Who is the best lead vocalist in the history of music?

Neil Diamond

Art Garfunkel

Hung ranks the highest.

Another fantastic choice. Her singing is so good that people invented the word "Floorgasm"

Justin Hawkins of the Darkness

Daltrey is worth a mention. That one tone he had when Who songs were at the bridge. No one sounded like him.

Not to mention "YYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Meet the new boss . . . . "

THis is mostly a list of terrible singers in these responses.

Lead vocalist. Are we talking someone who sang lead on like 95% or more of a band's songs? Or are you talking lead for just a particular song.

I love the Beach Boys but you have many lead singers -- Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love.

I go with Axl Rose. He sand lead on pretty much everything I can remember, except maybe Dust and Bones.

Margo Timmins.

Honourable mention: Hope Sandoval.

I think you could have different winners for lead vocalist vs. "front man" (or woman). The first pertaining purely to the performer's vocal prowess, whereas some singers are excellent front men, bringing amazing charisma, energy, dancing and whatever else to the table.

If we are focusing on the vocals, personally, Steve Perry comes to mind for me and I know others have mentioned him. Whereas people like Jagger and Freddie Mercury, David Lee Roth and others were surely better front men but in my opinion not as good vocally. But we are talking rarified air here, they are all amazing singers.

I think Stradlin was lead on 14 Years, You Ain't the First, Double Talk Jive, as well as Dust and Bones.

McKagan was lead on So Fine.

If Lennon, Mercury, Jagger and Rose are mentioned, there should be a place for Ian Gillan and Robert Plant.

Jello Biafra. Hands down.

Best lead vocalists:

David Ruffin & Eddie Kendricks - The Temptations

Diana Ross - The Supremes

Prince - The Revolution, New Power Generation

Michael Jackson - Jackson 5

James Brown - The Famous Flames & James Brown Band

Bono - U2

Teddy Pendergrass - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Smokey Robinson - The Miracles

Mick Jagger - The Rolling Stones

Kurt Cobain - Nirvana

Stokely Williams - Mint Condition

Raphael Saadiq - Tony! Toni! Tone!

Frankie Beverly - Maze ft. Frankie Beverly

Eddie Levert - O'Jays

Ann Wilson Heart The range, power, clarity.... That mouth & throat.... uh huh... The things she does to that microphone!!! From the 70's of course. Still got it today but not like in her youth.

Annie Lennox Eurythmics Ditto

Colter Wall Need I say more?

Waylon Jennings Classic Outlaw

You went through all this trouble and didn't mention Levi Stubbs?

Come on man.

I'll second this.

Leonard cohen

nick cave

Joplin

van Morrison

hank Williams

john fogerty

meatloaf

sam cooke

stevie wonder

Layne Staley

elvis (performing “if I can dream” is something everyone should experience once)