In this thread about Macy Gray there was some discussion about singers with unusual voices. I am a big fan of peculiar voices.
Anyone else really like strange voices? Who are your favorites?
I initially thought Nina Simone had a weird voice when I was introduced to her ten years ago. Now I adore her and can’t imagine a world without her music.
Thom Yorke - bizarre high voice (recently copied almost exactly by the lead singer of Muse).
Nick Drake - one third of the powerful appeal of his music is his unique voice, IMO - the others being the ethereal tunes and breathtaking guitar work.
Jeff Buckley.
The lead singer of that one band as well. What’s it called? Placebo.
David Bowie.
Kelis.
Eartha Kitt has an unusual but compelling voice.
Edith Piaf did too, if you wanna go back a ways…
Annie Ross, maybe?
Almost forgot… Mockingbird, I’ve always been confused when people frequently mistake Nina Simone’s voice for a man’s.
WTF? She sounds like pure sexy woman to me. I Want Some Sugar In My Bowl makes me faint.
Bon Scott of AC/DC had a most unusual voice, which fascinates me. I’m not a giant fan of the group, but it’s plain that this guy had some kind of tortured gift.
I didn’t like Kate Bush when I first heard her music, but she grew on me enormously over time.
Paul Young had an unusual voice in that he sang full on with his throat, instead of from the diaphragm. I have nothing to back this up with, but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he doesn’t sing like that anymore because he might have wrecked his voice singing that way.
If we’re ever at the same Dopefest, ask me to sing. I tend to sound like a Cajun Elvis.
How about Brad Roberts from The Test Crash Dummies ?
Known for the “Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm” song.
Tiny Tim.
Oh yes. Him singing “Superman’s Song” is just wonderful. Very strange, very neat voice.
This is the sort of thread where I find new people to go looking for. If anyone can suggest particular songs for their particular favorites, I’d be grateful.
Jeff Olsen, Cajun Elvis? By design?
How strange? Will “not traditionally lovely” do? I love Louis Armstrong and Joe Cocker.
And, for actually strange, there’s Jimmy Sommerville, once of Bronski Beat.
Captain Beefheart. It’s like…oh never mind. You just have to hear it. There’s a sample of a tune on this page if you scroll down.
Tom Waits.
Gwen Stefani has sort of a funny voivce but I think it’s more affectation than actual funny voice.
I guess all I mean is a voice that would have some people demanding to know if you think that person can actually sing.
For example, my husband is completely baffled by my love of Leon Redbone. He claims that Leon Redbone cannot sing at all.
But this is a man who loves Willie Nelson, who definitely doesn’t have a “traditionally lovely” voice. 
Billie Holiday, of course. Also, the singer for that newer group Maroon 5 (or something along those lines). Catherine Irwin, of Freakwater, comes to mind.
Yeah, that’s the way it comes out. Sometimes more Cajun than Elvis but the mix is always there. Check this out.
I just heard “Crying” for the first time in years the other night, and it reminded me that Roy Orbison has a really weird and actually kind of creepy voice, if you think about it.
Bjork has a remarkable vocal range. The lead and backing vocals on Sweet’s hits are quite remarkable as well.
Lazare (the vocalist for Solefald) has a somewhat odd voice. You can hear “Mont Blanc Providence Crow” from In Harmonia Universali here.
J. Mascis was acutally the first I though of…
BUT, actually I have a two way tie for strangest…
Daniel Smith of The Danielson Famille
and
YaSuKo O. of Melt-Banana