Hi Caz. I have difficulty evaluating male singers because there’s the voice, the style, the overall musicality and so on. I don’t think Ray Charles has a great voice but his musical creations with his choir and orchestras are, IMHO, masterful. As a teenager in the sixties I was an Elvis freak but didn’t realize how good a singer he actually was until I was way older. Freddie Mercury was in a class with very few others and, though I very much like Andrea Bocelli, Pavarotti was the best. If we just evaluate based on the quality of one’s voice, Englebert, Tony Bennett and Jerry Vale have to be considered. If we include one’s presentation of songs then Ol’ Blue Eyes gets big ratings.
I think what’s important is we have the ability to listen to all of them and enjoy the pleasure music can bring us.
Respectfully,
Mike