Al Green

Syl Johnson

Ann Peebles

OV Wright

Donny Hathaway

Stevie Wonder

Otis Redding

Thats my take, whats yours?

Well other day i was talking about Sam Cooke being the ultimate soul singer and not only that but his song Bring It On Home To Me being such a classic

Jackie Wilson and also for modern stuff Whitney Houston and

Luther Vandross who i have respect for cause i liked his music

Gonna go with Marvin Gaye. For me, his voice practically defines the whole genre and his ability to convey emotion can't be beat. Pulling off socially conscious songs just as well as sensual ballads is no easy feat but he did it effortlessly.

-J.

otis,jackie and marvin...no need for surnames when talkin about true legends...

but what about the ladies !!....aretha and my personal fave voice would probaby be bettye swann

Curtis Mayfield for me...every time

Curtis Mayfield for me...every time

I'd go for

Marvin Gaye

Wilson Pickett

Otis Redding

Aretha Franklin

Barbara Lynn

Also up there IMO would be Billie Holiday

Edited August 14, 200816 yr by southpaw

Al Green

Syl Johnson

Ann Peebles

OV Wright

Donny Hathaway

Stevie Wonder

Otis Redding

Thats my take, whats yours?

Not sure you can ever say "best ever" it's always a matter of personal taste, having said

that how about Levi Stubbs & General Johnson, 2 of the best soul voices ever heard ?????

hard to say best ever but two favs of mine Major Lance & Gene Chandler

Otis Redding

Sam Cooke

Jackie Wilson

Solomon Burke

Major Lance

Marvin Gaye

Roy Hamilton

David Ruffin

Paul Williams

Levi Stubbs

Otis Redding

Sam Cooke

Jackie Wilson

Solomon Burke

Major Lance

Marvin Gaye

Roy Hamilton

David Ruffin

Paul Williams

Levi Stubbs

hey let's hear for the girls as well...

Carol Fran

Maxine Brown

Barbara Lynn

Pauline Shivers

Gladys Knight

Denise Lasalle

the list is endless...

as for the blokes, the top man himself Bobby Bland!

my opinion only is the great steve mancha, jj barnes set up don`t think theres a week goes by when i don`t play the rare stamps album

All down to personal opinion of course, we can never "agree". I must confess that I am a Donny Hathaway fanatic. He is my #1 soul brother actually, and my main reason for saying that is because of his VOICE!!! It´s heavenly.

Me a fanatic? Yes, one of his albums I have on original vinyl + original cassette + reissue CD + the original poster for the album + all the 45s from that particular album, since I once tried to be a Donny Hathaway completist, but I´ve given up. For instance I do not own the June Conquest 45s, and there are plenty of production work he did that is very obscure which I´ve never considered buying.

So just in case you´ve missed it (LOL) - the best soul artist is (IMVHO of course) DONNY HATHAWAY!!!

... and the legacy goes on, his daughers Lalah and Kenya Hathaway sounding just like him...

Cheers,

Melismo

hey let's hear for the girls as well...

Carol Fran

Maxine Brown

Barbara Lynn

Pauline Shivers

Gladys Knight

Denise Lasalle

the list is endless...

as for the blokes, the top man himself Bobby Bland!

The LATE GREAT LINDA JONES

im biased i must admit, to me, the hi records era led by mitchell, was and is my personal favourite sound in soul of all time led by the great hi-rhythm section and the memphis horns. what an era!!!!!!!!!.hence peebles, ov wright, al green, syl.

It is all down to persoanl taste though and i cant believe i forgot gladys

The drummer, strings, rhythm and horn section on hi was un-******* believable

I would die to be part of a band that good. I would literlly die.

This music saved my life......no shit

For me it would be Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, Emmanuel Lasky, Marvin Gaye to name afew. Just for the raw emotion I've got to add Jaibi if only for her Kapp track

Regards

Ian

Someone has to agree we've missed Chuck Jackson, Baby Washington, and Im finding More and more Jerry Jackson tooooohooo.

Ollie Nightingale

interesting!! all these great names and not one mention of the master BOBBY WOMACK!! for sheer power and emotion and pure soulfulness he does it for me everytime,the man is GOD! still going strong too! the rolling stones owe a lot to this gem of a singer!

I can't believe that no-one has mentioned James Brown yet.

The Fat boy, Billy Stewart, He always makes me Look Back And Smile