Well, this could go on forever. However, it's a great way to waste a few minutes. Since I joined the Mudcat a few months ago I have learned more about traditional musicians than I did in the past twenty years, so my list is expanding exponentially. I'll limit my picks to those who I think are truly great singers. There are plenty of famous folk musicians who have interesting personalities or who write good songs, but frankly have forgettable voices. For that reason Bob Dylan would never be on my list of great folk singers. I like listening to some of his recordings, but it's inspite of his voice.

So, for female singers I would have to start with Odetta. I am also wild about Janet Russell's voice. I was mildly chastised for saying on a previous thread that I thought she had done the definitive version of The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow. In retrospect, that probably was a silly thing to say, but she does have a stunning, powerful mezzo voice that rings clear as a bell even in the lower register. Her phrasing is among the best I've ever heard.

For male singers: Bryn Terfel, Liam Clancy, Graham Pirt, Pete Seeger, Ewan MacColl, Dick Gaughan when he's really on. I say that because he has an unfortunate tendency to let the ends of his lines fade away into a kind of mumble. However, I heard him do Scots Wha Hae on a TV special about Robert Burns in a way that sent shivers down my spine and made me look at the song as something other than just a piece of Scottish jingoism. I echo what Catspaw says about Kendall. I've only heard him sing a couple of times to my regret. Mickey MacConnell is a great singer too. I heard him at the Ballyshannon Folk Festival in 1993 and bought one of his cassettes. There isn't a dud on it. I would also have to add Waylon Jennings on any list of favourite singers. Not very folkie perhaps, but check out his performance on the companion CD to the Ken Burns Civil War TV series.

Albums that you must have? If you are into traditional music of the British Isles, I would have to say you have to own Fyre and Sworde: Songs of the Border Reivers. That's where I heard Janet Russell and Graham Pirt for the first time. It has IMHO the best singing I have ever heard on a folk music album. (But not definitive!) Every single song is a gem. I would also add Ewan MacColl's Songs of Two Rebellions, and the Tannahill Weavers self titled album. Actually, everything by the Tannahills is great. Stan Rogers' Northwest Passage, and... and... and...

Edmund