Best. Voice. Ever.

[Deleted]

Best voice ever would be Indian singer, Lata Mangeshkar, actually. And, yes, that is the definitive answer.

Some voices that may not be the best in the traditional sense, but which rock anyways:

Thom Yorke
Rivers Cuomo

[scout]

I love the voice of Kake Rusby. So beautiful . My all time favorite tho is Linda Ronstadt . She can do no wrong in my book.

[Deleted]

What? No Stevie Wonder love?

Right here, and ITA on many others already mentioned. Some personal favorites:

Celtic
Caryn Matheson (CaperCaille)
Catherine Ann MacPhee
Jim Malcolm (Old Blind Dogs)

Rock
Todd Rundgren
Pat Benatar
Tina Turner

R & B
Angela Bofill
Patti Austin
Ronnie Isley
Jeffrey Osbourne
Peabo Bryson

Pop
Karen Carpenter
James Taylor
Carole King
Carly Simon

Have to also mention: Eva Cassidy, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and I'll just throw in the the Doo Wop era and its singers and their style in general.

[realitybug]

I'll name someone who hasn't been named.

Brandon Boyd. I think he has a great voice.

[Mouse]

Nobody's mentioned too many hard rock dudes, so let me suggest Robert Plant, Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), and Jack Bruce (Cream).

[scout]

Another singer who's voice I really like is Beth Hart. She's not too well known.She's got a rough sounding voice, but damn, it's a great voice.Check her out.

[gemstone]

Scout, Beth Hart is amazing. I saw her open for Jonny Lang twice a couple of years ago and was just stunned. I went out the next day and bought everything I could by her.

[foxyepicurean]

I've gotta agree with the Duke's comment several weeks back and go with Nat King Cole. Damn, that man could make even the stupidest songs sound romantic/sexy. Too many singers sound similar--Nat's got the most unique voice I can think of.

I'm on board with the Freddie Mercury and Sarah McLachlan love.

Honorable mention for Vince Gill, the king of the ballads. Such a sweet, pure tenor. He needs to stop singing stuff about boots and tractors and stick to breaking my heart with the sad, sad songs.

[zacandmax]

I forgot two. Pat Benatar and Daryl Hall.
Make that three. Linda Ronstadt.

[Mutagen]

Ella Fitzgerald. Well, duh.

Astrid Gilberto - She's the queen of bossa nova for a reason. Her delivery is simplicity itself, but just so beautiful.

Skye Edwards of Morcheeba. Her voice is like smoke and bourbon and sex, in audio form.

Grace Slick. Sure, she and her various bands really went downhill, but at her best she just had that amazing combination of piercing and passionate. Love her.

Glen Danzig. Another classic who went downhill, but in his prime he absolutely smoldered. One of (if not the) best voices in punk.

Chris Cornell. When he belts it, I get goosebumps.

Claire Pichet - I only know her from her work with Yann Tiersen, but her voice is clear and pure and beautiful.