Your Top 5 Greatest Black Singers?

[Stonigut]

Yes and who could leave out probably the greatest entertainer Celia Cruz from Cuba. I personally heard Leontyne price sing and I have never heard a better singer in my life.

[Stonigut]

Yes, there is great variability in what we all consider a great singer, however I am very interested in your non comment on who is black and who is not. Is black a Western Hemisphere construct?

[Jangle]

Histy, you know this is going to be a long thread, so I suggest you start over and give clearer boundaries and definition of Greatness and "Black" singers. I noticed that your list does not include any female singers and I'll put that down to an oversight on your part. Ever so often someone comes here with a list that really hurts the brain. Please, I a beg yuh to refine your list and come again. Marc Anthony is on a list for me, but is he black? If I trace his lineage I might find a likkle black juice inna him. Gerald Alston is maybe number one on my list not to mention the great Luther. ~sigh~ this is too hard.

[Lazie]

Histy, you know this is going to be a long thread, so I suggest you start over and give clearer boundaries and definition of Greatness and "Black" singers. I noticed that your list does not include any female singers and I'll put that down to an oversight on your part. Ever so often someone comes here with a list that really hurts the brain. Please, I a beg yuh to refine your list and come again. Marc Anthony is on a list for me, but is he black? If I trace his lineage I might find a likkle black juice inna him. Gerald Alston is maybe number one on my list not to mention the great Luther. ~sigh~ this is too hard.

Nothing hard bout it ... just say Fat Luther and yuh cool. That alone is 1-5.

[Jangle]

Nothing hard bout it ... just say Fat Luther and yuh cool. That alone is 1-5.

No sah, it hard. Stephanie Mills, Regina Belle, Mariah Carey, Minnie Riperton, Beresford Hammond, Freddie McGregor, John Holt, Solomon Burke. And those are just the ones off the top of my head.

[myYout]

Whitney
Minnie Riperton
David Ruffin
Teena Marie
John Holt

[Gamma]

teena marie qualified as black because she had some black in her (rick james)? or are you referring to a genre?

[Islandman]

LOL! At least him deh pon stand by! Marvin Gaye and David Ruffin nuh even inna Historian airport.

[Jangle]

me woulda classify her as black and she MUST be on my list. Michael Jackson MUSt be on my list, but is he black?

[Mosiah]

Unfortunately, I find it difficult to name five without putting in certain criteria, conditions and caveats. For instance, there may be one particular song that an artist delivered that I think is remarkable, yet that singer, generally, would not be in my top 5. And my list is more a favourites list than a pure best singers list.

Anyway, this is just bar room talk, so without further a due (sic),
this is my list:

Luther
Jon Secada (he's black, right?)
David Ruffin
Charlie Wilson
Ray Charles (on Song for You)

Rahtid, a 5 dat arready?

Ok, I must at least mention:

Jacob Miller
Force MDs
Bunny Rugs Clarke

[Gamma]

is it where yuh start or where yuh end up?

[Exile]

I am sorry but to lump ALL 'black singers' into one genre of 'singing' does not do justice. Do we have pop, soul, jazz, r&b...etc. etc.?
Who are the top 5 greatest white athletes? Who are the top 5 greatest black dentists?

[Mosiah]

me woulda classify her as black and she MUST be on my list. Michael Jackson MUSt be on my list, but is he black?

Good question! Das why Kartel never mek my list!

Wooiiee, mi melanin!

[Gamma]

one thing at a time....

[Mosiah]

I know! You'd really have to break it down like that.

Can one compare Force MDs to a Paul Robeson? Leontyne Price to Whitney?!?