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May 16, 2024 · From loud, robust voices to delicate and refined ones, vocal gymnasts and smooth balladeers, these are the 50 best jazz singers ever.
- Charles Waring
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- Charles Waring
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- Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) In pole position in this list of the best male jazz singers of all time is the man whose two most popular nicknames inspired both affection (Ol’ Blue Eyes) and respect (The Chairman Of The Board).
- Nat “King” Cole (1919-1965) Soft as a sigh and sleek as satin, Nat Cole’s voice was a thing of immense beauty. Delicate in its sensitivity and yet supple, strong and masculine, it could transform the most banal lyrics into sublime poetry.
- Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) With his unmistakable gravelly bark of a voice, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong was one of jazz’s early male singing stars. He rose to fame as a dazzlingly virtuosic trumpet player in the New Orleans jazz scene of the 20s, but the alluring texture of his voice – imagine sandpaper dipped in honey – and its down-home Southern charm helped to accelerate his fame as his career progressed.
- Ray Charles (1930-2004) Originating from Albany, Georgia, Ray Charles Robinson had lost his sight by the time he was seven, but grew to become one of the most accomplished musicians of his generation.
- Louis Armstrong. First on our list, and one of the most famous jazz artists of all time, Louis Armstrong was born in the heart of jazz music in New Orleans.
- Frank Sinatra. Another hugely famous and successful male jazz singer, Frank Sinatra was born in Jersey to immigrant parents who stressed the value of hard work.
- Nat King Cole. Nat King Cole was born in Alabama, where he played the organ from early years after watching his mother play at church. He sneaked away from school to watch Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines perform outside clubs as a kid.
- Gregory Porter. Gregory Porter was born in California where his music interest was influenced by his mother. His music career started in Brooklyn where he worked as a chef and a performer.
- Billie Holiday. Lady in Satin, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport, The Best of Billie Holiday. 3,719 votes. See: The Best Billie Holiday Albums. With a deeply emotional and soulful voice, she captivated listeners with her unique phrasing and ability to convey complex emotions through song.
- Ella Fitzgerald. Côte d'Azur Concerts on Verve, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas, Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas. 4,245 votes. See: The Best Ella Fitzgerald Albums.
- Sarah Vaughan. Giants of Jazz, Basie-Vaughan, How Long Has This Been Going On? 2,998 votes. See: The Best Sarah Vaughan Albums. Dubbed "The Divine One," her rich, powerful voice was matched by an astonishing range and flawless technique that allowed her to seamlessly transition between octaves.
- Nina Simone. The Very Best of Nina Simone, Nina Simone Sings the Blues, At Carnegie Hall. 2,853 votes. See: The Best Nina Simone Albums. A classically trained pianist turned singer-songwriter, she brought a depth and sophistication to jazz vocals that set her apart from her contemporaries.
- Charles Waring
- 3 min
- Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) Topping our list of the 25 best female jazz singers of all time is the incomparable First Lady Of Song herself, who hailed from Newport News, Virginia, but whose journey to fame began on the stage of New York’s Apollo Theater, in 1934, when she won first prize in an amateur talent competition.
- Billie Holiday (1915-1959) Though not as technically gifted as the younger Sarah Vaughan, Philadelphia-born Billie Holiday (real name Eleanora Fagan) had a way of communicating with a song that was second to none.
- Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) Boasting a gorgeous, full-bodied voice with a tremulous, heavenly vibrato, it’s no wonder New Jersey’s Sarah Vaughan was often referred to as The Divine One.
- Dinah Washington (1924-1963) Nobody could deliver a lyric like the singer born Ruth Lee Jones, whose clear and precise diction, combined with a tart, clipped delivery, left an indelible mark on her listeners.
Jan 9, 2024 · We've rounded up 15 of the most famous male jazz singers of all time, spanning more than 100 years of music history, for you to discover.
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Mar 16, 2022 · Some tracks give a jazzy twist to pop tunes (like Steely Dan’s “Do It Again,” Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” and James Taylor’s “Steamroller Blues”), but jazz standards like “Too Close for Comfort” and “It’s All Right with Me” are also included.
