Those low voices!

[blueskies]

I really like the lower voiced female singers. In classical vocal music, they're called contraltos....in pop/R&B I guess they're referred to as Altos? Whatever....can you name any you particularly like and who might have the lowest voice out there [[past or present).
Ruth Pointer comes to mind.

[blueskies]

Oops. I got the wrong forum. Sorry. This shouldn't be in Motown. My Edit wouldn't allow me to delete? We're stuck with it here, I guess. Old age and send keys don't mix!

[skooldem1]

Toni Braxton
Sade
Gladys [[maybe)

[pshark]

Grace Jones
Etta James
Chaka Khan

[smark21]

Cassandra Wilson

[MIKEW-UK]

Tenor or Alto..............seems to change about 1 minute in. Neither are to my taste in this instance.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk0E_LMiVnk&feature=related

[roger]

Well ..

In '60s Britain HELEN SHAPIRO made a career out of her deep voice .. Here is one of her biggest hits .. got to #1 in the U.K. .. even made the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 back in 1961. On the Billboard chart for 1 week and peaked at #100. :)

HELEN SHAPIRO : "Walking Back to Happiness"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSg1Z4AwDCw&feature=related

And a later recording that became popular amongst the "Northern Soul" crowd ..

HELEN SHAPIRO : "Stop And You Will Become Aware"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgFCjKSzvVU

And Skooldem1 said "Gladys [[Maybe)" .. I say "Gladys Definitely"!!

GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS : "The Look Of Love"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyuVhrPxZ9A

And its a Motown recording too!! :)

Roger

[1382hitsville]

What about Motowns west coast Barbara Randolph?

[MIKEW-UK]

What, no mention of:
Anita Baker
Phyllis Hyman

[Motown_M_1056]

What, no mention of:
Anita Baker
Phyllis Hyman

Or of
Mavis Staples
Regina Belle
and Dianne Reeves

[robb_k]

2708
Johnnie Mae Matthews

[arrr&bee]

Sdf ya'll slippin,nobody mentioned a lady that can go low[voice]with the best of em...sassy-the divine one-miss sarah vaughan!

[pshark]

Cher
Carol Channing
Big Mama Thorton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XUAg1_A7IE

[blueskies]

Wow....everyone is offering great choices. Here's a little sampling of Ruth Pointer's 'baritone' !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgsZ_R6fm3Y&feature=related

[theboyfromxtown]

Rupaul!

LOL

[robb_k]

2707
Betty James. Memphis Minnie, Ko Ko Taylor, Alberta Hunter, Alberta Adams. There were a lot of "Blues belters" with deep voices.

[Kamasu_Jr]

Darlene Love

Dionne Warwick on her new album

[destruction]

Big Maybelle....and Lil Bettye LaVette

and

Nina Simone.

Pshark....We havent' seen that Big Mama Thornton vid in years.....a family fave.

[soulballad]

Izora Rhodes gets my vote!

[pshark]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNcohPUr1PI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5H6Bu5_K3w&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjD4eWEUgMM

[road runner]

Can't forget one of the greatest voices ever, Marilyn McCoo. Deep and delicious.