Top Ten Best Black Singers

The best black singers of all times. Don't agree with the list? Vote for an existing item you think should be ranked higher or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on or create your own version of this list.

The Top Ten

1
Michael Jackson
I love him! He has died but he still lives in my heart!
he was amazing! The way he danced was just brilliant! He was my inspiration!
He was #1 in fame, charisma, best albums, best dance, you name it. No one has come along yet that can top him off. Name anyone you know, if possible, that could have stood next to Michael Jackson and be as good as he was for just 50 seconds. Anyone!
He is the best! He defied the saying once you go black you never go back and look at him he is pale white! That man could sing and dance his ass off on stage!

PePsMeX

More comments about Michael Jackson

2Whitney Houston
Whitney top of the angels in heaven singing there is no greater voice God knows how to send us angels of talent then he calls them back to heaven when they start to mess up... THEN HE WILL SEND DOWN ANOTHER ONE JUST WHEN YOU THOUGH YOU HEARD IT ALL HEAVEN IS FULL OF TALENT.. BUT DRUGS ALWAYS RUINS EVERYTHING TALENT AND DRUGS DON'T MIX... SOME HOW STARS WITH GREAT TALENT ALWAYS LOSE IT ALL TO A MAN MADE DRUG... TALENT IS NOT MAN MADE IS A GIFT FROM GOD... YOU ARE BORN WITH IT THEN YOU PERFECT IT. I AM SAD YOU ARE GONE MISS HOUSTON RIP BUT YOU ARE BACK WHERE YOU WERE SENT FROM SO IS NOT THAT BAD... IF EARTH WOULD HAD APPRECIATED YOU RIGHT, YOU STILL BE HERE' BUT SOME BAD PEOPLE FED YOU POISON. AND HEAVEN TOOK YOU BACK JUST LIKE M.J. aND THE REST OF ALL THE GREAT TALENT THAT GODS SENDS US FROM HEAVEN BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL BUT WE JUST GET CAUGHT UP IN THE HYPE AND I AM PR BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING, WE ARE ALL ONE THINK OF ALL THE TALENT THAT LIVES TODAY, WE MOST RECOGNIZED IT MORE WHEN IT IS GONE SAD...
I can't believe Beyonce is above Whitney Houston. Compare their versions of the Star Spangled Banner, then anything of Beyonce to "I Will Always Love You". Thank you very much

insanedocumentarian

How on EARTH is Beyonce #2 laugh out loud. Like really, this is only a popularity vote, because Beyonce doesent even reach Whitney's toes.
More comments about Whitney Houston

3Tina Turner
Tina Turner is a legend. when she covers a song she makes it her own. She has a great voice and energy.
She is an awesome woman! Strong willed. Great singer. I love all her songs! That woman can dance! Up in age, but still kickin' butt!
She brought a new style to music.
More comments about Tina Turner

4Aretha Franklin
She has been copied by every other females singer since she started her career. That's why she is the Queen and the others are her subjects. Long live the Queen Ms. Aretha!
These people were the foundation of music, had it not been for them where would music be? And also these people like aretha, ella and gladys really have made the impact, I only have a simple question 4 you, which set of music had soul (listen to common-i use to love her)
Queen of Soul, she has been active and in action for more than 60 years. Her music has been copied and carried on by millions of women and men around the world. Her legacy will forever live just like Tina Turners will. But for a legend who was born into a family of powerful signers, she really is one of the world’s powerful living music legends.

5Gladys Knight
The Empress of Soul is still great, better than all of her contemporaries, Aretha, Diana etc.

6Ella Fitzgerald
She is the First lady of Music, she is just the best and a real Humble Lady.

7Beyonce
Probably one of the most humble artists in the industry to date. Beyoncé writes her songs and places her hooks and melodies. She is always present when it comes to the creation of her music, videos, performances, and documentaries. People may go on and on saying that she is fake, etc. But Beyonce is one of the most iconic and legendary voices and figures in the music industry, period, not just in the black community, but in the human race.
TRIPLE THREAT! QUEEN OF R&B! AWESOME VOICE! And the list goes on and on...
She is the best singer in the world she is awesome she does not have a bad mouth she is kid aportit and a very good person she does not do drugs or smoke and does not get got drank so you go go beyonce
More comments about Beyonce

8Stevie Wonder
stevie wonder is the most prestigious black star ever for he's endowed with qualities rarely found despite his impairment. I consider him above the other four stars michael jackson, bob marley, ray charles and jimmi hendrix. improvisor, multilingual, cheerful and modest, there can't be a better singer in the whole world of black music? For me, he's the one, the only one.
Bey and Aretha I understand, but Rihanna or Chris Brown (and iÂ'm 19, I should like them) being higher than him is ridiculous. All his songs are so uplifting, have so much music and Stevie can do absolutely anything with his voice. This is sad.

Ange014

Damn! Beyoncé and Rihanna are in the Top Ten but Stevie Wonder is only the 14th! He's the best before MJ so stop talking about Ne-Yo or Chris Brown!
More comments about Stevie Wonder

9Chris Brown
He is the best ever... I don't care what others were saying... Anyway it's their choice...
But it wasn't a nice thing to hate chris brown for what he had done to rihanna, hey! He's just nineteen on that time. He's still young, so, he can still change his attitude. You know, just forgive & forget.
I love chris brown...!
Chris Brown is really inspiring, I can't imagine my life without him. I adore this man, I know he hit Rihanna but that was years ago.. But that still doesn't mean it's okay. But it was an accident.. Stop all the hate! I love you Chris
I love chris brown except that he is wit rihanna which is wrong but I just love him
More comments about Chris Brown

10Janet Jackson
No one can sing or dance like her... She's a legend.
Janet jackson is a idol. She should be on top without her there is no rihanna, pink or beyonce. Plus she is a jackson. Oh yea this is number one.
Janet Jackson is the legend and idol she can dance and sing and always was such a hit with her voice and moves. She needs to be number 2 because without her there ain't no beyonce.
More comments about Janet Jackson

The Contenders

11Teddy Pendergrass

12Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross has the strongest male vocals of any black male. Whitney Houston once said, "No one can hold a note like Luther can" Mhmm thats pretty much sums it up. Luther had the soul, the groove, the voice, and the passion... Luther for Life! rest in paradise brother

No one had a soomther voice than Luther. He could sing about anything thing and thrill you!


13Toni Braxton

She is talented, beautiful, charming and so sexy! Her voice is unique and very recognizable. Her LIVE performances are stunning. Toni should be in the Top 10. That's for sure!

Irina2932

Toni is just unique in her own right, love her just being grown and keeping us sexy at 40


14Patti Labelle
She is amazing, her voice is so powerful, and she can reach amazing high notes, its almost sobre natural!

15Barry White

16Jimi Hendrix
THE VERY BEST OF ALL TIME

17Ne-Yo
He makes some of the greatest songs that will ever be made.
He is talented, smart looking and he is like a young handsome man! His voice flows like a melody without music. His classic rapping songs are always engraved in your hearts
This guy should be the best love singer of all time. He can really inspire you. His songs are lyrical compare to other love singers nowadays. He is like "The Apprentice of Michael Jackson"
More comments about Ne-Yo

18Al Green

19Anita Baker

You guys have this lady too low on the list. Her voice is spectacular even without music


20Prince

Prince is just amazing. He rights his own songs, heplays about a billion instruments he's just awesome!

zibblewits

As much as I absolutely love MJ I feel Prince blows everyone on this list out of the water. His vocal range is crazy, his lyrics are thought provoking, his talent is undeniable and he is still creating and re-inventing himself all the time. Prince is by far the most inspirational artist I have ever seen. Have a blessed day. Jeremy.

Prince is so original and has more musical talent than most of these artists on this list. I like him for his wide variety of voice ranges, his musical talent, his flamboyant fashions, and his unique song writing.


21Marvin Gaye

I am sorry but no one come even close to Marvin, a true legend RIP, he had the best voice and his songs had a massage not just OH Ah or I will kill you Mother F
#er
My second best has to be Gil Scott Heron who his father was the first Black Soccer player at Celtic football club in Scotland, listen to Gil's songs such as the Bottle, Home Where the hatred is, New York is Killing me and The Revolution will not be Televised


22Alicia Keys
She has grown on me in the last couple of years.
Thank you for every thing!

23Rihanna
I LOVE her! shame on CHRIS BROWN! she has this voice which is sexy yet it can be serious and have fun. I love you
She has a uniqueness about her... And I like it.
you should win but you are not better then pink
More comments about Rihanna

24Jeffrey Osborne

25Leona Lewis
Leona was born with a gift: HER VOICE. She's just amazing and she deserves recognition from the public.
<3 I love it

26Tupac Shakur
Tupac was a legend along with everything he stood for. He had a good flow and lyrics that spoke to you
Tupac shakur is the best black singer after MJ! He sould be placed second after all!... If agree vote then!
Jay-Z ne-yo aren't better than 2PAC!
Tupac belongs in the top 5
More comments about Tupac Shakur

27Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole broke through all barriers, before anyone else... And had perhaps the most memorable voice of all... He deserves to be in the top 5 for certain. His piano playing was superb.
Nat King Cole should be #1 he has one of the greatest voices of all time he's just amazing!
He had a wonderful voice and a wonderful personality to match
More comments about Nat King Cole

28Wanya Morris

The best vocals with or without musiq

moses

His vocals are a gift from God. He is so passionate in every song

He should be number one. From a technical standpoint and pure skill he is unmatched... Other people can sound like michael and whitney etc... No one can do what he does


29James Brown

Hep Me, Hep Me please, I'm down on my Knees, do the james Brown shuffle... Ha! Love it, Love IT,

Mans world. Need I say anything else?
He was a diva in every sense of the word, I hope his sould and his amazing songs will be remembered for many more years to come

Amazing groove, amazing feel, revolutionized the music industry and was a great showman, really the King of Funk.
Get up offa that thing and dance till you feel better, Get up offa that thing and try to release that pressure!


30Jennifer Hudson

She is the best, her voice is so soulful and she always puts her heart and soul into her music. Jennifer Hudson will always be my role model, I want to be her someday!


31Donny Hathaway

32Jay-Z

33Phyllis Hyman

34Nina Simone

I think she is one of the best musicians of all times, she ain't just a singer!
her wit, surprises every single show she has had... she a storyteller, an actress, a drama queen a diva! RIP


35Usher
Usher is super awesome and he knows justin bieber

36Smokey Robinson

37Fantasia Barrino

38Billy Paul

39Issac Hayes

40Nicki Minaj
My role modle that girl can rap In super bass she killed it also she can be really sass as if she were the queen of sass like the girl can sing.

41Wilson Pickett

42Etta James

I love etta james one of the greatest jazz singers of all time.
RIP etta she did so much for the music industry and opend so many doors


43Dobie Gray

44Diana Ross
She's just dynamic as a singer, has the most beatiful voice you've ever heard.

45John Legend

46Johnny Mathis
Should be in top 10.

47Swamp Dogg

48Koko Taylor

49Shawn Stockman

50Nathan Morris

Baddest baritone you'lleva hear

moses


51Michael McCary

52Jason Derulo

Amazing singer and dancer!

Love his songs like: Don't Wanna Go Home, In My Head, Watcha Say and Breathing!

Totally the best! Don't Wanna Go Home, It Girl, In My Head... All the best songs I've EVER heard! I listen to his music everyday! And on his Future History album cover he looks AWESOME! Go Jason Derulo!


53Dionne Warwick

54R. Kelly

Now first of all when it comes to pure singing R. Kelly is right at the top, top 10 - 15 maybe. He sure is better than Rihanna, Ne-yo or Chris Brown, that's for sure. The Man is the King Of R&B! And yes, I love Jay-Z and 2-Pac but they are not SINGERS...


55Sam Cooke
He was loved by woman and men what a voice

56Lionel Richie
Lional Richie is one of the best singers in the world, any singer whose music makes you feel good, is just that bit special! And Lionel is very special indeed...

57Akon
This guy is very good, his song "Right now" (Na na na) is beast. Listen to it and rate it people
No doubt the best

58Roberta Flack

59Natalie Cole

60Bill Withers

61Jerry Butler

62Melinda Doolittle

63Ann Peebles

64Irma Thomas

65Curtis Mayfield

66Donna Summer

67Sarah Vaughan

68Chaka Khan

69Heather Small

70Lil Wayne
You can't NOT love him! Best rapper you will ever find out there! I love this guy so much he even has a sweet side, How to Love baby!
Very talented rapper, Who fell off a little

71Sade

72Seal

73Trey Songs

74Rita Ora

75Jazmine Sullivan

76Nivea

77Louis Armstrong

78Adam Warren

79Otis Redding
He should be the best

80Jimmy Ruffin

81Taio Cruz

82Dinah Washington

83Kenneth Edmonds (aka: Babyface)

84Emeli Sande

85Iyaz

86Eddie Holmes

87Tammi Terrell

88Joe Simon

89Mary Wells

90Harold Melvin

91Sammy Davis Jr.

92Nancy Wilson

93China Anne McClain

94Ray Charles
For me is right up there sharing fist place with Nat King Cole.

95Percy Sledge

96Deborah Cox

97Harry Belafonte

98Missy Elliot

99Little Eva

100Muddy Waters

Comments About This List

Featured Lists
Popular Lists
New Lists

Blog Posts About This List

Be the first to add a post about this list

Top Remixers of This List

Zaidi

ebh923

Irina2932

mleat97

Blazer

see more...

List Info

This list was created 4 years, 212 days ago and has been voted on over 2,000 times. This top ten list contains 119 items, has been remixed 7 times.

Updated Thursday, May 23, 2013


List Error Reporting

See an item on this list that's mispelled, duplicated, or doesn't belong? Let us know. Click here to report the error.