# Nicknames of singers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 8, 2000, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519 "2000-09-08T17:49:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darqangelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@Darqangelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darqangelle)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2000, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519/1 "2000-09-08T17:49:18Z")
I need help here, fellow music-lovers. (I’m talking beyond psychological–bite thy tongue) While listening to some Frankie in a pub, somebody mentioned the crooner’s name and how much she liked him. I held up my glass and toasted to “the Chairman of the Board”. She looked at me, puzzled, as I explained. But I’d forgotten the nicknames/titles of other performers. Help me complete this list: The Chairman of the Board = Frank Sinatra The Godfather of Soul = James Brown The King = Elvis A Presley The King of Pop = Michael Jackson The Godfather of Funk(?) = George Clinton The Thin White Duke = David Bowie and is Eric Clapton just “The God of Guitar”? or what? ---
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2000, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519/2 "2000-09-08T18:10:22Z")
According Penn, of Penn and Teller, “Iggy Pop is God”. That’s all I can contribute. ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2000, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519/3 "2000-09-08T18:13:51Z")
The Queen of Soul = Aretha Franklin Ol’ Blue Eyes = Frank Sinatra The Motor City Madman = Ted Nugent The Best Legs In Show Business = Tina Turner The Hardest Working Man In Show Business = James Brown Clapton is God ---
**Author:** ![struuter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@struuter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/struuter)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2000, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519/4 "2000-09-08T18:16:50Z")
Much as I hate to bring her up, Madonna is the Material Girl. I believe Clapton’s nickname is Slowhand. Although I would think God of Guitar would work. And I think Prince was once referred to as the Purple One. Sorry…I can’t think of more. Good thread, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519/5 "2000-09-08T20:41:03Z")
The Man in Black = Johnny Cash Father of Bluegrass = ummmmmmmmmmmmm Bill Monroe? ummmmmmmmm I suck at this game 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519/6 "2000-09-08T20:41:32Z")
Benny Goodman – King of Swing Louis Armstrong – Pops, Satchmo Charlie Parker – Bird, Yardbird Gordon Sumner – Sting John Tesh – Blond Frankenstein ---
**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:** [September 8, 2000, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519/7 "2000-09-08T20:56:04Z")
Mel Tormé – the Velvet Fog (a name he hated, BTW) Bruce Springsteen – The Boss Billy Joel (my fave!) – the Piano Man ---
**Author:** ![Darqangelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@Darqangelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darqangelle)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519/8 "2000-09-09T14:33:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Greg Charles \* > **John Tesh – Blond Frankenstein** _L_ Rick Springfield = No, not “Bruce”… ---
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2000, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nicknames-of-singers/32519/9 "2000-09-09T17:27:02Z")
Robin Zander – The man of 1,000 voices