# Best Bass Singers Of All Time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000 "2011-03-01T00:56:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/41 "2011-04-26T17:59:59Z")
[My favorite Thurl Ravenscroft performance: “Asleep in the Deep”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etdMM6VsBos) ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/42 "2011-04-26T20:13:56Z")
Thanks for this thread! As a bass/basso It is blasted hard to find anything for us to perform, though it doesn’t stop me from simply singing popular songs an octave down or so. Type O negative’s singer the late Peter Steele could reach quite low when he felt like it. Anybody know of some other guys out there other than the operatics and a little fresher than the voices that came before? ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/43 "2011-04-26T21:49:53Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > [My favorite Thurl Ravenscroft performance: “Asleep in the Deep”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etdMM6VsBos) That song brings back a memory of an “Our Gang” episode where one of the kids, the big fat one whose name I can’t recall, was singing it and put himself to sleep. I must’ve been 6 years old at the time and found it hilarious. In fact, I haven’t heard it since. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/44 "2011-04-26T22:10:35Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Thanks for this thread! As a bass/basso It is blasted hard to find anything for us to perform, though it doesn’t stop me from simply singing popular songs an octave down or so. > > Type O negative’s singer the late Peter Steele could reach quite low when he felt like it. Anybody know of some other guys out there other than the operatics and a little fresher than the voices that came before? Yeah…what’s that song of theirs that had that “A cross upon her bedroom door” lyric in it? ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/45 "2011-04-27T04:42:23Z")
Okay, not the best. Really not even terribly good. But Bev Bevan doing [_Ben Crawley Steel Company_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLmBlLpx1n0) is a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/46 "2011-04-27T12:56:10Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Yeah…what’s that song of theirs that had that “A cross upon her bedroom door” lyric in it? “Black No. one” As an aside, How does one acquire that hollow boominess that Ravenscroft had? I can easily reach all the notes, but only some of them are produced with resonance. tips? eta, I seem to be able to get that tone by using what feels like the back of my throat and chest together… Perhaps I simply need more practice speaking theatrically. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/47 "2011-04-30T01:38:04Z")
> [@apewty](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9dW6wkA-s0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9dW6wkA-s0) > > I love this song too. My favorite Christmas song but not by much. Excellent, but let’s not forget Jimmy Ricks of the Ravens. Actually, let’s not forget anything by the Ravens. [**The Ravens** - White Christmas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1qY5ZXv-X4) I mostly listen to Doo-Wop and R&B, and I have recently come to realize that I really dig anybody who can pull off a bass lead. I sent an e-mail to Jim the Curator over at the internet oldies station Destination Doo-wop, and he had a few suggestions to add to my own list. Check out these other bass leads you should know about: Billy Faison of the Corvairs: [**The Corvairs** - True, True Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHi6GVUzQFk&feature=related) Gerald Gregory of The Spaniels: [**The Spaniels** - Heart and Soul](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVh6EyHOSQw) George Hollis of The Flairs: [**The Flairs** - Steppin’ Out](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJK7WvJcXHY) Will “Dub” Jones: [**Cadets** - Stranded in the Jungle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVtvE_Fky4M) **The Coasters** - Brazil [Not on YouTube, but fantastic] [**The Coasters** - Zing Went the Strings of my Heart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enr4TWIQTVQ) [Ellison White](http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/3ROWNEW/TheLastOf.htm) of the Four Jacks: [**The Four Jacks** - Last of the Good Rockin’ Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT4uIepEWWs) James DelLoach: [**The Blendairs** - Memories of You](http://www.we7.com/#/song/The-Blenders/Memories-Of-You) Bill Brown of the Dominoes: [**Dominoes** - Sixty Minute Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=781Oe6wDKDg&feature=fvst) [**Dominoes** - Pedal Pushin’ Pappa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89OsgCH8MJ8) [**The Checkers** - White Cliffs of Dover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oDcJBHwlqs) [**The Checkers** - Don’t Stop Dan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVhIEb56cI) Al Conterera of the Mystics: [**The Mystics** - White Cliffs of Dover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-QGXMQFts8) ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/48 "2011-04-30T18:00:06Z")
A.P. Carter ---
**Author:** ![flyboy090957](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@flyboy090957](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy090957)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/49 "2017-07-18T18:23:21Z")
James “Big Chief” Wetherington ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/50 "2017-07-19T05:02:12Z")
Tim Foust of Home Free [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L8zGfKDCCY&index=2&list=RD0l3dsHCScxU) or (with Avi Kaplan of Pentatonix) [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l3dsHCScxU). Yes, I realize this is a zombie. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/51 "2017-07-19T05:24:19Z")
George Beverly Shea, who sang for the Billy Graham Ministries for many years, had a gorgeous basso profundo. He was 104 years old when he died. 🆒 > **[George Beverly Shea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Beverly_Shea)** > > George Beverly Shea (February 1, 1909 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea was often described as "America's beloved gospel singer" and was considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy Graham Crusades and his exposure on radio, records and television. Because of the large attendance at Graham's Crusades, it is estimated that Shea sang live before more people than anyone else i Georg... This song, “I’d Rather Have Jesus” was probably his specialty. You don’t have to be a person of faith to appreciate it as music. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/i89oTAJ-Aek/hqdefault.jpg "George Beverly Shea I'd Rather Have Jesus - Last Days News Prophecy Update") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i89oTAJ-Aek) ---
**Author:** ![Hocus\_Pocus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hocus\_Pocus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hocus_Pocus)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/52 "2017-07-19T06:33:38Z")
> [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](#): > > Current on the country charts: [Josh](http://www.youtube.com/user/JoshTurnerVEVO?feature=chclk#p/u/23/uFz61X2PQTw) [Turner](http://www.youtube.com/user/JoshTurnerVEVO?feature=chclk#p/u/1/IH1Z9DEDqpk) I will second this mention, although a better example of his deep voice would be [_Long Black Train_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyRZTAmcW7c). ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/53 "2017-07-19T06:47:36Z")
Oh. aw dude - I thought it was gonna be best bassist singers and I was gonna be all like Geddy Lee, bruh! :(\* Maybe not Ravenscroft deep but deep enough - [Ed Ames](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkId85JJ5Zw). Most metal vocalists go for the deep thing, more often than not augmented by effects, to go for a cookie monster type thing, which I enjoy immensely.🙂 While I can’t provide examples that have no vocal effects, Eric Rutan’s (of Hate Eternal) voice, as evidenced in a sound check, sounds just as deep as he does [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvjM-MrZH2U&t=215s). \*TBH this once-upon-a-time Rush fan always had to “contend” with Geddy’s vox. Would also like to mark this occasion that this has been the first time ever at the Dope that an asterisk was used with an emoji. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/54 "2017-07-19T07:05:09Z")
It turns out the evil, dark song I was seeking was “Christian Woman” by Typo O Negative. Creepy! > **[War Thunder — Registration](https://warthunder.com/en/registration?r=userinvite_42224886)** > > Play for free with friends in the most realistic online game ---
**Author:** ![Buford\_was\_no\_angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Buford\_was\_no\_angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buford_was_no_angel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/55 "2017-07-19T14:05:31Z")
Again, gospel, but George Younce of the Cathedrals. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/56 "2017-07-19T14:33:48Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > Oh. > Geddy Lee, bruh! Ha! My quick read of the title had Geddy popping into my head as well. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/57 "2017-07-19T18:29:15Z")
Geddy Lee singing bass? Hardly! 😛 If you’re looking for the anti-bass singer, how about Bradley Delp or Michael Sweet, the singer for Stryper who performed with Boston for a while after Delp’s death? King’s X singer/bassist Doug Pinnick sings way better than Mr. Weinrib, and I have enjoyed both bands’ music. AFAIK, they never toured together, but believe me, they should have. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/58 "2017-07-19T18:37:38Z")
Burl Strevel from the Blue Ridge Quartet. ---
**Author:** ![Hocus\_Pocus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hocus\_Pocus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hocus_Pocus)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/59 "2017-07-19T18:53:33Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Geddy Lee singing bass? Hardly! 😛 If you’re looking for the anti-bass singer, how about Bradley Delp or Michael Sweet, the singer for Stryper who performed with Boston for a while after Delp’s death? Top prize for anti-bass would have to go to Philip Bailey (EW&F). ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000/60 "2017-07-19T19:19:54Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Ha! My quick read of the title had Geddy popping into my head as well. 😃 I came in here to say the same thing. **Eddie** beat me to it, in the best way possible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-bass-singers-of-all-time/573000.md?page=4)