Favorite Male Vocalist?

[thomas96]

I'm just curious as to who everyone's favorite male vocalist is, and why [[if it's not just instinct). Or, if you don't have one favorite, then top 5. My personal favorite would be Bobby Taylor, but there are so many others that are right there with him.

Also, I am split on this:

I Am Your Man - Four Tops; Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers

Who do you think sang it better, Levi or Bobby?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNNwysnNYVQ -Four Tops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTiMmWmGL68 -Bobby Taylor

Who's Loving You - Temptations; Jackson 5; Miracles

David, Smokey, or Mikey?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4yoGceDDYw -Tempts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WctLYTt0mh8 -Miracles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2xc8xZ0tV0 -Jackson 5

I'm leaning towards Bobby on I Am Your Man, and David on Who's Loving You. Opinions?

[JimBagley]

1) Dennis Edwards
2) Levi Stubbs
3) Marvin Gaye
4) David Ruffin
5) Richard Street

[Stone Diamond]

1. Garnet Mimms
2. Ronald isley
3. Soloman Burke
4. Chuck Jackson
5. James Brown

[thomas96]

I should have specified this: male vocalists on Motown or a subsidiary. Bobby Taylor isn't my favorite male vocalist ever.

[marv2]

My favorite is Levi Stubbs, followed by:

Marvin Gaye
Eddie Kendricks
Ollie Woodson
David Ruffin
Al Green

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

My favorite male vocalist is not on this Motown list.

David Ruffin
Marvin Gaye
Bobby Taylor
Ollie Woodson
Smokey Robinson/Dennis Edwards

~~Mary~~

[sophisticated_soul]

Paul Williams
Levi Stubbs
Marvin Gaye
David Ruffin
Eddie Kendricks

My all-time favorite male artist is Johnny Mathis

[Zantellor]

One of my favorite male vocalists is Sweet James Epps of the Fantastic Four.Hisredition of If This World Were Mine is amazing

[Kamasu_Jr]

Marvin Gaye, period.

[revvy]

My vote is Dennis Edwards, Levi Stubbs, Marvin Gaye, Smokey and, of course, LUTHER!

[dickiemint]

Marvin Gaye
David Ruffin
Levi Stubbs
Ron Isley
Smokey Robinson

[woodward]

Let's not forget Marv Johnson and Jimmy Ruffin. They were both great singers.

[robb_k]

6435

Motown:
1) Richard Street [[Monitors)
2) Bobbie Smith [[Spinners)
3) David Ruffin [[Temptations)
4) Timothy Wilson [[Serenaders)
5) James Ellis [[Satintones)


Overall:
1) Ray Pollard [[Wanderers)
2) Richard Street [[Distants/Monitors)
3) Nat King Cole
4) Sollie McElroy[[Flamingos/Moroccos)
5) Rudy West [[Five Keys)

[Ngroove]

1. Marvin Gaye [[All of the sixties, "My Last Chance", "Come Get To This", "Distant Lover", and "I Want You")

2. Smokey Robinson [[Highlights: Ooo Baby Baby, Baby Come Close, Bein' With You, I've Made Love To You A Thousand Times)

3. Levi Stubbs [[Highlights: Reach Out [[I'll Be There), Bernadette, Ain't No Woman [[Like The One I've Got), Indestructible )

4. Johnny Gill [[Highlights: Perfect Combination, Boys To Men, My My My, Let's Get The Mood Right)

5. Bobby DeBarge [[Highlights: I Call Your Name, My Friend In The Sky, You And I, Love Over And Over Again)

[wedgeville]

Marvin Gaye [[Little Darling, Can I get A Witness, Grapevine, Unchanging Love)
David Ruffin [[since I Lost My Baby, Ain't Too Proud To Beg, I Could Never Love Another, Beauty Is Only Skin Deep)
Eddie Kendricks [[Girl Why You Wanna Make Me Blue, You're Not An Ordinary Girl, Get Ready, You're My Everything)
Levi Stubbs [[Ask The Lonely, Without The One You Love, Something About You, Standing In The Shadows Of Love)
Stevie Wonder [[Nothing's Too Good For My Baby, I'd Cry, Uptight, Angie Girl)

Paul Williams on "Witchcraft For Your Love", "Forever In My Heart" & "I Now See You Clear Through My Tears".
Smokey on "Come 'Round Here", "Save Me", & "Tears Of A Clown".
Richard Street on "Time Is Passin' By" & "Share A Little Love With Me".
Jimmy Ruffin on "He Who Picks A Rose", "I've Passed This Way Before".

[thomas96]

My top 10:
1. Bobby Taylor
2. David Ruffin
3. Marvin Gaye
4. Jimmy Ruffin
5. Levi Stubbs
6. Jr. Walker [[VERY underrated vocalist in my opinion)
7. Shorty Long
8. Paul Williams
9. Smokey Robinson
10. Michael Jackon [[pre-1972)
Honorable Mentions: Richard Street, Eddie Kendricks, Stevie Wonder [[love him in every other way, but not a top 10 vocalist of mine), Lawrence Peyton, Ivy Jo Hunter, Marv Johnson, Barrett Strong, Joe Stubbs, Ron Isley, Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, C.P. Spencer, and Bobbie Smith.

There are just so many fantastic singers!

[imnokid]

David Ruffin
Marvin Gaye
Levi Stubbs
Sweet James Eppes
Paul Williams

[soulster]

In no particular order, and the names could change by the day:

Wilson Pickett
Marvin Junior [[The Dells)
Cuba Gooding Sr. [[The Main Ingredient)
Lou Rawls
David Ruffin

[thisoldheart]

1. levi stubbs
2. eddie kendricks
3. marvin gaye
4. david ruffin
5. ronald isley
6. jr. walker
7. smokey
8. ivy jo hunter

that's motown only ... couldn't do my top male singer's list of all time ... but dylan might be at the top.