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Top vocalists in pop music

2,876 Views | 58 Replies | Last: 40 min ago by Jawn Dough
GasPasser97
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10:23p, 12/8/25
AG
Nominees for a tournament?

Gino Vannelli
Steve Perry
Larry Hoppen (Orleans)
Bobby Kimball (Toto)
Brad Dell (Boston)
David Gates (Bread)
Christopher Cross
Michael McDonald
David Pack (Ambrosia)

Others?

I'm obviously listening to 70's on Spotify…lol

So much vocal talent in that decade


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EclipseAg
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9:11a, 12/9/25
AG
Kenny Loggins. Great vocalist. Big range. Can sing with power. Beautiful falsetto. Rock and ballads.

ETA: I think Boston's Brad Delp and Journey's Steve Perry are the two champs in your list.
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Hank the Grifter
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9:25a, 12/9/25
Paul Rodgers.
Lou Gramm.
Chrissy Hynde.
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ABATTBQ11
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In reply to EclipseAg • 9:41a, 12/9/25
AG
EclipseAg said:
Grammy winner and possible Faustian bargain-maker, Kenny ******* Loggins. Great vocalist. Big range. Can sing with power. Beautiful falsetto. Rock and ballads.

ETA: I think Boston's Brad Delp and Journey's Steve Perry are the two champs in your list.


FIFY
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Duckhook
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9:44a, 12/9/25
AG
A couple of oldies.

Burton Cummings - The Guess Who
Gary Puckett - Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
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EclipseAg
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9:46a, 12/9/25
AG
Gotta have Heart's Ann Wilson on that list. Powerhouse.
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mnetop
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11:04a, 12/9/25
AG
Styx lead singer, Dennis DeYoung
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maverick2076
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11:09a, 12/9/25
Amy Lee - Evanescence
Lzzy Hale - Halestorm
Bruce Dickinson -Iron Maiden
Chris Cornell

All more rock than pop, if you are being strict about categories. But I'd say the same about Boston and Styx, so…
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tk for tu juan
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11:14a, 12/9/25
Klaus?

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Milwaukees Best Light
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11:26a, 12/9/25
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Elvis
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Brian Earl Spilner
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12:24p, 12/9/25
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It took this many posts for an MJ mention?

It's kind of a fight for second place tbh.
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aTmAg
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12:43p, 12/9/25
AG
Freddy Mercury?
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Bruce Almighty
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12:57p, 12/9/25
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I'm saying this as an old white dude, but this thread reeks of old white dudes. No Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, only one MJ post.
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MSFC Aggie
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1:00p, 12/9/25
AG
or Aretha
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Hank the Grifter
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 1:00p, 12/9/25
Bruce Almighty said:
I'm saying this as an old white dude, but this thread reeks of old white dudes. No Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, only one MJ post.

My favorite pop/soul voice is Gladys Knight.
But she's never on these lists so I didn't even bother.
There's a little scratch in her voice where the honey JUST missed…makes it perfect for me.
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NoahAg
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1:02p, 12/9/25
OP, did you mean to say "soft rock?"

If POP, Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Adele, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston.
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NoahAg
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 1:04p, 12/9/25
Bruce Almighty said:
I'm saying this as an old white dude, but this thread reeks of old white dudes. No Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, only one MJ post.

Splitting hairs, but I consider most of those R&B, not pop.
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Philo B 93
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1:30p, 12/9/25
Music Genres and Catagories make this whole thread difficult. Pop music is a catch-all for the highest selling and most radio-played music. The Scorpions were Pop in the 80s, but no way they'd be considered that today, unless they dropped the Scorpions name, used only the lead singer's (Klaus Meine) name, and he was 27 and racially ambiguous. Also, more keyboard and drum machine, less guitar.

I'm just glad to see Brad Delp get a mention. I like almost everyone named so far, regardless of genre.
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Bruce Almighty
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In reply to NoahAg • 1:45p, 12/9/25
AG
NoahAg said:
Bruce Almighty said:
I'm saying this as an old white dude, but this thread reeks of old white dudes. No Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, only one MJ post.

Splitting hairs, but I consider most of those R&B, not pop.

That's fine, but most of the posts before mine are rock
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Ferg
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1:52p, 12/9/25
Darius Rucker
Jim Morrison
Anne Wilson
Karen Carpenter
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Queso1
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2:01p, 12/9/25
AG
Al Green and it's not even close.
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TwoTimeAg
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2:13p, 12/9/25
AG
Delores O'Riordan - Cranberries
Harriet Wheeler - Sundays
Natalie Merchant
Marvin Gaye
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EclipseAg
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2:19p, 12/9/25
AG
Per the OP's list ...

Michael McDonald isn't likely to ever be named the best pure vocalist, but the guy has such a unique voice that he is instantly recognizable in a way few singers are. And he can harmonize with the best of 'em and more than hold his own, which is why he was so in demand in the '70s.

So he deserves his own special category. LOL

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agdoc2001
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2:22p, 12/9/25
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It's Michael Jackson - literally the King of Pop. Done, next topic.

This is one of the few questions that aren't even debatable, like greatest hockey player of all time.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
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Bruce Almighty
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2:26p, 12/9/25
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Brian and Carl Wilson
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rononeill
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2:55p, 12/9/25
Tina Turner
Cher
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double aught
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In reply to TwoTimeAg • 2:58p, 12/9/25
AG
Quote:
Natalie Merchant

This is a great pick. I love her voice.

During "Because the Night" on Unplugged, her voice cracks at one point and it's imperfectly perfect. Something AI could never do. Great stuff.
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GrapevineAg
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3:33p, 12/9/25
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Jeff Lynne (ELO)
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EclipseAg
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3:50p, 12/9/25
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Funny. I don't think of Michael Jackson as a great vocalist.

Artist, yes. Dancer, yes. And he's not a bad singer. But I wouldn't put him in the same category as those 70s powerhouses.
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brew82
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4:48p, 12/9/25
I didn't see Robin Zander of Cheap Trick mentioned yet. Think he should be included in the discussion.
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aTmAg
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5:03p, 12/9/25
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I'm sure people will bash this:

Bono
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62strat
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5:17p, 12/9/25
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I see so many names in here i would never even consider if we're talking about pop.

Looks like old stuff is covered, any new names in here?
My kids are on the Benson Boone train, we went to see him live, and the guy has some pipes.
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swimmerbabe11
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5:31p, 12/9/25
Kelly Clarkson
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MSFC Aggie
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In reply to EclipseAg • 5:32p, 12/9/25
AG
EclipseAg said:
Funny. I don't think of Michael Jackson as a great vocalist.

Artist, yes. Dancer, yes. And he's not a bad singer. But I wouldn't put him in the same category as those 70s powerhouses.

100%
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double aught
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In reply to MSFC Aggie • 5:48p, 12/9/25
AG
MSFC Aggie said:
EclipseAg said:
Funny. I don't think of Michael Jackson as a great vocalist.

Artist, yes. Dancer, yes. And he's not a bad singer. But I wouldn't put him in the same category as those 70s powerhouses.

100%

Y'all need to listen to "Rock With You" or "Human Nature".
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