If you had to pick one female vocalist that was your favorite, who would it be and why? If picking one is too cruel of me, I would love to hear the ones that battle for your top spot!

I've noticed I listen to surprising lack bands with female vocals, or listen to way more male artists. So I'd love to spread the love and hear what your favorite female vocalists are!

American: Marilyn Scott. Versatile - can deliver on standards or jazz.
Brazilian: Roberta Sa. Best pitch of any Brazilian singer, since most seem to be slightly flat by convention.

Current female vocalists?

If so, Beth Hart: (guitarist is not too shabby either

Karen Carpenter

It's a toss-up between Peggy Lee, Linda Ronstadt, Karen Carpenter, Patty Loveless and Miranda Lambert.

Each shares some of the same traits: distinctive singing voice, writes or selects great songs and even their filler songs are worth listening to.

I will give you my top 5. That's the best I can do. In no particular order of preference.

Linda Ronstadt
Ann Wilson
Gloria Estefan
Chaka Khan
Patty Austin

And as a bonus pick, Taylor Dayne.

of course there are many tied for next but I won't list them or this reply will be 5 pages long.

Hi Ember
Frida Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog together or seperate.
They are super troopers when it comes to vocals.They just sang brilliantly no matter what was put in front of them,not just the 30 or so great Abba hits but also the 30 or so average Abba songas and then the 30 or so other type songs .They just sang them so professionally and equally well.Also a major rarity in the sense that they were a female Duo,Hugh

I can't pick one, because stylistically they are so different. For me, it's:

Linda Ronstadt
Karen Carpenter
Ann Wison

And to round it out to a top five, I would add:

Ella Fitzgerald
Sarah Vaughan

It has to be Alison Krauss

Connie Francis & Patti Page. (showing my age)

Other than my lovely bride

Joan Osborne
Bonnie Raitt
Linda Rondstadt
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitzgerald

Bud (Janice agrees)

Only one? How about two polar opposites?

Aretha Franklin - great interpretation, high notes as clear as a bell, and plenty of passion.

Shirley Horn - nobody could sing a cool school ballad as slow as she could and make it work so well

I would say these are among my favorites, but how do you have just one? It's like going to huge grocery store and saying "pick your favorite food".

I can't just pick one so I picked 5. If I had to only choose one it would be Peaches but all of the others are a close

Peaches (Etta James)
Pink
Martina McBride
Bonnie Raitt
Grace Slick

Can't limit it to one.

Carmen McRae
Sarah Vaughn
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Shirley Horn
Rachael Price
Carol Welsman

Two favourites of mine are Neko Case and Bjork off the top of my head - really excited to hear other people's favourites!

Mine too.

This may surprise my friends, but Nana Mouskouri would be my first choice. She has been been retired for many years but has recorded over 90 vinyl albums. I have a few of them. She proves that music transcends National and language barriers.

https://youtu.be/RkHWaMJ6fl0
https://youtu.be/lj81_qCPEFw

Emmylou Harris
Alyson Krauss
Linda Ronstadt
Kate Wolf

Only one favourite? Not so easy.

Carol King

(but many others)

Wow! I'm a fan of all the singers given so far.

For me, I tend to think of songs... here are some of many! It's way too hard for me to pick just one.

Eva Cassidy (Over The Rainbow)


Clare Teal (If I Were A Bell)


Whitney Houston (The Greatest Love Of All)


Jo Stafford (Shenandoah)


Dusty Springfield (Yesterday When I Was Young)


Kim Eun-Kyong with 10 tenors (Pokarekare Ana - Maori Folk Song)

I haven't heard very many Brazilian female vocalists before! I will definitely have to look her up later. Thanks!

It doesn't necessarily have to be a current female vocalist! Although I must say, this is a pretty great choice you've selected!

Why are they your favourite? Is it just a stylistic thing, nostalgia, their technical abilities, etc?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

You have some really awesome choices there. Especially a fan of Peggy Lee myself. I do agree that your list does all have quite distinct voices. I feel like a lot of female vocalists that are more recent (or on the radio) all sound very similar and it can be hard to tell them apart.

This post actually gave me something to look in to and think about. I think I'll go on a little hunt later to try and find more female duos!

Thanks for sharing!

It seems quite a few people agree with you about Linda Ronstadt and Karen Carpenter!

What about those you've listed put them in your top five?

What about Alison Krauss makes her your favourite female vocalist?

I don't think you're showing your age at all! Connie and Patti are both phenomenal singers and are definitely great choices!

Okay, that was the most adorable response I have ever read on the internet. Your guys' choices were fantastic ones!

Haha, it seems I keep coming with all the hard questions for everyone!

Aretha Franklin -- she is such goddess! I'm surprised you're the first to list her and mention her prowess. Aretha has such an effortless, powerful sound to her voice.

There are several of my choices that overlap with others’ pick, BUT I was glad to see Eva Cassidy’s name appear (one of Noel96’s choices) because when I heard her sing the Tennessee Waltz and Blues Eyes Crying in the Rain (or anything), I could not believe how so gifted she was!!! Just hated that we lost her at such a young age (at age 32)!!!
Cecil

Emmylou Harris



Look at who's in her band back then..... wow... just wow!

Why do I like Emmylou? The voice of an angel.

Followed very closely..... neck in neck close.....by....

Alison Krauss



Alison has such a pure sweet but powerful voice and what a talented musician.

I actually didn't know that! 32 is an incredibly young age to pass away at. Seems we have lost a lot of female vocalists at young ages ... there have actually been a few articles that have been made about how it seems to happen all too frequently.

It seems quite a few people agree that Alison is great female vocalist. After looking in to her a bit more, I have to agree that she is quite good! There were a few names mentioned here that I hadn't heard before so I've got some research to do later!

Well Ember,
That didnt take too long ,the girls are back.So not alone the greatest but it now seems Frida n Agnetha are the bravest.Dont think id put the reputation on the line like this but fair play to them.I hope the two new songs are a genuine knockout not just sales wise but quality wise.


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/27/abba-return-35-years-two-new-songs/