The Voice

I don't watch karaoke reality shows.   That would exclude me from the obvious.   No "American Idol," and not a single installment from "The Voice."

Programs like these never made sense to me.   After all, why are we supporting the artificial manufacturing of unknown voices?  Especially when it's attached to winning a contest.  I could understand if you went to see live music in the Village, heard a band that blew you away, and now you want to use every form of social media to get the word out.   But karaoke with judges?   No thanks.

Instead, I think we should be celebrating the past.  And not just anyone.  I mean the masters.   The ones that all these wannabes mimic on these Glee-infested shows.   So, I thought it was high time to honor the Top 10 greatest vocalists in Rock N Roll history.

I write this with great risk, as this list can be argued right down to the octave with the fervor of two men at a bar deciding on the world's greatest pitcher.   But, I'll take my chances.   So in no particular order:

STEVE PERRY - Journey - It's a shame his voice didn't hold up over the long term, but in his prime, few belted stronger.  Whether hard rock or a ballad, he nailed it.

JOHN ANDERSON - YES - Some people didn't like the falsetto in a progressive rock band, but surrounded by some of the greatest musicians in the field, his voice often rose above.

BONO- U2 - The political angst of the band's early work was communicated perfectly through his Irish pipes, and as U2's sound matured, so did his voice.

PAUL RODGERS - Free, Bad Company, The Firm, Queen - He's fronted the largest number of bands in rock history.  He's managed a pure, natural and powerful sound for decades and even stood in for the great Freddie Mercury.

ROBERT PLANT - Led Zeppelin - Often imitated, but never duplicated, this soulful, pre-metal,  rock singer managed to race neck and neck with Jimmy Page's original guitar riffs.

FREDDIE MERCURY - Queen - Rock met Opera, and only he could have pulled it off.  His voice often seemed too good for the music.  He led Rock's first real supergroup.

BURTON CUMMINGS - Guess Who - Who?  The least glamorous on the list, and probably the least well known.  But think about the power behind "American Woman" and "No Time" and you see how he stands amongst the greats.

PETER GABRIEL - Genesis - His solo career was equal to his success with Genesis for one reason:  His wailing voice didn't sound like anyone that came before or after.

CHRIS CORNELL - Temple of the Dog,  Soundgarden, Audioslave - His vocals can be heard on tracks from 3 different groups and he blows through songs effortlessly.   A James Bond theme to his credit doesn't hurt either.

JOHN WETTON - King Crimson, Asia - His most famous group, Asia, was dubbed a supergroup with an all-star at every position.  His vocals were up to the task.

Honorable mention;   Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)

Well, that's it.   Let the debate begin!!!  Omissions?   Complaints?   Don't be shy.

Feel free to "voice" your opinion.