STORM2K

I know this has been done at LEAST a hundred times over the past few years, but let's do it AGAIN! Who's your favorite singer, dead or alive?

Mine have both passed on, "Nat King Cole" and the WONDERFUL "John Denver!" LOVED Johns music, "Rocky Mountain High" "Annies Song" "Grandma's Featherbed" and last but NOT LEAST..."Christmas for Cowboys!" by John Denver.

Dennis

No contest.. Hads Down! Phil Collins.

Nat King Cole is one of the greatest that ever lived. Still gotta rank Frankie Sinatra up there too.

Love Patsy Cline.

Frank Sinatra

I don't have a favorite, but I like these:

Annie Lennox
Elvis Costello
Jim Morrison
Roy Orbison
David Byrne
Nick Saloman

A LOT of singers come to mind, especially since I emulate a lot of them in my performances ...

Sully Erna (Godsmack)
Shawn Albro (U.P.O.) - incredible range
Chris Cornell (Soundgarden/Audioslave) - also an incredible range
Layne Staley (Alice in Chains/Mad Season) - R.I.P.
Amy Lee (Evanescence)
Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil)
David Draiman (Disturbed)
Rob Halford (Judas Priest/Fight/Two/Halford) - strongest set of pipes in metal.
Warrel Dane (Sanctuary/Nevermore) - incredible range
King Diamond (King Diamond/Mercyful Fate) - operatic trained vocalist with a slew of octave ranges-very dark and theatrical lyric stylings.

many more that I cannot think of off-hand ...

SF

Depends on mood:

Josh Groban (inspiration)
Joni Mitchell ( nostagial)
Sarah Mclachlan ( moody)
Bette ( just wanna have some fun)
Rob Thomas ( just because)

(and almost all of the ones listed in the above posts when the mood strikes)

Connie Francis--Where the boys are
What a voice!

BEER - I'm glad that you brought up John Denver! What a loss for us and very often overlooked.

In addition to him;

Barbara Streisand
Andrea Bocelli
Josh Groban
Clay Aiken
Elton John
Billy Joel
James Taylor
Marvin Gaye
Barry White

Karen Carpenter is my favorite singer of all time.

Close behind are Alan Jackson, Dottie West, and Ronnie Milsap.

Jim Simpson (a good friend of my folks and I from "The Noblemen")
Karen Carpenter
Neil Diamond
Kenny Rogers
John Denver


Eric

I'm usually into polyphony ("many voices"), such as ABBA, First Class, The Association, Clannad...

Single vocalists? Celine Dion, Billy Joel, Enya, Loreena McKennitt, Melanie (remember "Candles in the Rain"?), John Denver (loved "Calypso"!), Laura Branigan, even Cyndi Lauper. The list could go on, and on...I won't bore you all with more.

Living female artists: Allison Krauss, Loreena McKennitt

Living male artists: Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban

Dead female artist: Judy Garland, Billy Holliday

Dead male artist: Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra

Andy Williams and then Frank Sinatra. Of a younger generation, maybe John Lennon. Or Barbra Striesand (sp?).

Mary

My Mom and Dad loved John Denver and The Carpenters, so when I listen to them, I think about the two of them.

My all-time fave - Billy Joel

Followed, in no particular order, by Olivia Newton-John, Amy Grant, and Garth Brooks.

My favorites are
Jim Reeves
Charely Pride
George Strait
The Statler Brothers

The Boss -- Bruce Springsteen!

I've been lucky over the years to hear some of the best in person.

A live concert (in the round) that grabbed our souls and hearts more than any other we have ever attended was that of John Denver shortly after his breakup with wife Annie.

My favorite singer? Maybe not. But my favorite live performance by a world class musician and singer.

Female singer...I adore the voice of Martina McBride (Have you heard "God's Will" yet?)
Male singer...Hard to beat the mellow tones of James Taylor
Child singer...Sure liked Billy Gilman's "Oklahoma"
Groups...So many classes to pick from...Probably Chicago, Lonestar, and For Hymn.

But there are many many wonderful songs...