You know what I mean, a voice that when you hear it, there is no question of “Who is singing this song?” Everybody knows within a note or two.
A few contenders:
Roy Orbison
Willie Nelson
John Lennon
Louis Armstrong
(I just realized these are all men, help throw dome distinctive women into the pot)
Tom Waits
Alison Krauss
Alanis Morrisette
Bob Dylan
Bjork
Dave Matthews
Sting
Tom Petty
Gwen Stefani
The guy from System of a Down
Aaron Neville
The answer, without a doubt, for good or ill, is Geddy Lee.
Ronnie James Dio
David Coverdale (oft imitated, never duplicated)
Les Claypool
Dave Mustaine
Lemmy
I think Miller nailed it with Geddy Lee.
I was gonna post Dylan. Geddy Lee and Dave Matthews and others are good choices too.
So I’ll add…Janis. Mick Jagger singing falsetto too! (Emotional Rescue?)
Billie Holliday
OOOOO! Lady Day! Good One!
Maddy Prior
I thought of Dylan as soon as I saw the title. Jim Morrison is pretty unmistakeable too.
For the women… Janis Joplin.
Daryl Hall (of course)
Todd Rundgren
The guy from System of a Down = Serj Tankian
Another vote for Geddy Lee - definite top 5 distinctive voice…
Another top 5 DV has to go to Peter Gabriel with his unique “falsetto insertions” (can you think of a better term?) in virtually all of his songs - a trademark voice if you will…
Ozzy is quite distinctive too…I have not heard anyone else duplicate it either. That’s probably why Peter let Ozzy sing “Shock the Monkey” (with Coal Chamber) since he could pull that song off too.
Chicks?
Cyndi Lauper…high and squeeky…
Enya…very smooth and velvety…
George Thuroughgood is top 10 if not 5…
Roger Waters is quite the screamer/screecher in some of his tunes - not quite singing, but definitely distinctive…
Marcel Marceau.
LMFAO!!!
Maddy Prior, vote #2. I’m just listening to her now, amazingly enough.
Tori Amos
Lots more dittos down the list…
Lyle Lovett
Joe Cocker
Michael McDonald