A new poll conducted by Rolling Stone magazine asks musicians and music producers to vote for the best singer of the rock era. Today on Newshour we’ll be asking: So did they get it right? Who would you vote the greatest singer? We’d like to hear from you. So post your vote here or email us and we’ll try to play it on the programme later.
13
Nov
08
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BBC World Have Your Say 
Eh, most rock singers aren’t all that good.
If I had to nominate a great rock singer, I would nominate the lead singer of The Academy Is (William Beckett is his name, IIRC).
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+academy+is&search_type=&aq=f
Not the most accomplished by any means, but a great singer in my opinion.
That is easy. Me. If the acedemy needs my address to send me my award. please drop me an email.
Thanks,
Do they really sing in Rock? I though all they did was scream! But if i need to put my vote in it would be for Tom Petty. I don’t think he ever screamed.
Hands down it’s Grace Slick. She crescendos and decrescendos like no one else. Wonderful range in her voice.
Here is one of songs that she sang with the LSO.
Well, ‘rock’ in various forms has passed through a number of eras. I hope that some of the more obscure, but very good, bands will come in for consideration: Strawbs, Ramases, Slade, for instance.
But hey! Strawbs (and Dave Cousins in particular) will always have my vote.
Ian Gillan from Deep Purple has always been a very powerful vocalist…..
Does Tina Turner count? I am curious.
Adam: correct! If not THE most powerful and inventive vocalist. I think he also did Jesus in the first (British) recording of JC Superstar. But Ritchie Blackmore, who replaced him, did no mean job, either.
John Fogerty of CCR.
What about the vocalist of Blood Sweat and Tears? Can’t recall his name right now but he was great. Had a double-barreled surname. I suppose the category would be jazz rock.
Janis Joplin was great. Although she shrieked, she had perfect pitch and gave it everything she had.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney. George and Ringo could hold a tune but Paul and John were the real vocalists.
I keep leaning towards Robert Plant but I’ve already read some other suggestions above that are making me teeter….This is a tough and highly subjective question. 🙂
As for the best rock vocalist, my own Strawbs prejudices aside, I guess the honest answer would have to be :Ian Gillan, Deep Purple.
My first inclination, and vote, goes to Freddie Mercury even though I don’t agree that there is any such thing as a “best” singer. I think Freddie demonstrated a variety of skills that few could match. On the female side, I will have to go with the late, great Eva Cassidy who owns “Fields of Gold”:
Bon Scott of AC/DC was a red hot, out and out rock n’ roll singer….On the female side I have never heard anyone more powerful than Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes belting out Led Zeppelin’s “Misty Mountain Hop” .
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YVmFF6_etkI
The fact that Eva Cassidy is not well known is a great mystery. The woman was pure magic. ‘Fields of Gold’ was superb and so was her version of the Judy Garland classic, ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’. She was a fine guitarist as well. I guess she was way too self-effacing to make the big time.