I can think of only a few singers whose vocals are as beautiful and unique. No amount of vocal training, trickery, leaps or whatever can beat a truly beautiful tone.

My top 5 vocals. (Tone of voice)

1. Michael Jackson.
2. Elvis Presley.
3. Paul McCartney.
4. Everly Brothers.
5. Stevie Wonder.

These are truly heavenly voices and thanks to God for blessing them with such pipes. Notice no female singers in my list. I am a huge fan of female singers but compared to these 5, I can't think of any female voice that is in the same league. Most great female singers rely on technique.

Listen to MJ's magical song Got the Hots (link below).

Why oh why is it not released in the UK ? Sony/BMG own goal again as this is a No 1 waiting to happen.

What BS. Michael Jackson has no tone at all; thin, reedy voices don't appeal to me. How come Donny Hathaway isn't at the top of this list? Damn unbeatable for tone and emotion conveyed.

And "Got The Hots" is nothing better than a Japan only extra track...funnily enough...

Well it's my list and I will list who I want to and no Donny Hathaway does not have a better tone in my opinion. Why don't you list your top 5 instead of rubbishing mine. That's the idea yeah ?

Here's my Top 5 then:

1) Donny Hathaway
2) Scott Walker (up until "Climate Of Hunter")
3) Roberta Flack
4) Aretha
5) Lewis Taylor

How you can dismiss Donny Hathaway's tone is beyond me. Anyway, honourable mentions would go to Faith Evans, Michael McDonald, John Martyn (despite his extreme diction problems these days), Kurt Elling (on a non-vocalese day), Lalah Hathaway, Stevie Wonder from 1970-1976 (I have some piano/vocal outtakes from '74 and the tone of his voice is amazing, very Donny-esque in places), KD Lang, Frank McComb and, whether you're a fan of her mainly melismatic style or not, Beyonce has a gorgeous round tone to her voice.

I'd let you off re Michael Jackson if you were referring to him up until "Off The Wall" as he was great, but the strain in his voice was evident from then on, not to mention a weakness in tone (you usually acquire a richer tone the older you get - not with him). His voice is completely shot and has been for years.

SW i'm not dismissing him. But this list is personal and is based on the singers who impacted my life. Unfortunately I didn't hear a lot of Donny Hathaway and therefore cannot put him in this list because I would be making more of an intellectual list rather than an emotional one and yes I am talking about Michael Jackson up till Thriller. He still has his warm tone but tends to shout and grunt too much these days.

Thanks for sharing your list by the way.