TONY'S TOP TEN GREATEST MALE SINGERS IN ROCK N ROLL/POP HISTORY

Some musicians are great guitarist, like Jimi Hendrix. Some are great performers, like Bruce Springsteen. Others are just plain genius, like John Lennon and Bob Dylan. But only some can be classified as great SINGERS. Without further ado, I give to you:

TONY'S TOP TEN GREATEST MALE SINGERS IN ROCK N ROLL/POP HISTORY

10.



STEVIE WONDER

Stevie Wonder almost falls into another category all by himself. R&B genius, Wonder crossed over into pop with a lot of his songs...just enough to make this list, even though I see him more as an R&B guy. Wonder SHOULD be higher, vocally, but the lack of Rock/Pop roots makes him #10.
(Key Songs: Superstition, Isn't She Lovely)

9.



JAMES TAYLOR

His smooth delivery made it easy to understand why he was one of the first artists to record on the Beatles Apple label in the '60's. While time has past, and his hair has gone, Taylor's voice remains as strong today, as it was way back then.
(Key Songs: Fire and Rain, How Sweet it Is)

8.



GENE PITNEY

Forget for a second the "popular" music of the '60's. If you want a voice that was not only flawless, but underrated (in my opinion the most underrated voice on this list!!) Gene Pitney was your man. A love song specialist, Pitney still belts out the tunes to this day...but still doesn't get the respect he rightfully deserves.
(Key Songs: Town Without Pity, Only Love Can Break a Heart)

7. TIE



BILLY JOEL / SIR ELTON JOHN

It's almost impossible to mention one name with out the other's coming up soon after. Few people have made the piano cool, like Billy Joel and Elton John. Strip away the guitars, the drums, and the bass, and you'll unlikely hear a more melodic ballad as the two of these men have produced with piano accompaniment.
(Key Songs: Billy Joel: Always a Woman, Piano Man)
(Key Songs: Elton John: Your Song, Rocket Man)

6.



CHRIS CORNELL (TEMPLE OF THE DOG, SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE)

Lost in the shuffle of the "alternative" scene is one of the greatest voices to ever step behind a microphone. Pushing the limits of lung capacity, Chris Cornell has the voice of an angel at times, and a demon at times, but regardless of which way he's swingin', it's always magic. It you don't believe me, listen to his solo album Euphoria Morning.
(Key Songs: Hunger Strike (Temple of the Dog), Fell on Black Days (Soundgarden), Show Me How To Live (Audioslave)

5.

FREDDIE MERCURY (QUEEN)

Flamboyant, check. Outrageous, check. Great Singer, check. Freddie Mercury's voice was as pure as his songs are timeless.

(Key Songs: We Are The Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody)

4.

PAUL SIMON (SIMON AND GARFUNKEL)

Simon and Garfunkel no doubt performed some of the most beautiful love songs ever to grace the airwaves. But most of those songs were Paul Simon's. A genius with the pen, and a master of the vocal, Paul Simon is truly worthy of # 4.

(Key Songs: The Sound of Silence, Still Crazy After All These Years)

3.

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY (BEATLES, WINGS)

Paul McCartney almost needs no comment. With the Beatles, he penned a dozen or so Top Ten hits...and that was in the first 8 years he was a recognized musician. Spanning over 40 years, McCartney not only personifies great longevity, but also the timelessness of a great writer, performer, and singer.

(Key Songs: Hey Jude, Long and Winding Road, Yesterday)

2.

ROY ORBISON

Before Overstock.com came to existence, The Big O was Roy Orbison. Singing songs for the lonely, Orbison honed his famous falsetto voice and took his songs and his always present black sunglasses straight into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. The pureness of his last album, Mystery Girl, cemented his spot as # 2.

(Key Songs: Crying, It's Over)

1.

ELVIS PRESLEY

The King. Some people can learn to sing, and some people were born to sing. Elvis was born to sing. Storming onto the scene in the mid-50's at a time where Rock and Roll was in it's infancy, Elvis created a legacy that will never be matched. A voice from above, Elvis made every song feel as though it were the most important message you could be hearing in that 3 minute span. Gospel, Rock, Country...Elvis could just flat out sing.

(Key Songs: Heartbreak Hotel, In The Ghetto)

NOTABLES:

Almost making the list, but barely missing out were:

Lionel Richie, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, Jeff Lynne (ELO), Michael Jackson, and Layne Staley (Alice In Chains).