50 Great Voices-all genres- NPR

Subject: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 11:10 AM

I have several people I will nominate for this, including Jean Ritchie, Jean Redpath, and a couple of others. It doesn't have to be just folk or trad, but those are two voices which fit the bill, as far as I am concerned, esp. going by the paragraph I have enphasised:

50 Great Voices: Send Us Your Nominations

October 5, 2009 - In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 of the great voices in recorded history. With the series, we're hoping to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. Through archival material, interviews and music, NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered will spend the year delving into the lives and legacies of these voices. But we don't know yet whose voices they'll be.

Between Oct. 5 and Oct. 16, we're asking you — NPR listeners and readers — to tell us who in the whole world possesses the most beautiful, singular voice you have ever heard. Leave your picks, along with a sentence defending each choice and a link to an audio clip if possible, in the comments below, or email [e-mail].

We'll compile your nominations, along with those of our panel of experts, academics and public-radio critics. At that point, we'll name the nominees and ask you to help us winnow them down to the 50 great voices we'll profile in the coming year. We're relying on you to remind us of those voices we may have forgotten or never got the chance to hear; those voices that may sound strange to Western ears; vocalists silenced by politics or history; the singers who are only really embraced by critics and those who are heroes of the everyday listener. No voice is too outlandish, too old or too compromised. It's All Voices Considered here, and we can't wait to see and hear what you send us.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 01:04 PM

Refresh -

The NPR story is here, with a link to an "audio slideshow" (2 minutes of audio & video), featuring the following as examples:

Celia Cruz
Aretha Franklin
Robert Plant
Marion Williams
Youssou N'Dour
Edith Piaf
Franco Corelli

You can post your nominations to the web site as a comment to the story above, or write to [e-mail].

As of this morning, there are more than 2500 comments on the story. They're going to have a good time working on this one!

For me, a good candidate is Roscoe Holcomb: as Bob Dylan said, "Roscoe Holcomb has a certain untamed sense of control, which makes him one of the best." He's the original inspiration for the term "high lonesome sound".

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 01:05 PM

The deadline is Oct. 16.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 01:07 PM

Joan Baez
Bing Crosby
Gordon BOk
Anne Byrne of Irelamd

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: pdq
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 01:45 PM

Some of the great voices in Bluegrass that are working right now are Wayne Taylor, James King, Larry Stephenson and Lynn Morris.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 02:45 PM

Doc Watson
Peter Bellamy
Sandy Paton
Frank Sinatra
Guy Mitchell
Eartha Kitt
The Andrews Sisters [is that one or three?]

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 02:51 PM

Odetta

---

Threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Tech: 50 Greatest Voices
From: Riginslinger
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 07:05 AM

NPR is launching an endeaver to identify the 50 Greatest Voices of the last number of years - since recording began - I think.

It can be found here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113301632

Sorry, I can't seem to make these things live:

Many of the people nominated I don't even recognize. I thought IRIS DEMENT should be on it.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: maeve
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 07:39 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Tech: 50 Greatest Voices
From: maeve
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 07:41 AM

Hi, Riginslinger. I had to look for it, but I've refreshed an earlier thread on the subject for you. Your post has reminded me to take a look at the site mentioned. Thanks. (I like Iris' singing, too.)

maeve

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 07:54 AM

Any list that does not include Vince Gill is bogus...

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: maeve
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 07:55 AM

The NPR Great Voices page now says, "Thanks so much to everyone who nominated vocalists for 50 Great Voices! We're now tallying and analyzing the more than 3000 comments, the 3500 emails you sent, the 1200 posts to Facebook and the hundreds of tags on Twitter. To stay up to date on the series, and be notified when we open up voting on the final 50 sign up here for the Music Notes newsletter. Thanks again for all your recommendations and thoughts — your enthusiasm and passion has given us hundreds of singers from all over the world to consider."

There will be an opportunity to vote on the 50 finalists at this NPR link, as mentioned in the quote above. It involves registration with an email address and your chosen password.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: BobKnight
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 08:44 AM

Merle Haggard - no contest.

Subject: RE: Tech: 50 Greatest Voices
From: Riginslinger
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 08:45 AM

Sorry, I looked for an earlier thread and nothing came up.

Subject: RE: Tech: 50 Greatest Voices
From: maeve
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 08:50 AM

No worries. It took me quite a while to relocate it.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 09:54 AM

I love Merle Haggard BUT if I had to pick one country singer it would be Randy Travis, who, of course, is greatly influenced but Merle, George and Lefty.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 10:31 AM

Maria Callas, Pavorotti, Ella Fitzgerald, John MacCormack, Renata Tebaldi, Eric Burdon, Nat King Cole, Stan Rodgers, June Tabor.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 10:47 AM

Please - NOT, Eric Burdon! A Geordie trying to sound like a cross between John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters!

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: BobKnight
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 11:32 AM

Randy Travis - fine singer - but a bit too nasal at times. No country singer comapres to Merle for vocal range, depth and richness of tone. Has written some classic songs too.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: BobKnight
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 11:36 AM

Female singers - Sam Brown. The most underated female singer in the UK. I saw her do a duet with another Sam, from Sam and Dave, which was worth the television license fee on it's own.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,FolkGiant
Date: 21 Oct 09 - 11:44 AM

BobKnight said:

"No country singer compares to Merle for vocal range, depth and richness of tone."

*cough*George Jones*cough*

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: M.Ted
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 12:53 AM

I tried to post a couple names at the site on a couple of occasions, and it didn't work. I gave up--and on reflection, I think the idea is silly--how can you choose only fifty voices and even partially represent all the music that has ever been recorded, in all the cultures of the world?

Subject: RE: Tech: 50 Greatest Voices
From: kendall
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 08:16 AM

Paul Robeson
Caruso
P.Domingo
Eileen O'Farrell
Marian Anderson

I don't do links unless they are in blue clicky form.

I like Iris for a short while but that sticky sweet voice is too sweet to listen to very long.

Subject: RE: Tech: 50 Greatest Voices
From: 3refs
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 09:28 AM

Elvis, singing anything!

Kate Smith, singing "God Bless America"!
Hank Williams, singing "I'm so lonesome I could cry"!
Jim Stafford, singing "The Wildwood Weed!

To me, it all depends on the song. There are some songs that can only be sung by one person(or like that one person). Who else can sing "Big Bad John" but Jimmy Dean? "The Hockey Song, by Stompin Tom? "Respect", by Aretha? "Pretty Woman", by Roy Orbison?

But, Sarah Brightman does to me, what I suspect Elvis did to the girls!

Subject: RE: Tech: 50 Greatest Voices
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 10:14 AM

Why Tech?

I nominate Tiny Tim singing 'Tiptoe through the tulips'...

:D

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: SharonA
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 11:20 AM

Joni Mitchell!!!

Wish I'd seen this thread in time to write to NPR. :-(

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: open mike
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 11:43 AM

I wonder if anyone added Aaron Neville

he has quite a warbling voice....
from the Neville Brothers out of New Orleans

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,Joseph de Culver City
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 12:01 PM

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Yma Sumac

Howlin' Wolf

Johnny Cash

Little Richard

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 12:13 PM

Keith Whitley
Hag
Possum Jones
Van Morrison
Tim Hardin
Paul Robeson
Brownie McGee
Vern Gosdin
Aaron Neville
Elvis
Bobbie McPherson
Joni
Sandy Denny
kd lang
Ellen McIlwaine
Delbert McClinton
Cameron Nuestro
Ella
Sam Moore
Minnie Ripperton
Orbison

how lucky we are.... and that's just a few....

Subject: RE: Tech: 50 Greatest Voices
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 12:28 PM

Here's a link to the NPR Story

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 12:39 PM

I suppose it would be difficult to tell, but I have wondered how Americans "hear" British/Irish singers who try to sing in an American accents. As a Brit, I hear them - most of the time - as dreadful and phoney. But, I wonder, do Americans hear them as slightly exotic? Take Van Morrison, from the word go, I heard him as trying to sing American and it coming out phoney. I could almost see him twisting his vocal cords in an attempt to produce "foreign" (i.e American) sounds.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: SharonA
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 12:47 PM

Tunesmith: I hear some of them as "slightly exotic" and others as "dreadful and phoney". Depends on whether the sound comes across as a vocal styling like Morrison's or as an imitation (Tracey Ullman's painfully unconvincing characterizations of Americans come to mind).

SharonA, American citizen

Subject: RE: Tech: 50 Greatest Voices
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 01:08 PM

Roy Orbison, for sure. Also Mary Fahl, Gordon Lightfoot, Lowell George, Ralph Stanley, Van Morrison, Elvis Presley, Stan Rogers, Sandy Denny, Steve Perry, Tim Obrien, Paul Robeson, Paul Rogers, Norah Jones, both Everlys, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Vince Gill, Patsy Cline.
How's that for diversity?

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: pdq
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 07:11 PM

female voices (any category):
    Kate Smith
    Jo Stafford
    Linda Ronstadt
    Ginger Boatwright

high male voices (lead):
    Ricky Skaggs
    Vince Gill
    Mickey Thomas (Elvin Bishop group, Starship)
    Joe Perry (Journey)
    Steve Winwood

high male voices (harmony):
    John Duffy
    Herb Pedersen
    Bobby Osborne

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: M.Ted
Date: 22 Oct 09 - 07:38 PM

Diversity?--How about Esma Rezdepova, Khanh Ly, Um Koulthoum, Song Zuying, Pankas Udaj, Gombloh, Eros Ramazzotti, Googoosh, Sonu Nigam, Papa Wemba, Abdel Haleem Hafez, Mohammed Abdul Wahab...and that's just off the top of my head--

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Neil D
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 12:06 AM

Shawn Phillips

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Riginslinger
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 12:12 AM

Has anyone mentioned Sam Cook?

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 08:15 PM

They are not revealing the full list yet, but presenting one singer at a time, and as of last week, we're up to four:

1. Iggy Pop: "The Voice As Weapon" [he appears on the page for the series, but not in links at the bottom of the pages on the other artists]
2. Ahmad Zahir: "The Voice Of The Golden Years", a pop singer in 1970s Afghanistan
3. Mahalia Jackson: "Voice Of The Civil Rights Movement"
4. Maria Callas: "Voice Of Perfect Imperfection"

Stay tuned!

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 09:25 PM

All these names, and no Perry Como?

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 11:41 PM

WHAT??

39 posts so far and no Ersel Hickey yet!!???

Don Firth

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 11:44 PM

And no Anthony Kearns.

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 11:47 PM

Anthony Kearns, yes! And Finbar Wright.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 11:52 PM

Ella Fitzgerald
Maddy Prior
Nat King Cole
Diane Krall
Johnny Mathis
Freddie Mercury
Gordon Bok
Jean Redpath
Tom Waits

O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,ernest
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 03:50 AM

Cyril Tawney
June Tabor
Bill Price
Mick Ryan
Peter Bellamy
Billy Ross
Alp Bora
Dave Burland
Dick Gaughan
Andy Irvine

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 06:47 AM

If they're counting by size of audience over their career, there's no doubt Lata Mangeshkar would win by a vast margin (as she would also win by sheer volume of recordings) - as much as the next few contenders put together.

Caruso probably #2.

#3 maybe Oum Kolsoum, Sinatra or Elvis?

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 11:19 AM

No question about it. John MacCormack

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 11:34 AM

Actually, I think they have posted their full list, on this page.

They have emphasized, this was 50 Great Voices, not The 50 Greatest Voices. They were hoping to "discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time".

It's heavy on the Americans and American popular music (of various genres), of course, including Sinatra and Elvis, but Sandy Denny and June Tabor are there from . Popular music over all (even if multicultural), I would say, as opposed to much representation of singers of strict-definition traditional music (or even traditional singers ;-). But, reasonably diverse.

~ Becky in Long Beach (which I was yesterday, too!)

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 10 May 10 - 11:10 AM

Here's an update. There are short blurbs for each on the "50 Great Voices" page:

5. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The Voice Of Pakistan
6. Asha Bhosle: The Voice Of Bollywood And More
7. Elis Regina: The Feeling Between The Notes
8. Umm Kulthum: 'The Lady' Of Cairo
9. Jackie Wilson: The Singer And The Showman
10. Ella Fitzgerald: America's First Lady Of Song
11. Esma Redzepova: 'Queen Of The Gypsies'
12. Sezen Aksu: The Voice Of Istanbul
13. Nat King Cole: An Incandescent Voice
14. Dennis Brown: The 'Crown Prince' Of Reggae
15. Roy Orbison: A Great Voice, A Lonely Sound
16. Radmilla Cody: Two Cultures, One Voice

I was listening to this morning's article on Radmilla Cody, thinking it was a locally-produced item: Radmilla, whose father is African-American and mother is Navajo, was raised by her Navajo grandmother near Flagstaff, Arizona, and sings in Navajo. I was pleased to find it was part of the 50 Great Voices series.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 10 May 10 - 11:22 AM

Just so these links are in close proximity here:

1. Iggy Pop: "The Voice As Weapon"
2. Ahmad Zahir: "The Voice Of The Golden Years", a pop singer in 1970s Afghanistan
3. Mahalia Jackson: "Voice Of The Civil Rights Movement"
4. Maria Callas: "Voice Of Perfect Imperfection"

Subject: RE: 50 Great Voices-all genres- tell NPR who
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 May 10 - 11:26 AM

They missed Seamus Kennedy?!?!?!?

~S~