Tom Waits is a great example of a 'bad' 'good' singer. Love 'im, personally. Barry Manilow, if you ignore his awful songwriting and cheesy personna is a 'good' but arsecrushly dull/bland singer. So, Frank, I think I know where you're coming from, but would have chosen a better example of a great non-folk singer: howsabout Scott Walker or Terry Callier or (ulp! sticking mah neck out!) Glenn Campbell...

Cheers

Nigel