Who has/had the best singing voice of all-time? My vote goes to Whitney Houston.
Without criteria on which to base such judgment answers are merely opinion and sentimental.
There are two different fundamental bases upon which to evaluate best voice that don't even include elements like phrasing and emotional emphasis.
Who can say who is the best? Artists are different in so many ways from one another. Many play an instrument with great virtuosity. I ask do they play the instrument or do they play music? The voice is an instrument through which one can render musical performances. I ask are they using musical compositions to demonstrate instrumental virtuosity or applying virtuosity to a composition in order to render music.
A great voice is one that renders not only well practiced instrumental gymnastics but one that honors composer, piece and audience.
That said, who can compare with Ella?
No contest
Lol
LOL
Oh gosh how could I have forgotten about him? lol
It really depends upon the style of music you prefer. My votes go for Ella Fitzgerald and Eva Cassidy.
Male:. Michael Crawford. His range is phenomenal.
Female: Linda Ronstadt. It's just beautiful to listen to.
Maybe someone will know what I'm thinking here. I recall seeing a female singer being interviewed and asked what other female singers she respected, and her answer was something like...
"There are only two 'singers', the late Patsy Cline and Linda Ronstadt, the rest of us are just faking it."
...or something along those lines.
My two cents worth.
Julie Covington. She's the one who did the definitive Don't Cry For Me Argentina. And I loved her as Beth in Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War of the Worlds.
Karen Carpenter. Too tragic a story.
Billie Holiday. Another tragic story and I wish there were better recordings of her voice.
Karen Carpenter's isolated vocal tracks are really amazing... no wonder so many of their songs became hits.
Karen Carpenter's voice had such a wonderful warm tone.
Can we suggest men too? Roy Orbison. I do love me some Whitney but Ann Wilson from heart should be considered!
I don't know about 'of all time' but my latest fav is Jake Smith from White Buffalo.
Wait for it.
For me, it is hands down, eva cassidy. she didn't live long enough to become very well known, but for what she did while alive is wonderous. she also played guitar. listen and you will hear the voice of something that makes the hairs on my arms get tingly .... she was a beautiful person:
I agree 100%
Roy Orbison...had a truly operatic voice...clear articulation and great taste. BUT--now, there's Andrea Bocceli and Josh Groban. Hmmmm
Tommy Shaw and Steve Perry
Annie Lenox and Stevie Nicks