We all know Aretha was arguably the most influential woman in music history. She influenced both women and men alike, across so many genres. So that started me to thinking, what male singer had the same impact as Aretha?


I know some of you will want to jump in and say Michael Jackson. But, I'm not talking about entertainers. I'm talking vocalists. Someone who's only prop was their voice. Someone who could move and touch souls simply by singing a song and bring people to tears, minus an elaborate stage show.

I had a hard time coming up with someone like that as far as male singers go because male singers don't typically make me "feel" the way female singers do. It took me several days to finally come up with a male I would consider Aretha's counterpart, who could possibly match her influence across the board and her pure, raw talent. That person is Stevie Wonder.

Who would you choose?

[Edited 8/28/18 17:02pm]

David Ruffin

Marvin Gaye

Teddy Pendergrass, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding

Marvin. Or Stevie, although he was a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist as well as a singer.

datdude said:

I would say Donny Hathaway as far as soulfulness and influence. He left too soon, so not as large of a body of work but, yeah Donny

Sadly, many people don't know who Donny Hathway is/was. He had an amazing voice, but his output was not enough to make him as influencial as say Stevie, Al, Marvin or James.

ufoclub said:

Ray Charles?

Good suggestion.

I second Stevie Wonder, for impact and influence.

MotownSubdivision said:

I second Marvin. Ruffin was an awesome, one of a kind singer but his influence pales in comparison to Marvin's IMO. Shoot, David himself admitted he wished he could sing like Marvin.

I third that.

James Brown or Ray Charles should be the only ones eligible for consideration...

ufoclub said:

Ray Charles?

If you consider voice and piano only; he's the one.

She is unparalleled. Imagine that. Queen of Soul? I am thinking Godfather of Soul, James Brown MAYBE as an equivalent.

mdmeridius said:

I’d say Luther Vandross for voice alone.

I'd thought about Luther for a second, too, but I can't imagine him grunting out a blues song. Haven't heard it, either.

PRINCE he could sing any kind of music.Unlike most artist and Aretha is his counterpart whom she greatly acknowleged briefly two years ago when she heard of his passing.

RJOrion said:

James Brown or Ray Charles should be the only ones eligible for consideration...

I'd have to vote one of these 2 just on sheer cultural impact.

Germanegro said:

I second Stevie Wonder, for impact and influence.

A bigger vote for Ray Charles for the 2 abovementioned values + styles. Still an hororable mention to Sananda Maitreya for vocal range.

hard to say, as a singer myself, i believe that Males and females generally have different gifts as singers. Great females usually have much more control while males usually have more power. This isn't a truism, it's kind of like comparing different body types, they say they are only 3 but that no one is a pure type of any of them but a combination. So, when Myrna Smith said "Aretha Franklin could sing circles around Elvis" she wasn't dogging Elvis but she was being honest, Elvis had nowhere near the control of Aretha and neither did most male singers. I have the feeling that if the question was put to her she would say "Sam Cooke" mainly because of his background and their relationship, but I don't think he had the same control Aretha did either. In fact, the only male singer I can think of in the popular realm who could do things Aretha could do would be someone no one would think of, Terence Trent D'arby, he had great range, that elusive feminine like control, versatility, but even he wasn't as great, he sang off key a lot. Jackie Wilson was a great singer, Vandross was of course so there were a few but I don't think any particular one quite like her. If the question were female singers, there would be many who are in her league or maybe even better, Whitney, Labelle and others were about as good or better. I don't think any of them had the aura and carriage that Aretha did, she was a diva but it really fit her. She never came across to me as arrogant but matter of fact when speaking of her singing and influence. Whitney and Labelle don't have that same regality in my opinion.

kitbradley said:

We all know Aretha was arguably the most influential woman in music history. She influenced both women and men alike, across so many genres. So that started me to thinking, what male singer had the same impact as Aretha?


I know some of you will want to jump in and say Michael Jackson. But, I'm not talking about entertainers. I'm talking vocalists. Someone who's only prop was their voice. Someone who could move and touch souls simply by singing a song and bring people to tears, minus an elaborate stage show.

I had a hard time coming up with someone like that as far as male singers go because male singers don't typically make me "feel" the way female singers do. It took me several days to finally come up with a male I would consider Aretha's counterpart, who could possibly match her influence across the board and her pure, raw talent. That person is Stevie Wonder.

Who would you choose?

[Edited 8/28/18 17:02pm]

James Brown may have been the Godfather of Soul to counter Aretha's Queen of Soul title. He definately had a huge impact and influence on many when it came to stage presence. Lots of flash, whistles and bells. And a few of his songs were 60's anthems like some of Aretha's songs. But, vocally, he did not invoke the same feelings in people that Aretha did. Legions emulated Aretha. Many emulated James' funk music sound, but not his style of singing. I really can't think of anyone who purposely wanted to sound like James.

As far as Ray Charles, I didn't even think about him. I believe he definately had influence across the board. Not to the same extent as Aretha, but very close. Perhaps a little closer than Stevie. But, again, vocally, Ray didn't have the same impact in music and the world as Aretha.


At this point, I'm thinking perhaps she did not have a male counterpart. As I heard someone say earlier today, when they hear Aretha sing, they hear God. I love a lot of male singers but none of them possessed that kind of power and magnatism. No one commanded the attention Aretha did when she opened her mouth to sing. She didn't need any props (well, maybe some consider some of her inappropriate stage attire over the years as props ), but, other than that, she never used anything to draw attention away from her instrument. Aretha was the most powerful and impactful SINGER of our time, period.

kitbradley said:

I really can't think of anyone who purposely wanted to sound like James.

Wayne Cochran did.

kitbradley said:

James Brown may have been the Godfather of Soul to counter Aretha's Queen of Soul title. He definately had a huge impact and influence on many when it came to stage presence. Lots of flash, whistles and bells. And a few of his songs were 60's anthems like some of Aretha's songs. But, vocally, he did not invoke the same feelings in people that Aretha did. Legions emulated Aretha. Many emulated James' funk music sound, but not his style of singing. I really can't think of anyone who purposely wanted to sound like James.

As far as Ray Charles, I didn't even think about him. I believe he definately had influence across the board. Not to the same extent as Aretha, but very close. Perhaps a little closer than Stevie. But, again, vocally, Ray didn't have the same impact in music and the world as Aretha.


At this point, I'm thinking perhaps she did not have a male counterpart. As I heard someone say earlier today, when they hear Aretha sing, they hear God. I love a lot of male singers but none of them possessed that kind of power and magnatism. No one commanded the attention Aretha did when she opened her mouth to sing. She didn't need any props (well, maybe some consider some of her inappropriate stage attire over the years as props ), but, other than that, she never used anything to draw attention away from her instrument. Aretha was the most powerful and impactful SINGER of our time, period.

That's a great way to describe Aretha's impact.

kitbradley said:

James Brown may have been the Godfather of Soul to counter Aretha's Queen of Soul title. He definately had a huge impact and influence on many when it came to stage presence. Lots of flash, whistles and bells. And a few of his songs were 60's anthems like some of Aretha's songs. But, vocally, he did not invoke the same feelings in people that Aretha did. Legions emulated Aretha. Many emulated James' funk music sound, but not his style of singing. I really can't think of anyone who purposely wanted to sound like James.

As far as Ray Charles, I didn't even think about him. I believe he definately had influence across the board. Not to the same extent as Aretha, but very close. Perhaps a little closer than Stevie. But, again, vocally, Ray didn't have the same impact in music and the world as Aretha.


At this point, I'm thinking perhaps she did not have a male counterpart. As I heard someone say earlier today, when they hear Aretha sing, they hear God. I love a lot of male singers but none of them possessed that kind of power and magnatism. No one commanded the attention Aretha did when she opened her mouth to sing. She didn't need any props (well, maybe some consider some of her inappropriate stage attire over the years as props ), but, other than that, she never used anything to draw attention away from her instrument. Aretha was the most powerful and impactful SINGER of our time, period.

using your standard, then i would have to say Luther Vandross... "when they hear Aretha sing, they hear God."... i DEFINITELY get that emotion when i hear Luther Vandross in his prime... Marvin Gaye too...

James Brown