By fayette (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 04:31 pm:

alright we have covered the worst concert,the
best and worse female singer, now can you name the best and worst male singer and why

By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 04:54 pm:

I don't know if he's the best; he's certainly among the best, but my favorite singer is Sam Cooke. How each of us respond to certain voices is such a subjective thing. With Sam,I just love that mixture of sweetness with a little bit of grit. And I give a slight edge to his work with the Soul Stirrers over his pop efforts.

The worst? Well, maybe because he's top of mind at the moment but I'd say Gary Lewis(the Errggh man)for reasons stated more than once on other threads.

By sandy (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 05:23 pm:

my best is luther vandross,my worst was sonny bono

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.9) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 05:29 pm:

Did you never hear Tiny Tim?

By cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 05:36 pm:

My best:

Luther Vandross
Frank Sinatra
Nat King Cole
David Ruffin
Dennis Edwards
Jimmy Scott

Worst:

Keith Sweat hands down. The guy just can't sing.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.12) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 05:44 pm:

Tiny Tim,
man,can it get any worse!!!!!!!
Apologies Dave,
if thats your best choice.
mel.

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 05:51 pm:

cleo you mean to tell me keith sweat can't sing.
i thought he had it going on.(iguess not).he
cute anyway.

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:07 pm:

I played a gig back in the 70's opening for Tiny Tim. What a trip. We didn't have a clue as to what kind of gig we were book at. That Mofo's teeth were greener than Kermit the Frog. As for the worst I would have to say Simply Reds Mick singing If You Don't Know Me By Now..! I still cringe at the thought of it..! Running a hot 2nd might be Huey Lewis' Version of It's Alright by J.J. Jackson. Typically Huey doesn't bother me too much, but man did he crucify that classic. That might be an idea for a new thread.

By ..... (207.241.96.10) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:18 pm:

Worst: Michael Jackson

By dvdmike (12.84.41.42) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 10:26 pm:

My all-time favorite singer is Nat King Cole
For the worst, I can't single anyone out, though I've heard some pretty bad ones.

By Sue (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 10:46 pm:

Michael J the worst singer, in a world with Mick Hucknall, Phil Collins, Gary Lewis, Huey Lewis ...?? No way.

By ..... (207.241.96.10) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 11:42 pm:

yes way

By Sue (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 11:55 pm:

No way or you'd say your name.

By Edgar (200.46.132.137) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 12:01 am:

Worst... Michael Bolton, I think. Patti should teach him how to sing. Best, Caetano Veloso.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 12:21 am:

JUST A FEW NAMES TO MENTION...SINCE THIS TOPIC REALLY RELATES TO PERSONAL TASTE...AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF MATERIAL THE SINGERS HAD RESPECTIVELY!!!...OLD OLD SCHOOL...SINATRA...KING COLE...TONY BENNETT!!!...OLD SCHOOL(R&B)...COOKE...MAYFIELD...RUFFIN!!!...POST MOTOWN ERA...JARREAU...VANDROSS...JEFFREY OSBORN!!!...WORST SINGER...*ME* AFTER MY VOICE CHANGED AT ABOUT AGE 14!!!...ALTHOUGH SANDY...I DID USED TO VISIT SONNY BONO'S RESTAURANT IN PALM SPRINGS...AND ON A FEW OCCASIONS...THE LATE SONNY WAS THERE...AND HE WOULD BELT OUT A FEW TUNES WITH THE PIANO PLAYER...MOSTLY STANDARDS...AND HE WASN'T VERY GOOD...BUT HE CERTAINLY ENJOYED DOING IT!!!...STU

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.21) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 12:35 am:

Hey Horse,
Did you ever get to tip toe through the tulips with Tiny Tim?
Mel.(hee hee)

By Vonnie (152.163.188.68) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 12:43 am:

The worst singer I have ever heard was an audition on the show American Idol. His name is Keith and his version of Madonna's Like a Virgin was horrific. Simon Cowell told him he was the worst singer on the planet.

By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 05:53 am:

I saw that guy, Vonnie. I think he had "issues", one of which was apparently gender confusion.

By gabriel (212.171.164.137) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 05:58 am:

my best:

marvin gaye
julio iglesias
muddy waters
ray charles
stevie wonder

my worst:

...milli vanilli...
simon lebon
robbie williams
justin timberlake

By John Lester (213.123.113.47) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 06:16 am:

My best:

Levi Stubbs....by a long way...
Shorty Long and Dennis Edwards follow

My worst:
Me - My mum reckons I sound like someone drowning in a swimming pool!

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 07:40 am:

Early verdicts on later stars:

"Can't act, can't sing. Can dance a little"
- Fred Astaire.

"Warbles attractively"
- Smokey Robinson

"Bludgeoning Neanderthal style... for unregenerate Rock'n'Rollers"
- Jackie Wilson

"The worst no-talent I've ever worked with"
- Buddy Holly.

"Guitar groups are out"
- the Beatles.

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 08:35 am:

THE SILKY SIX...NAT KING COLE,JOHNNY MATHIS,SAM COOKE,LOU RAWLS,MARVIN GAYE,CLYDE MCPHATTER.THE WORST...TINY TIM.

By ..... (207.241.96.10) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 09:48 am:

My name is ..... You don't always say your name.

By stephanie (207.94.145.199) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 01:39 pm:

I would have to say the best soul singers in my opinion is a toss up between Levi Stubbs and Otis Redding and honorable mention would go to Eddie Levert the lead of the OJays...

I cant say Michael Bolton my mother would kill me she loves him.
I think the worst one is Keith Sweat I dont know what people see in this character he cant beg like Lenny Williams and I dont think he can sing I never thought he can sing but women love this guy I just dont get it. I would listen to USHER before I would listen to Keith Sweat..
Stephanie

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 01:51 pm:

No name --
Nobody really cares ...

By Horse (159.53.32.41) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 01:56 pm:

Mel,

That's quite a scary thought...! oof..!

By Horse (159.53.32.41) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 02:02 pm:

Sue,

I have to tell ya. When I listen to Mick, I hear the voice from the old movie The FLY...! Very agonizing. He got some heart but it does quite make its way out of the throat.

By Horse (159.53.238.243) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 02:17 pm:

***He's got some heart, but it doesn't quite make it out of his throat.

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.33) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 02:56 pm:

Best: Al Green

Worst: Phil Collins (especially in a live environment)

If I could stray outside of the pop/soul field, I would probably have other names.

Regards,
Ken

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 03:35 pm:

tiny tim had a opening act? now i've heard
everything.(geesh)

By Nish (66.119.34.39) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 03:41 pm:

David Ruffin, Smokey Robinson, Clyde McPhatter, Billy Eckstine, Levi Stubbs, G.C. Cameron, Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra.

WORST: Tiny Tim, all these boy band members, every last one of them.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 04:21 pm:

And the winner is....

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.33) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 04:26 pm:

Seriously, though, he is easily the best "Tiny Tim type" singer there has ever been.

Spinning Positive,
Ken

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 04:30 pm:

Yes, Kev. Thank heaven nobody suggested he record a "duets" album with Yoko Ono.

By ..... (207.241.96.10) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 04:30 pm:

Thank you for caring and responding.
Have a wonderful day too.

By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 05:03 pm:

you're welcome and thank YOU, unknown smiley-faced person...

By Common (209.2.55.169) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 05:11 pm:

....Speaking of Yoko Ono, she's doing a dance remake of "Walking On Thin Ice". YIKES!


Best Singers: Too many from the sixties & seventies soul era to mention.

Worst Singers: Too many to mention from the eighties & nineties!


Peace!

By cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 05:23 pm:

I think it hysterical that so many people have answered Tiny Tim as worst. I never even considered him in the same equation as "singer." Boy you guys are giving him the benefit of the doubt. LOL!!!

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 05:29 pm:

Horse,
I'm confused -- you said "Mick" ... are you talking about Michael Jackson? Mick Hucknall? Mick Jagger?

By Aljaydu/Creole (68.18.115.132) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 05:44 pm:

Yoko's remaking "Walking On Thin Ice"????? Maybe that's the ode to her career !!!!

Best? Levi Stubbs !!!
Worst? Tiny Tim !!! Hands down !! Bets off !!!

By john dixon (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 07:18 pm:

I'm with cleoharvey, Tiny Tim is way too easy a target. He was never more than a novelty act. You folks should pick a guy/girl who had some measure of success; at least enough for us to have heard them on the radio until we wanted to puke or something. Remember Mrs Miller, the singing Grandma? Well she and TT are in the same category; merely jokes, not even legit enough to be considered here. We all know he was godawful; that was his shtick. Peace yall.

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 08:14 pm:

QUESTION!!!...WHAT DID MICK JAGGER...SAY TO HUGH HEFNER...WHEN HE FOUND HIM IN BED WITH DENNIS WEAVER???...ANSWER!!!..".HEY HEY...HUGH HUGH...GET OFF MCLOUD"!!!...STU

By Lucy (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 08:16 pm:

OH YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY......
MY BELOVED LEVI...NO DOUBT ABOUT IT...
THE WORST......MICHAEL BOLTON...I MEAN LOOK WHAT HE DID TO MY BELOVED TOPS SONG....TALK ABOUT A SLAP IN THE FACE

AM I RIGHT CREOLE?!?!?!?!


LUCY

By Aljaydu/Creole (68.18.99.116) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 10:22 pm:

Lucy, you got that right.

By Brendeeva (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 10:38 pm:

I think I want to respond to this one, this is fun!!

My favorite female singers are:

Mary Wells
Jeanette "Baby" Washington
Dionne Warwick
Carmen McRae
Cleo Lane
Diana Krall

My Favorite Male Singes are:
Paul Williams
Eddie Kendrick
Arthur Prysock
Marvin Junior
Ron Banks
Eddie Levert

My view as the worst male are:
Keith Sweat (his partners alway out sing him) he can't carry a tune in a bucket.

Joe Tex
Junior Walker could play that saxphone but Lord know what he was saying and singing. So he'd blow a little for ya.

There are soooo many from the 60's and 70's were and are still so huge in my life that are my favorites, I really can't say which one is the is the all time favorite. I didn't waste too much time listening to people who couldn't sang. They were far more that could.

Brendeeva

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.69) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 12:36 am:

Nice duet there Ritchie,
Tim and Yoko,
If it ever hap0pens fly me out of here.
mel.

By john dixon (63.101.17.207) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 06:08 am:

Brendeeva, why don't you like Joe Tex?

By StingBeeLee (155.139.68.10) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 08:21 am:

I'll put Phil Collins up there, as he was part of one of the worst experiences on TV. Atlantic Records was celebrating their 40th Anniversary, and I stayed home from school to see it. They gave two of the greatest ladies of R & B, Ruth Brown and Lavern Baker, two short songs, AND THEY GAVE PHIL COLLINS OVER ONE HOUR OF SINGING. I was so mad I got sick and had to go to bed. No wonder Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin didn't show up.

By Sue (64.12.97.7) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 08:36 am:

Yeah I'll defend both Joe Tex and Junior Walker -- Junior was no crooner, he was hollering, sure, but it worked in context. And Joe Tex??? Come on.

By padgburyman (195.93.50.9) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 09:55 am:

Levi is definitely the 'TOPS'.

Popeye was a lousy singer.

By Lynn Bruce (65.60.200.153) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 11:07 am:

Joe Tex and Junior Walker in the BAD SINGERS cat??
What, do you listen to music by closed caption????

By Horse (159.53.238.243) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 11:23 am:

Sue,

I'm sorry for not clarifying. I was speaking about Mick Hucknall.

Fayette,

Tiny Tim never actually had an opening act with him. We where a heavy metal/Hendrix type band with enough hair between all of us that we should have been the founders of the Hair Club For Men...! We got booked to be the first act at a club we knew nothing about and were floored. I was under age but slid in with the rest of the guys. All I remember was that Tim had some tight looking Phillipino barely clad female dancers who showed a lotta everything. I thought we we're hot shit when we had some tag alone roadies, until I woke uo the next morning to find half my double bass drum kit on the west side of Detroit and the other half on the east side. Not to mention the fact that the rest of the band left me behind and I had to thumb it home. I did so much walking that I actually broke one of my Kiss type platform boots in half. You know, Now that I think about....Maybe that's way the band left me behind and nobody would give me a lift..!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 02:10 pm:

Brendeeva - Where were you in the 60's and 70's. Were you raised in Maryland or some small town whose one radio station played country and western? (LOL) This may explain why Joe and Junior is on the bad list. SPLAIN YOURSELF CHILD!

By john dixon (205.188.209.38) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 07:49 pm:

Sis, I think I figured it out; Brendeeva is that girl with the skinny legs!

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 07:52 pm:

Hahahah John Dixon - I think you are right. Joe Tex never should have sang that song about her. (lol)

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 07:54 pm:

HEY SIS: ANYONE WHO BRINGS UP THE GREAT ARTHUR PRYSOCK CAN'T BE ALL BAD...REMMEBER HIS CLASSIC "LET IT BE LOWENBRAU" COMMERCIAL???...STU

By Brendeeva (152.163.188.68) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 10:30 pm:

He John Dixon, Now, Now Stop all that HATIN, You know good and darn well that woman left Joe Tex skinny legs and all be cause Joe couldn't sang! LOL, LOL. And you can be quite assured it wasn't me. I'm on Mr. Wendal's Backstage Pass, and you can certainly see my legs.

Hey Lynn, We didn't have closed caption back in the 60's, hell if you couldn't hear, you just couldn't hear. Even if you had to read his lips when he was so called singing, it wasn't good, Ha, Ha.

Now Junior was in that James Brown category. He was truly one of the best entertainers of our time, but Junior couldn't sang neither but he sure could blow that saxaphone.

As for Arthur, he was AWESOME!! I was reared in Jacksonville, Florida. Last I heard, It was the largest city by miles in the United States.

Yall, lee me lone nye.


Brendeeva

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 10:40 pm:

Brendeeva - You know, I think there was a song by a female vocalist, in response to Joe Tex recording of skinny legs. Can anybody remember that?

Stu - I had to pull out my 3 LP's of Prysock"
"A Portrait of Arthur Prysock"
"Everlasting Songs for Everylasting Love"
"All My Life" - 1976. Now, this particular LP was somewhat different than the other two. My favorite on this particular LP is "When Love Is New" Gamble/Huff.

Junior Walker's voice was exciting, and bluesy. He could sing as well as blow that horn. I guarantee when he start singing, you are gonna get up and dance.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 01:34 am:

HEY SIS: THERE *WAS* A RETORT TO JOE TEX...AND I JUST CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME REMEMBER IT...OR AM I THINKING ABOUT IKE TURNERS RESPONSE TO TINA'S "WHATS LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT???...SPEAKING OF ARTHUR PRYSOCK...HE CERTAINLY HAD ONE OF THOSE VOCAL QUALITIES THAT STOOD OUT THERE ON IT'S OWN!!!...GREAT STYLIST!!!...STU

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 04:30 am:

stu i think arthur was in a class all to himself
a very classy man

By fayette (205.188.209.38) on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 03:49 pm:

I'm starting to think KEITH SWEAT,PHIL COLLINS
TINY TIM AND MICK JAGGER need to start taking
voice lessons.

By john dixon (64.12.97.7) on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 05:25 pm:

you can forget voice lessons. Actually fayette, Tiny Tim has improved immensely now that he's dead.

By Eli (151.197.38.142) on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 08:17 pm:

The worst to me is Biz Markie.
David Bowie comes in a close second.

Females..Ima sumac and Yoko Ono..Oh no!!!!!

By DramaLJDiva (207.69.94.80) on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 10:04 pm:

Great Thread!

Worst male singers: Keith Sweat, Usher, N*Sync and Backstreet Boys, other 80s and 90s one-hit wonders like "Whitetown" who only have one hit that is played on the radio every ten minutes, and soon fade into obscurity.

Best male singer: Well...I think my screenname says it all.

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 10:20 pm:

My best: Little Jimmy Scott / Legendary Jimmy Scott Rudy West, Jackie Wilson, Walter Jackson, Big Maybelle, Dinah Washington,Linda Jones, Nancy Wilson, Teena Marie, Derek Martin, Timothy Wilson, Eddie Levert (O'Jays), Clarence Burke,Jr. (5 Stairsteps), George "Smitty" Smith (Manhattans), Lil'Anthony (Imperials), Arthur Prysock, Johnny Hartman, Areatha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills. The Madlads. The Players...and many more but if I had to name just one male and one female vocalist it would be, of course, JIMMY SCOTT and the ballads of BIG MAYBELLE.

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:19 pm:

did yoko ono seriously call herself a singer????
(i think she sounds like a rat in labor)

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 03:29 pm:

Best male vocalists must include Mel Carter,
Smokey Robinson, David Ruffin, Ben E. King,
Levi Stubbs, Otis Redding.
Worst male vocalists--I could go on and on...

By TonyRussi (68.18.50.144) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 03:32 pm:

Come on Fayette, think of the millions of rats in labor that you have insulted!

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 05:46 pm:

oops sowwy tony lol

By ronni (67.24.158.189) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:42 pm:

The best: Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Levi Stubbs

The worst: Usher, Keith Sweat, Usher, Keith Sweat

By Lagunabeach (67.24.158.189) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:21 pm:

Best.....I noticed no one ever mentioned Ronny Dyson. Did anyone out there like him but me? He's never mentioned these days. Sorry we lost him.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:43 pm:

NOW YOU'VE GONE AND DONE IT LAGUNA!!!...RONNY DYSON WAS A GREAT ARTIST!!!...HIS "ONE MAN BAND" ALBUM WAS A CLASSIC...EVERY SONG A WINNER!!!...STU

By Mr. Magic (143.132.244.215) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:45 pm:

Best Male Singers

1. Jackie Wilson
2. David Ruffin
3. Smokey Robinson
4. Luther Vandross
5. Marvin Gaye

There are too many bad male singers out there, so I can't name them all.

By tyrone (192.128.166.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 10:23 pm:

Fave Male Singers

1. Marvin Gaye
2. Sam Cooke
3. Eddie Kendricks
4. Luther Vandross
5. Gerald Alston (Manhattans)

Worse Male Singers
1. Bobby Brown (king of r&b,yeah right!)
2. Keith Sweat
3. Usher
4. Babyface
5. Eddie Murphy