Who's number one in your book? Mine is:

1) Michael Speaks

Dear God, spare us the Minnie "OOOOOwhwhwhwhwhwhwwwaaah" Riperton

onslaught. Thank you.

Rachelle Ferrell

Don't know how to post vids...sorry

Prince: Solo

Freddie Mercury had great range, but I love Prince's range just a tad more.

D'Angelo

Sarah Vaughan OWNS this thread, on a set of barrel lock keys, dammit.

On the more underrated front, I've been enjoying the group of ladies on the show R&B Divas. Seems like they've all had to attempt emerging from a shadow of this or that where groups and life conflicts are concerned, and being able to see them sing on the show, even just casually...man what fantastic range these chicks have, I'm really enjoying them. My favorite of the four would have to be old crazy KeKe Wyatt...lord h'ammercy if she can't sing her face off the keys of a pian-a

I think I posted this video somewhere else here, but sangin' like this never gets old for me-

Harlepolis said:

Sarah Vaughan OWNS this thread, on a set of barrel lock keys, dammit.

Sassy could take you to operatic highs back down to the deepest seeds of her belly, couldn't she?

^^^ Keke stopped me on my tracks when she channeled Angela Winbush on "My First Love". Now Angie, thats not somebody you'd want to have a run-in with vocally, the woman is vocally trained and she worked in Stevie's Wonderlove band. But Keke truly held her own.

Ottensen said:

Harlepolis said:

Sarah Vaughan OWNS this thread, on a set of barrel lock keys, dammit.

Sassy could take you to operatic highs back down to the deepest seeds of her belly, couldn't she?

Billy Eckstine once said she could sing/accompany/imitate EVERY musician in his orchestra. We're talking about Dizzy, Miles, Art Blakey and HEAP load of giants.

Coming from Mr.B, thats a big statement. And all you gotta do to find out is to listen to her 54 version of "Lover Man" and "How High The Moon" at Mister Kelly's to get a glimpse of what he said.

When I listen to her, I balk at those who ignorantly state with full confidence that "the human voice is not an instrument".

how many octaves is Keke?

scriptgirl said:

D'Angelo

He's range?

He stays in the middle register for a tenor, I thought.

For guys, I'll go with Chris Cornell and/or Jeff Buckley.

Not my fave male vocalists, but his range is ridiculous.

Harlepolis said:

Not my fave male vocalists, but his range is ridiculous.

But he's one of my favorite male vocalists.

Bilal's range is great-didn't he train as an opera singer?

re D, i guess he stays in middle range, but what he does with his voice is GREAT. Still think his vocals are underrated.

scriptgirl said:

Bilal's range is great-didn't he train as an opera singer?

re D, i guess he stays in middle range, but what he does with his voice is GREAT. Still think his vocals are underrated.

They are.

Don't 4get Tonex/B.Slade

Who?

Graycap23 said:

Don't 4get Tonex/B.Slade

CRIMINALLY underrated

Rahsaan Patterson also.

Roy Orbison & Vicente Fernandez

Little Richard

Graycap23 said:

Prince: Solo

Prince uses alot of falsetto so he really doesnt have that wide of range. There are other contemporary singers that have wider range than he

[Edited 10/10/12 1:56am]

duccichucka said:

scriptgirl said:

D'Angelo

He's range?

He stays in the middle register for a tenor, I thought.

For guys, I'll go with Chris Cornell and/or Jeff Buckley.

Sarah Vaughan.

Harlepolis said:

^^^ Keke stopped me on my tracks when she channeled Angela Winbush on "My First Love". Now Angie, thats not somebody you'd want to have a run-in with vocally, the woman is vocally trained and she worked in Stevie's Wonderlove band. But Keke truly held her own.

Speaking of Ms. Winbush, did you get a chance to see her UNSUNG on TvOne? They used to have the full doc on youtube- I hope I can find it again because I really enjoyed that episode