Thought some of you might be interested in this poll on the Soul Tracks website.
It shows the results of their poll for the top 100 Male Soul singers of all time.
Marvin's no 1 so no surprise there but David Ruffin at no 18 & Jackie Wilson only just scrapes into the top 30 with Levi Stubbs way down at no 48?
Some of the bigger surprises are people like Michael Jackson in the top 10 & Prince at no 13. Now I'm not doubting their talent but greatest Soul singers?
See what you think on the link below. Have also copied the results below the link.

https://www.soultracks.com/greatest-male-singers?fb_action_ids=10152305509231410&fb_action_types=og.comments&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582


 

1 Marvin Gaye 2 Luther Vandross 3 Stevie Wonder 4 Sam Cooke 5 Teddy Pendergrass 6 Al Green 7 Donny Hathaway 8 Smokey Robinson 9 Michael Jackson 10 Howard Hewett 11 Otis Redding 12 Ronald Isley 13 Prince 14 Peabo Bryson 15 Barry White 16 Jeffrey Osborne 17 Frankie Beverly 18 David Ruffin 19 Bobby Womack 20 Gerald Levert 21 Will Downing 22 Eddie Levert 23 Curtis Mayfield 24 James Brown 25 Isaac Hayes 26 Maxwell 27 Lou Rawls 28 Nat King Cole 29 Philip Bailey 30 Jackie Wilson 31 Eddie Kendricks 32 Lionel Richie 33 Johnny Gill 34 George Benson 35 Phil Perry 36 Charlie Wilson 37 Freddie Jackson 38 Al Jarreau 39 James Ingram 40 Bill Withers 41 Wilson Pickett 42 Jerry Butler 43 Michael McDonald 44 Anthony Hamilton 45 Maurice White 46 Mario Biondi 47 Kem 48 Levi Stubbs 49 Rick James 50 Eric Benet 51 Babyface 52 Alexander O'Neal 53 Dennis Edwards          54 El DeBarge 55 Johnny Taylor 56 Lenny Williams 57 John Legend 58 Keith Sweat 59 Raphael Saadiq 60 D'Angelo 61 Larry Graham 62 Gerald Alston 63 Usher 64 Bobby Caldwell 65 Kenny Lattimore 66 George Duke 67 Glenn Jones 68 Jonathan Butler 69 Solomon Burke 70 Tevin Campbell 71 Musiq Soulchild 72 Joe 73 William Hart (Delfonics) 74 Daryl Hall 75 Percy Sledge 76 Phillipe Wynne           77 Walter/Wallace Scott 78 Bobby Blue Bland 79 Little Anthony 80 Keith Washington 81 Ruben Studdard 82 Billy Paul 83 Ali Ollie Woodson 84 BB King 85 Raheem DeVaughn 86 Russell Thompkins, Jr. 87 Gene Chandler 88 Rance Allen 89 BeBe Winans 90 James J.T. Taylor 91 Major Harris 92 Marvin Winans 93 Donnie McClurkin 94 Rahsaan Patterson 95 Walter Hawkins 96 Michael Henderson 97 Aaron Neville 98 Billy Ocean 99 Kashif 100 Ron Banks

 

Any Top 100 male soul singers poll that doesn't include James Carr, Otis Clay or O V Wright is totally meaningless to me

That's a interesting list. Not what I would personally choose but interesting all the same. Some I've never even heard of. Levi Stubbs would have been my choice for number one . Steve

Never heard of about 20 of them.

Levi Stubbs, Chuck jackson for me

quite a few not heard of , would have thought a place for brian mcnight maybe

think somebody got numbers 2 and 5 the wrong way round... Love Luther, But Teddy is out of the Park isn't he..?

What, no Roy Hamilton?

 

or Ben E. King, Eugene Record, Major Lance .....................

Edited March 13, 201411 yr by billb

Some good shouts but where's Marvin Junior J Blackfoot  and George Jackson 

 

Mario Biondi  mmmmmmmm is he a soul singer ?

Edited March 13, 201411 yr by Flanny

Some good shouts but where's Marvin Junior J Blackfoot  and George Jackson 

Marvin Junior was the big omission for me too.

Marvin Junior was the big omission for me too.

Sure Johnny Gill was in there, sure he was in The Dells, which again wouldn't make sense not to have either or both Marvin Junior and Johnny Carter from thhe Dells, throw Chuck Barksdale in aswell

 

Kev

Marvin Junior was the big omission for me too.

 

Marvin Junior total legend in my soul, and irreplaceable but there's 100.s of others that have been left out of this sad poll

Paul Williams (Temps) ? George Smith (Manhattans) ?

 

Kev

little willie john,clay hammond,luther ingram,sam moore,c p spencer,paul williams(temps),bobby smith(spinners),darrell banks,jj barnes,johnny copeland,james epps,louis williams(ovations). all missing

Paul Williams (Temps) ? George Smith (Manhattans) ?

 

Kev

 

Kev the list of omissions is endless this poll is too fragmented where the likes of Lee Fields and if your gonna go for contemporary artist what about the powerhouse Jeff Floyd

No Sam Dees 

Terry callier....

Tommy Tate, Willie Clayton would be in my list  .

William Bell 

Norman Wisdom.

Edwin Starr

Edwin Starr

 

Clearly voted for and compiled by those that think there has been a substantial amount of Soul music released post 77 through to the present day.  And obviously aware of the 'classic', 'commercial'  and 'smooth' Soul of the 60's & 70's.  I guess there are many out there who this appeals to - not me and most definitely not Northern Soul fans - chalk and cheese really.

Otis Redding should be in the top 10. I don't really have too much argument with the top 8 although not neccessarily in that order. Some strange ones in there too (Mario Biondi, WTF?) and some obvious ommissions, some of whom have already been mentioned plus Willie Hutch springs to mind.

these polls/charts should be renamed 'fave' 100 instead of top as that's all they really are IMO everyone voting foe the singer they LIKE  the most so as has been said depends on the website whos running the poll..one on here would be very different

No Leon Ware either. And out of the new breed, Jaheim.

Edwin Starr

 

Absolutely Andy 

 

Jackie Wilson at 30 and Levi Stubbs at 48 ?????????? Get out o' town  .......top ten positions in my humble opinion. Junior Walker and Jackie Lee missing there for me as well  ......and not even a mention of Jimmy Ruffin?? 

No Walter Jackson, no Edwin Starr

As mentioned this is more a list of fave soul singers rather than the best, Phil perry Deffo in my top ten , love his voice ... Phil

would have thought charles bradley would be a recent addition to a lot of peoples lists.mine any way

would have thought charles bradley would be a recent addition to a lot of peoples lists.mine any way

good shout

Would absolutely agree with some of the shocking omissions mentioned above.

No Al Wilson?

No General Johnson?

These things are so subjective that so many great voices will always be missed

What! no Englebert or Cliff!! Havent any of you heard their soulful take on the motown classic since i lost my baby.Takes it to another level.

Michael McDonald! Are they serious?

Any greatest singers list that doesn't have Otis Redding or James Carr in the top 10 is a load of b*llocks and shouldn't be taken seriously.

Edited February 7, 201510 yr by BigGordy
swearing - workplace filters

Wot! No Ray Pollard

Barry Whites punching above his weight

Daryl Hall!

 

Any poll missing OV Wright, Garnet Mimms, James Carr or Arthur Alexander is a waste of space.

 

These people know cock all about real soul music.

No JJ Barnes, Darrell Banks, Darrow Fletcher, Eddie Parker, Sam dees  list goes on...

Wot! No Ray Pollard

 

absolutely Barry ; seconded sir

Melvin Davis, Tyrone Davis and the Soul Notes lead singer would paralyse the lot of them

I've NEVER heard of 60 % of the singers on that list!  Should I resign from this Soul music forum in shame?

 

No Ray Pollard?  No Garnett Mimms? No Isleys?  No Eugene Pitt?  No Jerry Butler?  No Billy Stewart?  no Chuck Jackson?

Bobby Taylor

I've NEVER heard of 60 % of the singers on that list!  Should I resign from this Soul music forum in shame?

 

No Ray Pollard?  No Garnett Mimms? No Isleys?  No Eugene Pitt?  No Jerry Butler?  No Billy Stewart?  no Chuck Jackson?

 

Chuck Jackson definmately deserves to be in it. Ronald Isley is in it #12

No Walter Jackson? Shame on you!