Nat King Cole
(Laughing On The Outside Crying On The Inside)
2° Marvin Gaye
(Just To Keep You Satisfied)
3° Ray Charles
(Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin')
4° Elvis Presley
(Any Day Now)
5° Tom Jones
(Once Upon A Time)
6° Bob Seger
(Momma)
7° Lou Rawls
(Not The Staying Kind)
8° Bobby "Blue" Bland
(Twenty-Four Hours Blues)
9° Joe Simon
(If)
10° Johnnie Taylor
(I Can Read Between The Lines)
Honorable Mentions:
Frank Sinatra
Al Green
Bill Withers
Michael Jackson
Tony Bennett
B.B. King
Freddie King
Paul McCartney
Elton John
Sam Cooke
Phillip Bailey
Bobby Womack
Teddy Pendergrass
James Brown
Wilson Pickett
Johnny Cash
Peace and God bless 🙌🙏✊✌
I am doing well and I hope all is well with you too. That list and your honorable mentions list is great. Thank you very much for posting your list, I appreciate that 😊 ✌️
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews 🙌✌
Donny Hathaway
So true, a magnificent singer 👏 👏
My favorites are Frank Sinatra, Bobby Blue Bland and Muddy Waters.
Great trio of singers, no doubt 👌 👏
KENNY!!! What's happening man!
As a huge Sinatra fan I'll always place him at number one but that being said I do so with an eye at reality or at least my reality. From 1953 (not a fan of the Columbia years) until 1971 no one could touch Frank in terms of vocal ability, phrasing, breath control, emotion, conveying of the composers intent, groove, singing in the pocket just a tick behind the beat. He may not be the most improvisational alla Anita O'Day or Ella but man he was in the groove and could swing and his ballad interpretations are incomparable. If there's a better ballad LP than September Of My Years or Only The Lonely and Wee Small Hours I've yet to hear it and those 3 LPs alone make him the greatest male singer of all time. His work with Basie, Ellington and Q speaks for itself, especially Sinatra At The Sands which is one of the great live LPs of all time. Now back to reality, after 1971 his reed was toast and I often think that he should have stayed retired but there was some worthy material there and his constant touring gave the masses the chance to see him. Love your channel.
Hey Kenny, as you stated, compiling a 10 Best is subjective and truthfully impossible. Two singers that would be on my list that were not mentioned, Marvin Junior of the Dells and David Ruffin Temptations and Solo. Peace Brother enjoy your narrative and impressive LP Collection🤙
My top 10, in no particular order (very different to your own)
Gregg Allman, Michael Sadler (Saga), Ronnie James Dio, Freddie Mercury, Russell Allen (Symphony X), Bruce Cockburn, Damian Wilson (Threshold, Ayreon etc), David Longdon (BigBigTrain) , Ian Gillan, John Jones (Oysterband).
Other notables - Roddy Woomble, Rob Thomas, Rob Lamothe, Phil Mogg, Nick Cave
Props to the Rob Thomas and Freddie Mercury pics 😊✌️ . Thank you very much for posting the choices that expresses the music that you love and enjoy ✌️
This list is extremely admirable, but as all lists go it's still Apples & Oranges, but as long as long as you put Mel Torme in it I'm fairly content...But no Bing Crosby, No Bing, No Big Bang in the the Pop World of the 1930's/40's...Here's some of my honorable mentions Andy Bey, Billy Eckstin, George Benson, Louis Jordan, Lou Rawls, Joe Williams, T-Bone Walker, Sammy Davis Jr. and the Father of all things music Louis Armstrong...From the Rock World, Van Morrison, Joe Cocker, and Eric Burdon...Pop Singing, Tom Jones, just go back and watch his old television show...He held his own with anybody including Tony Bennett, Joe Cocker, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin...The man was a performer non pareil...and lets not miss some of the superb male vocal bands such as The Chambers Brothers, The Coasters, The Ravens, The Ink Spots, The Persuasions, The Mills Brothers,etc,etc...When I put my music list of favorite singers together for my 1st I-pod 20 years ago I told myself "A nice crisp list for about 3 hours"...Turned out to be 3 days long!...Lists are controversial, but they are definitely fun, and leave you something to contemplate...Thanks for this...and keep it up.
Great list 👌 👍 👏...I agree with you on Tom Jones. I listened to his music as a young child and some of this albums are in my collection. There are many other singers that I could have mentioned in both my male and female singers videos but those videos would have been two hours each if I were to do that 😊...but your comments and singers mentioned are awesome; Thank you very much for taking the time to post your list and comments.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews My mother went batshit crazy when the Tom Jones show was on in the late 60's/early 70's, but not nutty enough to tear off her panties, and throw it at the television in front of us children. I heard this was quite a popular occurrence at his live shows of that time...This next little ditty has nothing to do with great singers...Around 1967 my uncle invited my parents to a club that was located at the bottom of the Empire State Building. It was a promotional gig for Van Morrison becoming a solo artist...The opening act was "Tiny Tim"...3 months later he appears on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In 1968. He became a cultural phenomenon!...My mother when she saw this was totally flabbergasted, shocked, and in hysterics! ("I saw him!")...Which goes to show you all you need is the right gimmick at the right time, and any thing is possible in this country...(PS, My parents that night received several sleeves of clear plastic cups labeled "Van Morrison Blowin Your Mind" in which they had near close to 45 years until they became too brittle...The 60's...What a Time!)
Great list Kenny.Here's mine.
1) Freddie Mercury
2) Elvis Presley
3)Willie Nelson
4)Otis Redding
5)Roy Orbison
6)Marvin Gaye
7)Waylon Jennings
8)Sam Cooke
9)Johnny Cash
10)George Strait
You can probably tell by my username that I am partial to Johnnie Wilder, Jr. of Heatwave. You must be exceptional if Luther Vandross covers your iconic song. Also love the voice of Harry Williams of Bloodstone (RIP 11/22/24)
I would include
Raul Malo - The Mavericks
Cat Stevens
Robert Cray
James Taylor
Caruso
Steve Winwood
Johnny Cash
EltonJohn
Barry White
Harry Connick jr
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling and Barry White, fantastic choices👏
Glad I'm not the only person to think FS was a number 1 choice. He was very popular, for a very long time, but for me, he was just okay. Andy Williams was pretty good too. I would choose Luther Vandross as number 1 as well, because of his tone, control and his ability to use his voice as an instrument. His backing vocals were also outstanding. Number two for me is Johnny Mathis. I own lots of his recordings, but "Misty" will always be my favorite. "When Sunny Gets Blue" is another of my favs. Nat King Cole will always be in my top 5.
I love Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine brings back memories of AM radio in the long summer of 1971 (I think that was the year....). Grandma's Hands - too many others to name.
One of my favourite male singers is Fred Astaire. A lot of very famous songs were written for and first performed by him.
Overall he was a tremendous entertainer 👏
You’ve got really great posts n choices here.
I’d put Nat as #1 with his Gordon Jenkins arrangements.
I’d also have Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme, Donny Hathaway somewhere.
However it’s my belief that Ray, James n Aretha were from another planet!! 😁
Find it hard to believe there's no love for Jackie Wilson anywhere in here.
You are 💯 correct, I should have mentioned Jackie Wilson in the video.
agreed on luther at #1
I really appreciate your videos; you share your knowledge and opinions in a very engaging way. And you are right taste and preferences are highly although not completely personal and subjective. But this time the personal drifts far beyond the bounds of reasonableness.
I was already quite surprised to see Johnny Hartman and Tony Bennett only as honorable mentions. But I kept in mind that this was because you had looked beyond soul and jazz musically. And then that could be a reasonable explanation, however still arbitrary. But you did limit yourself more or less to these genres and then your choice is really quite odd.
When came across Frank Sinatra only at spot 5 my surprise gave way to concern about you. Because this grand misunderstanding can only be the result of weird dreams one experiences when one has a severe fever.
Then when Andy Williams was placed above Sinatra I thought for a moment it was just a joke. Kenny is kidding us all and is going to see if we fall for it. But when I saw who put you at number 1 . I let go of that suspicion. Because Luther Vandross as best male singer that's such a bad joke, I cannot imagine you doing that.
I grant everyone their own preferences but Luther Vandross is not one of the 10 best male singers. Nor of the 20, 30, 40 or 50. His voice is smooth but so flat that it is almost emotionless. I'll trade his entire body of work for one Otis Redding song. I see a similarity with Art Garfunkel in the honorable mentions. His voice is also angelic but in such a way that the real soul disappears from it. To quote an album title by Elvis Costello (a limited but very good singer) “all this useless beauty".
But you and I agree on Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Harry Bellafonte and of course Nat King Cole. And I can well imagine your choice of Eddy Jefferson. Although I find him a very interesting rather than a very good singer. Not giving Terry Callier a spot I think is a missed opportunity to give a severely underrated musician and singer for once the spot he deserves.
It's a pity you didn't include non-jazz/soul singers in the actual top 10. This leaves out such possible candidates as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Fred Neil. Also, your list is exclusively American. Where is Tom Jones, Collin Blunstone, Nick Drake, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, José Alfredo Jiménez or Joao Gilberto? I admit that a top 10 then actually becomes impossible but a more diverse top 20 without honorable mentions would have been a good possibility.
In the end, this commentary is one with a wink. And so I thank you for the pleasant way you made me think again about my own musical preferences
Thank you very much for your comments, it's sincerely appreciated 😊.
In my videos I feel a responsibility to the people who view my videos to be totally honest, even if my opinions do not vibe with the majority opinion. If I wanted to please a audience, I would make "safe" choices all the time and tell the audience what they want to hear and put Frank Sinatra at then #1 spot as an example. As I say a lot in my videos, music is very subjective and we all listen and perceive what we hear differently, based on a variety of factors (a class could be taught on those factors alone). When I decided I was going to do these videos, I would be totally honest about how I perceive music ( while being respectful how others perceive music) even if the opinion is not popular, otherwise I am not being honest and true to myself....nonetheless I really appreciate your opinions and comments 😊✌️
Like you, I love to hear the female voice, I have some favorite male singers. I wanted to offer Donald Fagan, technically not Jazz but he's worth a listen. I don't think he has more than four solo albums, prior to that, he is the voice of the rock band Steely Dan. Maybe it's not his voice as it's his skills as a musician and composer.
I have several of the Steely Dan albums and although I do not think Fagan is a great singer, I think he is very good 😊
Ray Charles!!!!
Hey, Kenny ~ Speaking of great male singers, I recently got a record called "Mr. Ray Charles and Jimmy Witherspoon" on Crown records. Two things about this record: (1) it doesn't appear in any list of Ray Charles records that I can find, and (2) it damn sure doesn't sound like Ray Charles singing! Are you familiar with this record? If not, you can look it up online and listen to a cut or two ... I'd be interested to get your take on it. I'm wondering who the vocalist is, 'cause I sure don't think it's Ray Charles!
Some songs on the album sound like Ray Charles....the songs that do not sound like Ray Charles are Jimmy Witherspoon.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews Well, I'm embarrassed. Judging by the cover I figured it was a Ray Charles record, so he'd be doing most of the singing. It's a great record, and I should have figured that out for myself. Anyway ~ thanks, Kenny! I always enjoy watching your channel.
No need to feel embarrassed 😊....I appreciate that you watch my videos 😊 ✌️
Kenny you forgot Jackie Wilson. Love Nat King Cole.
You are 💯 correct about Jackie Wilson 👏
it's interesting you mentioned smoking, because I think that really compromised Sinatra's voice. his early voice was incredible
What about Mario Lanza? He has to deserve an honourable mention.
I'm not sure but I think he was focusing on 'pop' singers. I know Mario sort of crossed the divide, but I regard him as an opera singer.
@@davidcopson5800
Yes, he did popular and opera. He always ‘sounded’ operatic even if he wasn’t actually doing opera. If you look at his album output only about a third is opera, so officially I don’t think he can be classed first and foremost as an opera singer. Opera singers of the day though thought he would have done well in their world if he had chosen to fully go in that direction.
Donny Hathaway? Van Morrison? Curtis Mayfield? Ronald Isley? Jeff Buckley?
All are great singers no doubt 👏 👍 🎶
Hathaway is my choice for most overlooked. Maybe the best pure voice. Deep, rich, expressive.
@urbangorilla33 agreed. My all time favorite singer.
Kenny I like your taste. But one GLARING OMISSION. JACKIE WILSON, maybe the greatest voice of all time! And while we're at it, Roy Orbison!
I totally agree with the Jackie Wilson omission.
Johnny Hartman is up there for me
Great voice 👌 👏 🎶
Listen to Gregory Porter sing "when love was king" off the Nat King Cole & Me and it will make you weep..... overwhelming power
Greatest singer of all times BOBBY WOMACK.
He had a beautiful voice 👏 👍 🎶
Not many of these would have made my top ten, but we are all different. Listen to the live version of Tom Jones singing 'I'll Never Fall in Love Again' (1967) and tell me he doesn't deserve a place in a top ten male singers list.
For me its prince hands down ...followed by donny Hathaway,sinatra and a scottish singer called pat kane ..argubaly the most underated singer britians ever produced
Respect for including Donny Hathaway on your list 👏 👍 🎶
Van Morrison ,Sarah Vaughn,Ruthie Foster,Frank Sinatra,Bob Dylan,Joni Mitchell,Wow Tony Bennett,Ray Charles,Arron Neville,on and on lol
The list can get endless once you get started 😊😁
Sarah Vaughn, Joni Mitchell and Ruthie Foster are female - check out the title of this video.
Your right lol.
Elvis Presley
Great rock/pop star but maybe not worthy of a top 10 spot.
Jackie Wilson. Joe Williams. David Ruffin. Tony Williams. Sinatra was very good with Dorsey but lost his voice and was pretty bad afterward. He never forgot how to swing though. His attack - modeled after Lady Day - was superb even when his voice wasn't.
Ranking Andy Williams above Frank Sinatra is heresy 😮. That’s okay though. Still enjoy your videos 👍
Thank you very much for watching my video and I appreciate your opinion 😊 ✌️
Since you had on your list a couple of people that I was going to put on my own I replaced them with a couple of people that I think we're just as good if not better as singers. Here's my top 10 including some info at the end. Al Jarreau, Johnny Mathis, Stevie Wonder, Daryl Hall, Pat Upton, Frankie Valli, Marty Balin, EL Debarge, Steve Perry, Sammy Davis Jr. Now, since you mentioned Andy Williams, I replaced him with Frankie Valli. Since you mentioned Frank Sinatra, I replaced him with Sammy Davis Jr. who I think was a better singer and performer than Frank Sinatra. The reason being is Sammy Davis Jr. could probably impersonate Frank Sinatra and everyone in the Rat pack but Frank Sinatra or everyone in the Rat pack couple never impersonate him. Daryl Hall was also an underrated singer. Here's a live song that you might want to check out (Wait For me Live) Here's a channel and a video I was just looking at today of Sammy Davis Jr. (One media Music Sammy Davis Jr. Legends in concert). It's performances like this, that I think Sammy Davis Jr. would have an all around edge on Frank Sinatra including the Rat pack. Enjoy👍 Before I forget. Pat Upton is one that most forget about that was a great singer & song writer. (More than yesterday) is a vocal masterpiece along with others like (Broken Hearted man). He also does a remake of (Our day will come) which you might find interesting?
Sammy Davis Jr is in my mind the best overall entertainer to ever live, no doubt. Thank you very much for mentioning El Debarge. I'm a huge Al Jarreau fan and he was tremendous as well 👏
If Luther Vandross isn’t on any list it’s not valid
👏 👍 🎶
Great list my list is number 10 Gar Brooks number 9 Eddie Kendrick number 8 Michael Jackson number seven Ray Charles number six Cat Stevens number five male Torme number four Al Green number three being Crosby number two mat king Cole my second number two Luther Vandross number one depends on which day Ronald Isley or underrated Louis Armstrong
Honorary mention little Jimmy Scott lead singer of the stylistics, El DeBarge gospel singer tonex Brian McKnight
David Ruffin
Elvis Presley