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Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time 

Rolling Stone Lists
Updated June 14, 2019 423.3k views 100 items

Rolling Stone's list of the 100 best singers of all-time includes some of the greatest vocalists in the history of recording. These top singers of all time range from rock to blues to soul and even pop music, and this list is a round-up of some of the greatest singers ever to approach a microphone. The Rolling Stone 100 greatest singers is a definitive list of the greatest vocalists of all time and includes many popular artists you're sure to recognize.

Who are the 100 greatest singers of all time? Among the notable singers of the current generation are singers like Kurt Cobain and Bono as well as some of the all time greatest vocalists the world has ever heard like Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury. This is the way that Rolling Stone Magazine ranked these talented top 100 singers of all time, but feel free to make your own list of the top singers ever. Some of these talented singers may also be the richest singers in the world or even one of the greatest performers of all time. Check out the full article here.
list ordered by
1
Aretha Franklin is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Aretha Franklin ❯

The Best Aretha Franklin Albums of All Time #6 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Yearslisted on 1970s Christian Pop Artists

2
Ray Charles is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Ray Charles ❯

The Best Ray Charles Albums of All Time #16 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #278 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time

3
Elvis Presley is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Elvis Presley ❯

Elvis Presley And Richard Nixon Once Shared The Strangest White House Meeting Of All Time #5 of 784 The Best Singers of All Timelisted on 1970s Christian Pop Artists

4
Sam Cooke is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Sam Cooke ❯

Rising Soul Singer Sam Cooke Perished Under Mysterious Circumstances In 1964 And The Case Is Still Unsolved #472 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time #81 of 1,891 The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time

5
John Lennon is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More John Lennon ❯

15 Conspiracies About John Lennon's Death That People Truly Believe #25 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Yearslisted on Famous Accordionists

6
Marvin Gaye is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Marvin Gaye ❯

The Best Marvin Gaye Songs of All Time #52 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time #14 of 1,891 The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time

7
Bob Dylan is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Bob Dylan ❯

The Best Bob Dylan Songs #109 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Yearslisted on 1970s Christian Pop Artists

8
Otis Redding is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Otis Redding ❯

The Best Otis Redding Albums of All Time #543 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time #110 of 1,891 The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time

9
Stevie Wonder is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Stevie Wonder ❯

The Best Stevie Wonder Songs of All Time #13 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #15 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time

10
James Brown is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More James Brown ❯

The Best James Brown Albums of All Time #57 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #564 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time

11
Paul McCartney is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Paul McCartney ❯

The Best Paul McCartney Songs #43 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #1 of 225 The Greatest Living Rock Songwriters

12
Little Richard is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Little Richard ❯

The Best Little Richard Albums of All Time #640 of 784 The Best Singers of All Timelisted on 1970s Christian Pop Artists

13
Roy Orbison is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Roy Orbison ❯

The Best Roy Orbison Albums of All Time #41 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #491 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time

14
Al Green is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Al Green ❯

The Best Al Green Albums of All Time #44 of 225 The Greatest Living Rock Songwriterslisted on 1970s Christian Pop Artists

15
Robert Plant is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Robert Plant ❯

12 Fascinating Facts You Didn't Know About Robert Plant #19 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #26 of 225 The Greatest Living Rock Songwriters

16
Mick Jagger is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Mick Jagger ❯

#30 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #11 of 225 The Greatest Living Rock Songwriters #66 of 360 Musicians Who Belong In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

17
Tina Turner is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Tina Turner ❯

The Best Tina Turner Songs #35 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #155 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time

18
Freddie Mercury is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Freddie Mercury ❯

All About Mary Austin, The Love Of Freddie Mercury's Life #12 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #1 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time

19
Bob Marley is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Bob Marley ❯

18 Things Most People Don't Know About Bob Marley #280 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time #19 of 1,891 The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time

20
Smokey Robinson is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Smokey Robinson ❯

The Best Smokey Robinson Albums of All Time #49 of 225 The Greatest Living Rock Songwriters #406 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time

21
Johnny Cash is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Johnny Cash ❯

The Best Johnny Cash Songs of All Time #24 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Yearslisted on 1970s Christian Pop Artists

22
Etta James is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Etta James ❯

The Best Etta James Albums of All Time #467 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time #90 of 1,891 The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time

23
David Bowie is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More David Bowie ❯

The Best David Bowie Songs of All Time #130 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #17 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time

24
Van Morrison is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Van Morrison ❯

The Best Van Morrison Songs of All Time #135 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Yearslisted on 1970s Christian Pop Artists

25
Michael Jackson is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Vocalists of All Time

More Michael Jackson ❯

The Best Michael Jackson Songs of All Time #67 of 316 The Greatest Singers of the Past 30 Years #2 of 784 The Best Singers of All Time