The 35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time (Billboard Magazine)

The 35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time
http://www.billboard.com/photos/6737387/best-r-and-b-singers-of-all-time

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The minute you start talking about any type of “greatest” list, the notion immediately invites loud debate. Billboard’s tally of the 35 greatest R&B artists of all time is no exception. Naysayers will no doubt quickly note the absence of Rihanna, whose impressive success is more heavily rooted in pop than R&B. And those singers whose iconic status stemmed primarily from fronting groups rather than as a solo artist were not included. Among other factors taken into consideration: game-changing influence and enduring musical legacy.
 
I don't think anyone on the list who didn't write their own shit or even some of their biggest hits should be in the top 10.
 
Entrepronegro said:
Michael Jackson...End of list. Nobody can compare to the greatest that was MJ.
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I'd argue Stevie Wonder should have been over MJ. And I'm a die-hard Michael fan. Top 5, I would say:
  1. Stevie Wonder
  2. Ray Charles
  3. Aretha Franklin
  4. Marvin Gaye
  5. Michael Jackson
Also, Luther should have been top 10 and I would put Curtis Mayfield higher than Smokey Robinson...But that's just me
 
TEN said:
remove Anita?? are you on crack, fam? :smh:
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No my brethren from across the pond. I am not in fact on the pipe.

I love Anita eternally. Used to have a raging crush on her. Especially around the "Body and Soul" era when she had gotten thick. But that's another story lol

Anita's song, "Giving You the Best That I've Got" is amongst my all-time faves. Back in the day, my band used to perform, "Angel".
But no way is she the equal of Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight or Phyllis Hyman - neither vocally nor as far as impact on other singers.

To my ears, she always sounded like a less skilled Nancy Wilson.

I wouldn't put Anita over Minnie Riperton either.

Sade has iconic status. Every album a timeless classic full of hits.
 
Most of the newer acts are ranked too high or shouldn't be ranked in the Top 35 R&B Artists Of All-Time.

Jackie Wilson, Peabo Bryson, Teddy Pendergrass, Sly Stone, Bobby Womack, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Sade, Phyllis Hyman and Minnie Riperton are nowhere on it.
 
Paul1970 said:
Most of the newer acts are ranked too high or shouldn't be ranked in the Top 35 R&B Artists Of All-Time.

Jackie Wilson, Peabo Bryson, Teddy Pendergrass, Sly Stone, Bobby Womack, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Sade, Phyllis Hyman are nowhere on it.
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Teddy and Bobby.... I might have to modify my own personal list. Good call. I would take George Clinton and Charlie Wilson off my list to include those two.
 
Since there would be no R&B without Sam Cooke and Brotha Ray I can't take this list seriously.
 
i-moses said:
No my brethren from across the pond. I am not in fact on the pipe.

I love Anita eternally. Used to have a raging crush on her. Especially around the "Body and Soul" era when she had gotten thick. But that's another story lol

Anita's song, "Giving You the Best That I've Got" is amongst my all-time faves. Back in the day, my band used to perform, "Angel".
But no way is she the equal of Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight or Phyllis Hyman - neither vocally nor as far as impact on other singers.

To my ears, she always sounded like a less skilled Nancy Wilson.

I wouldn't put Anita over Minnie Riperton either.

Sade has iconic status. Every album a timeless classic full of hits.
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All of those artists are great but I wouldn't put any of them above the other, and i certainly would not exclude anita from their company.
 
dawilleyone said:
Alicia Key's being on this list (and that HIGH) is just a travesty. She's not without talent, but she's largely a product of the music industry. She's kinda what you would come up with if you took all the ingredients of a R&B/Pop singer and baked it in an industry training program for a few years.

D'Angelo and Maxwell are both marginal in my mind because although they both had classic albums their productivity has been very low compared to their peers (like Jill and Erykah for example) . I would put them both just outside the top 40. I mean if they qualify then why not Lauren Hill?

Sade and Natalie Cole need to be on this list.
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i dont agree with d angelo his first 2 albums are classic...voodoo was fucking insane read about his studio process during the making of both albums...quality over quanity brother!
 
evolution81 said:
i dont agree with d angelo his first 2 albums are classic...voodoo was fucking insane read about his studio process during the making of both albums...quality over quanity brother!
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That's true to a certain extent, but you probably got a whole generation that was too young to appreciate Brown sugar another too old to appreciate Voodoo. Look at artists like Bill Withers and Anita Baker, neither have made anything relevant in years, but during their prime years they were pumping out albums and hits. I know D'Angelo had demons to deal with in between albums but he got to be a bit more productive to be considered one of the all time greats IMO
 
i-moses said:
I'd argue Stevie Wonder should have been over MJ. And I'm a die-hard Michael fan. Top 5, I would say:
  1. Stevie Wonder
  2. Ray Charles
  3. Aretha Franklin
  4. Marvin Gaye
  5. Michael Jackson
Also, Luther should have been top 10 and I would put Curtis Mayfield higher than Smokey Robinson...But that's just me
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Nobody should be put over Michael Jackson in regards to music, but if someone is it would have to be James Brown "The Godfather of Soul". He was Michael's idol. But in regards to music on a global level and the impact that he made it's nobody else can compare to Michael Jackson on that level.
 
Understand, when a publication or media entity does one of these lists, it is STRICTLY to cause discourse and conversation with an eye towards driving sales, traffic, and brand awareness. It's Media 101.
 
This list is all kinds of FUCKED UP! No mariah, but beyonce ,alica keyes and hate to say it janet ninja please.
 
what the fuck is this shit?

where is Otis Redding?

Ben E King?
 
i-moses said:
Teddy and Bobby.... I might have to modify my own personal list. Good call.
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Entrepronegro said:
Nobody should be put over Michael Jackson in regards to music, but if someone is it would have to be James Brown "The Godfather of Soul". He was Michael's idol. But in regards to music on a global level and the impact that he made it's nobody else can compare to Michael Jackson on that level.
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I see and respect your argument - particularly in regards to James Brown. But I disagree that Michael should automatically be awarded the top spot. You know, really it's a tough call when you get into Marvin, Stevie, Ray, Michael, Aretha etc. On that level of legend it almost feels like a disrespect to place any one higher than the other. Michael is THE best singer/dancer combo in R&B history. But he's not the best singer in that group of people - nor the best songwriter. Stevie's skill set is impeccable - multi-instrumentalist, superior vocalist and songwriter extraordinaire. His catalog of hits is MASSIVE and scores of superstars have covered his songs. As well, he was a hit-making songwriter for other people. Ray Charles, one of the greatest singers to do it - MULTIPLE number one and top 10 hits across genres including number one and top hits on the country charts. His musical range was ridiculous as was his talent as a piano player and band leader. He was the man to bring a distinctive gospel vocal and songwriting style to R&B. In that, his imprint is upon a massive amount of legends to follow him. Aretha's vocals and interpretation of the lyrics of the songs she sings are unmatched (also a piano virtuoso). Marvin, probably the greatest pure R&B male singer to ever do it + phenomenal songwriting skills + REVOLUTIONARY vocal arranging skills + a multi-instrumentalist (drums, piano), he was a singer who could sing ANY style of music that he touched with excellence - including Broadway show tunes and jazz.

But again, I always feel a bit guilty in these discussions, because all of these people have carved their own unique and vital place in the history of music. So it seems like a sacrilege not to respect that.
 
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i'll prob catch heat for saying this but catalog wise mixed wit voice mariah is top 5 female singer of all time if not number 1
 
mathtest said:
i'll prob catch heat for saying this but catalog wise mixed wit voice mariah is top 5 female singer of all time if not number 1
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Singer? Fam, you ever heard of Sass? Ella? Do you mean R&B singer? Even then she's not even close to Minnie, Gladys, Aretha...I could go on.
 
knightmelodic said:
Singer? Fam, you ever heard of Sass? Ella? Do you mean R&B singer? Even then she's not even close to Minnie, Gladys, Aretha...I could go on.
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fam i said catalog, meaning her list of hits, mj is the best cause of his list of hits, im putting mariah in that category cause i feel her hits outweigh any other female singer, i was trying to emphasize her catalog cause i know ppl would go in with the gladys and aretha and Whitney etc, mariah is the only new age female r&b artist i can listen too, i rather listen to everyone u jus mentioned, im jus giving her a due
 
David Ruffin got zero love.

This was definitely based on sales and popularity. Alicia Keys though :smh:

Mary J biting ass got up there by default of remaking the majority of the people on that list songs :lol:
 
mathtest said:
fam i said catalog, meaning her list of hits, mj is the best cause of his list of hits, im putting mariah in that category cause i feel, i was trying to emphasize her catolog cause i know ppl would go in with the gladys and aretha and Whitney etc
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I'm asking if you mean female singer or female R&B singer because Mimi's catalog compared to Sass or Ella's is like a guppy to a whale. That's all I'm asking. Voice-wise is a personal preference but I doubt you'd find 1 in a hundred that would say Mimi's voice is better than those two.
 
i-moses said:
Remove:

Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Usher, D'Angelo, Maxwell, Anita Baker, Diana Ross, R. Kelly, Lionel Richie, Alicia Keys and Jill Scott

Substitute:

Charlie Wilson, Gladys Knight, Sly Stone, Sade, Jackie Wilson, Minnie Riperton, Rick James, Natalie Cole, Otis Redding, George Clinton and Phyllis Hyman
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rkelly stays homie he is great
 
i-moses said:
I see and respect your argument - particularly in regards to James Brown. But I disagree that Michael should automatically be awarded the top spot. You know, really it's a tough call when you get into Marvin, Stevie, Ray, Michael, Aretha etc. On that level of legend it almost feels like a disrespect to place any one higher than the other. Michael is THE best singer/dancer combo in R&B history. But he's not the best singer in that group of people - nor the best songwriter. Stevie's skill set is impeccable - multi-instrumentalist, superior vocalist and songwriter extraordinaire. His catalog of hits is MASSIVE and scores of superstars have covered his songs. As well, he was a hit-making songwriter for other people. Ray Charles, one of the greatest singers to do it - MULTIPLE number one and top 10 hits across genres including number one and top hits on the country charts. His musical range was ridiculous as was his talent as a piano player and band leader. He was the man to bring a distinctive gospel vocal and songwriting style to R&B. In that, his imprint is upon a massive amount of legends to follow him. Aretha's vocals and interpretation of the lyrics of the songs she sings are unmatched (also a piano virtuoso). Marvin, probably the greatest pure R&B male singer to ever do it + phenomenal songwriting skills + REVOLUTIONARY vocal arranging skills + a multi-instrumentalist (drums, piano), he was a singer who could sing ANY style of music that he touched with excellence - including Broadway show tunes and jazz.

But again, I always feel a bit guilty in these discussions, because all of these people have carved their own unique and vital place in the history of music. So it seems like a sacrilege not to respect that.
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I agree it is a tough argument, but Michael impacted the world with his music more than those other people and he had great music to back up those followings. So that should give him the top spot by itself.
 
NO LARRY GRAHAM SLY STONE OR RICK JAMES YOU AUTOMATICALLY SUSPECT (yet you have Prince in the top 10)



This whole list is tonedeaf
 
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