These are the best Rhythm and Blues singers of all time, according to PushBlack readers!
5. Sam Cooke: 9.37% of votes
The “King of Soul” paved the way for others on this list, with classic tracks like “You Send Me,” “Bring It On Home to Me” and Civil Rights anthem “A Change Is Gonna Come.”
4. Whitney Houston: 11.67% of votes
Whitney Houston is one of the most-awarded, highest-selling musicians of all time. She had SEVEN consecutive number-one singles in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and “I Will Always Love You” is the best-selling single by a woman in music history!
3. Luther Vandross: 20.75% of votes
Vandross was a legendary collaborator. He’s worked with everyone from Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, and Janet Jackson to David Bowie and Beyoncé, all the while selling over 35 million records and winning 8 Grammy awards!
2. Aretha Franklin: 26.66% of votes
The “Queen of Soul” is the most-charted woman in history and was ranked Number One in Rolling Stone magazine’s Greatest Singers of All Time! Her music is, for many, the quintessential soundtrack to the Black American experience.
1. Marvin Gaye: 31.56% of votes
Gaye’s legendary recording career rocketed Motown to stardom in the 1960s, and his incredibly smooth vocals and range defined the era’s sound for many.