This came about when I was asked the question, who do I think had or has the best male singing voice, on a well known social media site. I didn't need to think about the question at all, and instantly said that bloke who was the leader of a pack of Las Vegas rats.

My answer led to several messages of rather adult banter being passed back and forth between the two of us, until the final message came to me saying, I meant in the world of Soul music. 

That kinda set the cogs spinning about in my swede. Without too much thought I had milled Roy Hamilton around, closely followed by Chuck Jackson, Levi Stubbs, Jimmy Ruffin, Jackie Wilson, David Ruffin and of course, Teddy Pendergrass, amongst others. 

Then it dawned on me. When I looked back at his catalogue, there isn't a song I don't like, and there isn't a song that i've heard sung better by another male singer. I was sold.

In my humble opinion the best male voice in Soul music, is Marvin Gaye.

Your thoughts?.

32 minutes ago, soul shrews said:

@autumnstoned Johnny Carter in The Dells 👍

Cheers Paul

Yes you’re right. Brilliant pair who shouldn’t be overlooked.

Edited December 23, 20186 yr by autumnstoned

And what about L.J. Reynolds from The Dramatics? I likes much more his contribution to the group than his solo work.

   Being a huge fan of the Stylistics,  Russell Thompkins JR would be right up there with my favourite Male Vocalists along with others that have already had a mention...    

On 21/12/2018 at 18:18, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

Ray Pollard. Gene McDaniels. Dean Parish. Major Lance. Romance Watson . Not mentioned so far in this thread but pretty close to Roy Hamilton when it comes to belting out a song. Impossible to pick a Top Three as there are dozens and dozens of unsung heroes.

Just thought of Tony Middleton and Lou Johnson as two class acts to add to the list of those not yet mentioned.

L.J Reynolds was a great addition to the Dramatics,but he cut some fantastic sides on Lawton that shouldn't be overlooked especially Let One Hurt Do

1 hour ago, josep manuel concernau robles said:

And what about L.J. Reynolds from The Dramatics? I likes much more his contribution to the group than his solo work.

 

Edited December 23, 20186 yr by tobytyke

Enjoy

Ed

There's a great male vocalist from UK who sings in my absolute Incognito's favorite album "Beneath The Surface". I refer to Cristopher Ballin, specially on "Labour Of Love". He reminds me on Teddy P. and David Simmons, not exactly the same voice, perhaps is the "feeling". The whole "spirit" of the album reminds me in the same "spirit" of "Cold Cold World" by Teddy. His voice is the lead in all the vocal tracks except the ones where the lead is by Maysa Leak.

 

Spyder Turner records have always been popular on the NS scene,especially “I can’t make it any more” and “you’re good enough for me”(the other side of this one)but on “stand by me”he superbly impersonates other great vocalists inc.Robinson,Stewart,Ruffin and Chuck....

1 hour ago, MGM 1251 said:

Spyder Turner records have always been popular on the NS scene,especially “I can’t make it any more” and “you’re good enough for me”(the other side of this one)but on “stand by me”he superbly impersonates other great vocalists inc.Robinson,Stewart,Ruffin and Chuck....

Saw him live and was really disappointed with his performance.  All he seemed bothered about was his impersonation of others.

When I said that Little Anthony is a great tenor with rich and diverse register, I referred to things like that (special attention to the bit between 50" and 1'):

 

When I purchased my copy of the album "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind", I played only this little bit one time and another…! Wow, THIS IS PURE OPERA!

1 hour ago, chalky said:

Saw him live and was really disappointed with his performance.  All he seemed bothered about was his impersonation of others.

Didn’t know it was part of his live act,I thought it was just for this song/record....shame really,beacause he has  a great voice...

34 minutes ago, MGM 1251 said:

Didn’t know it was part of his live act,I thought it was just for this song/record....shame really,beacause he has  a great voice...

Yep, he was good don't get me wrong.  But we were expecting his northern stuff, which he previously had never done, all we got was basically a novelty act.  

Edited December 24, 20186 yr by chalky

46 minutes ago, chalky said:

Yep, he was good don't get me wrong.  But we were expecting his northern stuff, which he previously had never done, all we got was basically a novelty act.  

I was there that same night chalky,it was the fault of the promoter for not telling him what we were hoping to here him sing.When I spoke to her on the night she was quite disappointed that she had not gone through the routine with him. 

If you're gonna talk Dwight, then this is his very best, in my opinion.

Spyder Turner - I'm Alive With The Lovin' Feeling

 

On 19/12/2018 at 04:34, tomangoes said:

Dusty Wilson as an outsider on several cuts including

 

Ed

I read in a previous Soul-Source thread that Dusty Wilson said he was NOT the singer in The Tomangoes, but research found out that it was Dusty Williams.

I have way too many "favourite" male singers to choose 1 as the "best voice".  Ray Pollard, Nat "King" Cole, Arthur Prysock, Sonny Til, Clyde McPhatter, Sollie McElroy, Cornell Gunter, Jesse Belvin, Eugene Mumford, Sam Cooke, Richard Street, David Ruffin, Rudy West, Johnny Moore, Willie Winfield, Jackie Wilson. Lenny Welch, Willie Jones, Nate Nelson, Maithe Marshall, Freddie Scott, Jerry Butler, Rudy Lewis, Morris Chestnut, Cleve Duncan, Brook Benton.......etc.   I'm sure there are several more that I'd place right up there with these (many from the late 1940s and early 1950)s. 

Edited December 25, 20186 yr by RobbK

4 hours ago, RobbK said:

I read in a previous Soul-Source thread that Dusty Wilson said he was NOT the singer in The Tomangoes, but research found out that it was Dusty Williams.

Even this thread:) 2 pages earlier...

No words needed 👌https://youtu.be/6kKs3pZLAO4

Nobody mentioned Al Green, Latimore, Artur Alexander ("Anna"!!!), Don Covay (so influential!),… Another one IMHO underrated is Frederic Knight… and some "nu-soul" singers many of them Stevie Wonder's imitators (or highly influenced  by him) as Rashaan Patterson or my favorite in this vocal range, Tony Momrelle from Incognito.

My favorite track by Spyder Turner is his cover of Rose Royce "It's The Love That You're After".

And a Philly vocalist I don't understand the reason why he never was a "First division" soul singer: ANTHONY WHITE (I only knows one album, a 45 that don't belongs to no one album, both on P.I.R. and a 12" on Salsoul; after that it seems he returned to sing gospel in the church…?). Here's a great song with excellent vocals:

 

Oscar Toney Junior, James Govan, Spencer Wiggins, Chuck Colbert, J Blackfoot, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, Johnny Sayles, Johnny Adams, Bobby Bland, Otis Clay, David Sea, Ali Ollie Woodson, GC Cameron, Eddie Levert, Marvin Junior, William Bell, Johnnie Taylor, Tommy Tate, Jimmy Radcliffe, Bobby Harris, Hoagy Lands, Jimmy Robins, OV Wright, Howard Tate, Roscoe Robinson, Joe Valentine, Johnny Robinson, Freddie Scott, Willie Hobbs, Mighty Sam McClain, Joe Medwick, Willie Johnson, Ronnie Mitchell.....and Levi, Marvin and Sam of course, plus others i've temporarily forgot!.

So many great voices. The best? In my opinion Wilson Pickett had everything you would want from a Soul singer. Power, subtlety, great phrasing, timing, gruffness and a righteous, gospel tinged wail. Yep, he's number one but there are a fair few who are worthy contenders. 

Edited December 25, 20186 yr by westender

On 25/12/2018 at 11:40, josep manuel concernau robles said:

Nobody mentioned Al Green, Latimore, Artur Alexander ("Anna"!!!), Don Covay (so influential!),… Another one IMHO underrated is Frederic Knight… and some "nu-soul" singers many of them Stevie Wonder's imitators (or highly influenced  by him) as Rashaan Patterson or my favorite in this vocal range, Tony Momrelle from Incognito.

My favorite track by Spyder Turner is his cover of Rose Royce "It's The Love That You're After".

And a Philly vocalist I don't understand the reason why he never was a "First division" soul singer: ANTHONY WHITE (I only knows one album, a 45 that don't belongs to no one album, both on P.I.R. and a 12" on Salsoul; after that it seems he returned to sing gospel in the church…?). Here's a great song with excellent vocals:

 

Many a great singer on those Philly logo's like TSOP, WMOT unfortunatly lived in the shadow of Teddy Pendergrass.  David Morris and Booker Newbury from the group Sweet Thunder also spring to mind.

47 minutes ago, still diggin said:

Many a great singer on those Philly logo's like TSOP, WMOT unfortunatly lived in the shadow of Teddy Pendergrass.  David Morris and Booker Newbury from the group Sweet Thunder also spring to mind.

PIR and subsidiaries, WMOT, Philly World, Philly Sound Works… those labels had some great talents as the ones you mentioned and the "blue-eyed soul - rock" David Lasley or Tom Grant, Cecil Parker (one of the best falsetto voices!), Ben Aiken and some lead singers of groups as Broadway Express or Qwikest Way Out.

On 25/12/2018 at 05:40, josep manuel concernau robles said:

 

And a Philly vocalist I don't understand the reason why he never was a "First division" soul singer: ANTHONY WHITE (I only knows one album, a 45 that don't belongs to no one album, both on P.I.R. and a 12" on Salsoul; after that it seems he returned to sing gospel in the church…?). Here's a great song with excellent vocals:

 

      Anthony could never catch a break- his biggest U.S. hit was "Block Party" which was an instrumental version of his Salsoul 

      12"  "I Can't Turn You Loose" .

Edited December 27, 20186 yr by the yank

2 hours ago, josep manuel concernau robles said:

PIR and subsidiaries, WMOT, Philly World, Philly Sound Works… those labels had some great talents as the ones you mentioned and the "blue-eyed soul - rock" David Lasley or Tom Grant, Cecil Parker (one of the best falsetto voices!), Ben Aiken and some lead singers of groups as Broadway Express or Qwikest Way Out.

Not sure who was lead on the broadway Express material, but Lloyd Parkes was in the group. Lloyd was also in the Blue Notes, the Emanons and also the Epsilons along with Mcfadden and Whitehead. Which reminds me, I have an unreleased promotional tape of Cecil Parker material I need to convert on to CD AS i have not listened to it!.

3 hours ago, still diggin said:

Not sure who was lead on the broadway Express material, but Lloyd Parkes was in the group. Lloyd was also in the Blue Notes, the Emanons and also the Epsilons along with Mcfadden and Whitehead. Which reminds me, I have an unreleased promotional tape of Cecil Parker material I need to convert on to CD AS i have not listened to it!.

Yup. When Otis in died The Epsilon's packed it in. Lloyd Parks joined Broadway Express, while John Whitehead and Gene McFadden formed The Talk Of The Town from the remnants of The Epsilon's.

Chuck Jackson from the independents had a beautiful voice. His solo album released over here in the late 70s also contained some top notch records. Not commercial but very soulful. He went on to have a great career writing and producing