Non-prog vocalists

[progzealot]

Daniel Cage--Peter Gabriel like voice: one the best 1 cent cds on amazon you'll ever buy.

[jtmckinley]

Hmm, well, my definition of prog is broader than most folks, for example I consider the The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin and Tears For Fears to be progressive albeit pop at the same time, so is some XTC. Some interesting picks by other posts, but here's a couple more to consider:

Dale mentioned Mel Torme, another Jazz singer that coulda been great with a prog band (or any band really, and was) is Al Jarreau, check out his cover of the Chick Corea classic Spain.

How 'bout Joni Mitchell? She can (and did) sing pretty much anything from rock to folk to jazz.

And then there's CSN, those three guys (and Neil to some extent too) were sorta prog at least in the early days, check out Guinnevere off the CSN record, it compares to Yes for example vocal-wise IMHO, the mix is less airy and the vocal pitches lower, but kinda similar in the vocal department.

I could prolly go on and on, but I'll leave it there for now.

[Yesspaz]

1. I think a lot straight rock vocalists would work as prog vocalists.

2. Steve Perry, despite VAX's opinion (!) is perhaps the greatest tenor ever in rock music. He didn't ruin Journey (at first); Jonathan Cain ruined Journey (or it could be argued Gregg Rolie ruined Journey when he left!). Even with Cain, Journey released two great albums (Escape, Frontiers), but THEN Perry killed them by pushing them to make an R&B album (Craised on Radio). Cain wrote the great "Faithfully," but first "Open Arms," which while assuring them their retirement, put them on the path to try and recapture that EVERY ALBUM SINCE. I don't like you, Cain.

3. Someone with lots of vocal versatility, like Bono, would be a great prog vox.

4. Best pure rock vocalist if you just want to rock out? Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. Check out "Alive" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_LQU2-GOXY
As a prog vocalist? Maybe in a prog metal band.

5. Elvis Presley, anyone? :P

6. Though I doubt anyone here's heard of him, Pete Stewart, the guitarist and singer for '90s Christian metal/grunge band Grammatrain has an amazing Rock voice, but I don't know it it'd translate to prog.

My six cents.

[TheFish]

Dean Martin, Hands Down.

[progzealot]

Originally Posted by TheFish

Dean Martin, Hands Down.

Don't forget Sammy!!!

[jtmckinley]

I agree with spaz about Bono, he's got a great emotional voice and could sing with anybody (and has, he's on the Sinatra duets record for example). The Joshua Tree, while some might not consider it prog per se, was very progressive IMHO, no doubt helped by Eno and Lanois being the producers for that record.

[DEzerov]

Roland Orzabal
Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
Andy Partridge (XTC)
Lol Creme and Kevin Godley (artsy 1/2 of 10cc)
Stanley Clarke (interesting voice)
AND
I would love to hear the Manhattan Transfer do some prog with those voices!

[Michael]

Bruce Dickinson(Iron Maiden)
Robert Smith(The Cure)

Flame-away!!!

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by progzealot

Don't forget Sammy!!!

Sammy Hagar? About him, he....oh yes Davis

Tony Bennett was always in with the new wave crowd, why not prog...

Michael - Bruce D. - another example of a singer on a Prog album by Ayreon.

[kevishev]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the great Paul Rodgers of Free, Bad Company and lately Queen. Or how about Arthur Brown? As in The Crazy World Of... I know Alan Parsons tapped him for the Tell Tale Heart song. Amazing voice to say the least.

[Yesspaz]

How about the ladies?

Davia Vallesillo of Dakoda Motor Co. (Good old rock band) Wind and Sea, Trip to Pain, Truth

Sarah Meeker of Chasing Furies (Alternative) Thicker

Korey Cooper of Skillet - (industrial) She doesn't sing a lot, but she's great. Rebirthing (BTW, lady drummers are inherently hot).

Wilson lady from Heart.

Leigh Nash from Sixpence None the Richer (unfairly pigeon-holed by Kiss Me, a great guitar/alt/pop rock band) Angletread, Breathe Your Name You might not dig the music, but you can't knock the voice.

Any other lady vox?

[Yesspaz]

Originally Posted by Giloeada

Enya
Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries
Annie Lennox
Nina Persson of The Cardigans

Oh yeah. Especially Dolores.

[OverHillandDale(Admin)]

Originally Posted by Yesspaz

How about the ladies?

Leigh Nash from Sixpence None the Richer (unfairly pigeon-holed by Kiss Me, a great guitar/alt/pop rock band) Angletread, Breathe Your Name You might not dig the music, but you can't knock the voice.

Any other lady vox?

Yes, Leigh is wonderful.

Charlotte Martin (sort of like Tori Amos, but with a positive spin on life).

And let's not forget Madona. Wait, no. Let's forget her.

Paule Cole and Fiona Apple would fit the bill as well.

[progzealot]

Imogen Heap from Frou Frou---what a beautiful sultry voice !!

Originally Posted by Yesspaz

Any other lady vox?

Well, Doris Day always does it for me.