Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: Cluin
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 12:06 AM

Long John Baldry

Again, not blessed with the greatest range, but what he had, he used to the limit.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: Cluin
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 12:59 AM

Ah, but John R. could "sell" a song like nobody else, kendall. When he opened his mouth, you listened.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 03:38 PM

Thanks to Cluin for resurrecting this.

There are no wrong answers, of course, and the opportunity to share opinions with so many folks with such diverse listending experiences is great.

Looking back, I notice one single mention of the great Levon Helm, but no reference to the other two members of The Band's unique and revolutionary vocal ensemble:

Rick Danko

Richard Manuel

Levon and Rick were a terrific rhythm section, masters and innovators on their intruments as well as strong and emotinoally expressive singers. But Richard, God rest his soul, was somethng else entirely. Not to take anything away from his prowess as a pianist, but his absolutely transcendant vocal powers were what defined him. In addition to incredible technique and range, he had the ability to lay open his soul about as wide open as anyone, ever: Billie, Otis, whoever...

Richard recorded at least one duet with his buddy, "Belfast Cowboy" Van Morrison, that's really something to hear...

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 12:16 PM

Kevin Cronin
Dan Fogelberg
John Wetton

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:01 AM

Maria Callas, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Edith Piaf, Bessie Smith, Diana Krall, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Robeson, Joe Cocker, Sandy Denny, and loads more, but these are some of my favourites.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: kendall
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:29 AM

The same with Johnnie Cash.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 10:50 PM

Ernest Tubb

Ya gotta feel for that guy. He sure loved to sing though he couldn't do it very well. And people bought it like candy.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: Kaleea
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 10:47 PM

Expressive?

Stringsinger, et al;
   the one person I would have mentioned is, as you say, Mahalia Jackson--I was scrolling down to add her name, thanks for mentioning her. There are a handfull of singers whom I have my voice students--usually wanting to sing serious literature (opera/ classical) or Broadway--listen to & read about. She is one of the tops on the list. Marion Williams was one of the most amazing singers this country ever produced.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:37 PM

Billy Holiday

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: rich-joy
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 07:14 PM

What? No votes for England's Frankie Armstrong???
Or blues interpretor, Rory Block???

What's the world coming to!!!! (*shakes head*)



Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 08:37 PM

Aynur Dogan
Marta Sebestyen

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: M.Ted
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 06:47 PM

I liked his version of Darcy Farrow--that's probably what you mean--he could sing it without getting everyone all depressed--that's really impressive, as well--

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: freightdawg
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 08:15 PM

Now that all the second place finishers have been mentioned...

the winner is John Denver!

Although whoever mentioned Roy Orbison above has really good taste.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 08:09 PM

Is "expressive" the opposite of "impressive"?

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: kendall
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 07:30 PM

Our own Harvey Andrews
Specifically the one about the ageing performer, the punk and the girl.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: M.Ted
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 10:43 AM

If Sarah Vaughan and Maria Callas aren't on the list, there is no list.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 10:36 AM

Billy Bragg. A totally shit singer, but he expresses himself with the utmost sincerity and deeply felt commitment.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: GUEST,Music Lover
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 10:34 AM

Sorry Jerry, the first part of the post above didn't come out for some reason. It should of started with the name Martyn Joseph.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: GUEST,Music Lover
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 10:33 AM

Take a listen to him singing 'Turn Me Tender' on the link below. It's a song about faith, about finding that it's still there, deep down in your heart, when your heart has been to the darkest place...

He makes any audience become absolutely still when he sings, and he sings with deep, often raw, emotion, passion and incredible conviction.

Martyn Joseph's Myspace


And Rosa Rebecka, a young lady who lives in Devon, who I believe is with The Wren Trust. She's half Swedish, half American. Rosa lost her beloved husband to cancer, a few years ago when he was still very young. I think that has given her a very insightful nature...

Rosa Rebecka's Myspace


As it has for Loreena McKennitt too, another very expressive singer and writer, who's fiancee was lost at sea back in the 90's. Have a listen to The Dark Night Of The Soul on here, amongst other clips.

Loreena McKennitt audio samples

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: Midchuck
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 10:14 AM

Male: George Jones

Female: Harry M. Lewis.

That's all.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 09:33 AM

Impossible question so will confine myself to female singers I've seen live...

The incomparable Sandy Denny. Just listen to "Banks of the Nile" on "Fotheringay".

June Tabor - I will never forget her singing "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" at the Enterprise in N. London. A very hot Sunday evening, all the windows open, red buses stopping outside every 5 minutes. In spite of all that June's singing and Eric's song moved everybody to tears, and she had tears running down her face too.

Maybe a suprise, but Linda Thompson. Saw her do "Pavanne" once & she nearly frightened me to death!

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: GUEST,Young Buchan
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 09:15 AM

Bill D mentions Jeannie Robertson (if you doubt him, listen to McCrimmond's Lament) and Davy Stewart. I would be inclined to suggest Phoebe Smith. So what do we learn from this - all 3 are Travellers. It may be a very crude measure, and of course you can fill the thread with exceptions, but yes I believe that the gypsy singers have a style which is essentially expressive/emotional and the gorgio singers a style which is less so, more declamatory, more removed. When Herga Kitty says there is a school of thought that says English traditional singing shouldn't be expressive, though I would not be so prescriptive as to say "shouldn't", I would certainly say that historically this is true of England; less so of Scotland/Ireland; not at all of the Travelling singers even where, like Phoebe, or the Kent/Sussex based Smiths, they never travelled out of England.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 08:46 AM

It depends on what you mean by expressive? I wouldn't call Woody Guthrie a good singer, but he sings like he means it, plain and direct and without affectation.
So, Woody Guthrie.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expressive Singer?
From: patriot1314
Date: 31 Aug 07 - 08:28 AM

John Wright

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Hawker
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 07:51 PM

Kitty! I agree they have good voices too, which helps I am sure, what I was trying to say was that there are many singers with fantastic voices who absolutely leave me cold, as there is no expression or emotion in what they are singing, they just sing the words, not the story. Being a good singer helps but I have heard not so good singers take a song and enact the emotion in it very powerfully and effectively.
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Stewie
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 06:59 PM

Steve Young
Derroll Adams
Emmylou Harris
Gram Parsons
John Starling
Eleanor Shanley
Niamh Parsons
Dave Ray
Chris Smither

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Arkie
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 06:21 PM

June Tabor
Rebecca Parris
Fred Eaglesmith

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: GUEST,THE ONE
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 05:27 PM

al johnson

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 30 Aug 07 - 05:14 PM

Hawker - I agree with you, but the 3 singers you mentioned all have really good as well as expressive voices!

I cried through breakfast on Christmas day one year, because I'd been given June Tabor's recording of the Band played Waltzing Matilda.

There is a school of thought that says English traditional singing shouldn't be expressive (or vibrato). (Which is one of the reasons I'm not a folksinger, apparently.)

Kitty

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Hawker
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 07:37 PM

In the lesser known folk world here in the UK Jim McAdams and Hilary Ward - both 'catters themselves have stirred me to tears with expressive singing that really stirs the emotions. George Papavgeris also has the ability to put his whole being into a song and boy, it is magical. There are in my opinion a lot of lesser known singers who beat the lists already given hands down. for me a great singer is not one with a nice voice, but one who gives themselves to the song and makes you believe it.
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: kendall
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 07:32 PM

Iris Dementh??
It's silly to argue with anyone's opinion. The most you can do is express another opinion.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 07:15 PM

This was the most expressive performance I've seen in a long time.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 07:07 PM

Willie Nelson
Pops Armstrong
Tony Bennett
Iron Head Baker
Jean Ritchie
Amalia Rodriguez
Jeannie Robertson
Texas Gladden
Renee Fleming
Jussi Bjorling
The great singers from Africa
Cante Hondo from Spain
Some from India
Bobby McFerrin
The New York Voices (jazz singers)
Jelly Roll Morton
Cisco Houston
Whitney Houston
Stevie Wonder
Bessie Smith
Ma Rainey
Hoagy Carmicheal
Caruso
Margaret Barry
The Celtic Woman
Ruth Etting
Fred Astaire
Leadbelly
Burl Ives
Son House
Buell Kazee
Judy Collins
Jo Stafford
Oddly enough Doris Day
Mahalia Jackson
Anita O'Day
Ella Fitzgerald
Robert Goulet
John Raitt (Bonnie's father)
Mel Torme
Nat King Cole
Johnny Mathis
Andy Williams
Carol Lawrence
Ethel Merman (you had to see her onstage!)
Placido and Luciano
Cesare Siepi
Chaliapin
Dick Haymes
Perry Como
Ronnie Gilbert
Rosemary Clooney
Gene Autry
Roy Rogers
Jimmy Rodgers
Sara Carter
Johnny Cash
Mariah Carey
Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers
Bing Crosby (esp.with Harry Barris and the Rhythm Boys)
Audra MacDonald
Josh White
of course Ray Charles
but also Lou Rawls
The Golden Gate Quartet
Fischer-Dieskau (sp?)
Bidu Sayou (sp?)
John McCormick
Danny Kaye

(I think we could fill up the whole forum with answers to this thread.)


.............I guess it depends on the style of music. The question that is not asked here is what constitutes expressive singing? And in what idom?

Some singers mentioned above (who I will have the decency not to mention) are those who I would not consider particularly expressive. I can see heated arguments being stirred up.

There is the idea also which has some merit. Any singer that can really communicate to an audience regardless of the development of their vocal instrument (trained or untrained) has to be said to be "expressive". The most expressive is impossible to find because it goes to opinion and subjectivity. There are those on my list with which some of you would vehemently disagree.

Jerry, I think the purpose of your question is meant to open the door to discovery of singers of which some might not have heard. For this, it makes sense.

There is no one most expressive singer because each singer does it differently as there are no two fingerprints alike.

Then you get great voices singing songs or in styles that they don't understand such as when certain opera singers try to sing "black". One of the funniest jokes is Richard Dyer-Bennett singing John Henry or Eilleen Farrell singing "I've Got A Right To Sing The Blues".
Even sexy Renee Fleming can't really do a jazz album.

You can even get silly with recording titles such as Johnny Cash sings Cole Porter, Mahalia Jackson sings arias from Traviata (although she might've if put to the test), Luciano Pavarotti sing country favorites, ....well you get the idea.

Frank

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 07:06 PM

Most expressive? Gotta be Pierce Pettis. Maybe Donnie Hathaway or Levi Stubbs.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 06:54 PM

Sandy. Christy. Luke. Shane.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 05:53 PM

I can't remember whether it was Waylon Jennings or Willie Nelson who said, "Musicians run in my family - they have to." Shades of Big Mick!

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Lucius
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 05:25 PM

This list already has a ton of pop & jazz singers, but I'd add Kurt Elling, those of you that ever heard him sing "Ballad of the Sad Young Men" should agree.

Have I missed something? Where is Steve Goodman, Keb' Mo', Bonnie Raitt, Nic Jones, Paul Brady, and/or Kate Rusby. They often float to the top of my playlists.

These days, I'm being amazed by Martin Simpson, he has matured so much as a songwriter and a singer. Must be tough that these talents have been overshadowed by his career as one of the world's greatest guitarists.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: the button
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 04:44 PM

Peter Bellamy
Mike Waterson
Lal Waterson
Otis Redding
June Tabor
Robert Johnson

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 04:20 PM

Michael Stipe (well said, Jerry), Richard Thompson, Roger McGuinn, Lennon(duh!) and David Byrne for starters.
Steve R.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: kendall
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 03:20 PM

Hank Williams (sr.)

Thanks Sinsull. I've always said you have great taste.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 03:07 PM

If we are talking about the folk world then Martyn Wyndham-Read wins hands down.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Big Mick
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 02:57 PM

Wrong, Alice, it is me, but I am sure you are a close second ...... duck, Mick, the door is to the right........Wow, never saw a big man move that fast.........

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 02:56 PM

Odetta has to be one of them. If you have ever heard her old recordings of "Water Boy" or the "Ox Driving Song," she gives pure, undistilled passion and raw power to her delivery.

Harry Chapin was good (if not really a "folkie") - especially with live audiences.

Dave Van Ronk and Tom Waits - two old hands who could mesmerize an audience and tell a story as few others can.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Cluin
Date: 29 Aug 07 - 02:33 PM

Paul Carrack

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: dianavan
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 02:01 PM

van Ingle - I agree with your choice of Van Morrison. His voice combined with poetry, philosophy and great tunes make him an all time favorite. He's one of a kind!

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: GUEST,Machiavelli
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 01:50 PM

The one and only King -Elvis.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 01:17 PM

Tommy Makem - for capturing and guiding your own emotions in song and in poetry. Lyle Lovett for sheer emotion. SINS make a good point also.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 08:30 AM

Al Green
Jimmy Cliff
Gladys Knight
Dick Gaughan
Van Morrison
Richard Thompson has become a very expressive singer.
Charley Patton
Son House
Blind Willie Johnson
Morgana King
Mavis Staples
And currently the girl from Danu with the gaelic name...

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 09:24 PM

I have said this before:
Kendall Morse has the uncanny ability to perform a song and let it be itself. No unnecessary flourishes. No emoting. Listen to the raw anger in his Phoebe Snow - WOW.

Subject: RE: Who Is The Most Expresive Singer?
From: Alice
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 09:09 PM

Me,,,,
and Tina Turner