# Unmistakable voices **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414 "2009-10-03T00:29:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/1 "2009-10-03T00:29:16Z")
As kind of a companion to the [Songs you would have sworn were sung by somebody else](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=534263) thread, which artists have such a distinctive voices that you know them instantly and _never_ mistake them for anyone else? For me, it’s Richie Havens, Bob Dylan, Buffy St. Marie, James Taylor, Robin Williamson, Rickie Lee Jones, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash and, um, …Tiny Tim. You? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/2 "2009-10-03T01:14:31Z")
Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/3 "2009-10-03T01:31:54Z")
Neil Sedaka Frankie Valli Gordon Lightfoot ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/4 "2009-10-03T01:54:08Z")
Sting, Townes van Zandt, Neil Young. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/5 "2009-10-03T02:00:39Z")
Aretha Franklin, Don Henley, Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, Bruce Hornsby. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/6 "2009-10-03T02:17:02Z")
Rev. Peyton, Steve Winwood, Meat Loaf, Janis, Gary Brooker, Vanda/Young (of Flash and the Pan – one has a very distinctive voice, only I’m not sure which of them), Loudon Wainwright III, and the champion of them all, Howlin’ Wolf, ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/7 "2009-10-03T02:35:06Z")
Lou Reed. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/8 "2009-10-03T02:40:39Z")
Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac has one of the most distinctive voices ever, in my opinion. It has always been one of my favorite voices of rock music because. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/9 "2009-10-03T03:04:12Z")
Tom Waits Morrisey Kate Bush Peter Murphy ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/10 "2009-10-03T03:05:57Z")
Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/11 "2009-10-03T03:26:26Z")
Don Knotts Robert Smith of The Cure Bjork Kate Pierson of B-52s Fred Schneider of B-52s James Earl Jones Fran Drescher ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/12 "2009-10-03T03:32:11Z")
I’d agree with just about everybody listed and add Elvis Presley, Rick Astley (after a year and a half of being Rickrolled) and Colin Meloy from The Decemberists. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/13 "2009-10-03T03:46:07Z")
Robin Gibb Aretha Franklin Michael Jackson Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan) Michael McDonald All the Beatles except George Barbra Streisand Eric Clapton Elton John Nat King Cole Janis Joplin Frank Sinatra Phil Collins Glen Campbell Tony Bennett Helen Reddy Mick Jagger Louis Armstrong Glenn Frey (Eagles) Helen Rogers (Jazzmasters) Olivia Newton John Chris Cornell John Denver Beth Gibbons (Portishead) Stevie Wonder Kenny Rogers Jimi Hendrix Lionel Ritchie Eartha Kitt Carol Channing George Thorogood Van Morrison Stevie Ray Vaughn ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/14 "2009-10-03T03:50:48Z")
Geddy Lee The lead singer of AC/DC, whose name I can’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/15 "2009-10-03T03:59:39Z")
OK, a couple more… Janis Joplin Peter Gabriel Michael Stipe ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/16 "2009-10-03T04:26:19Z")
Paul Lynde! Casey Kasem! Dick Clark! ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/17 "2009-10-03T05:18:23Z")
Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil Shane MacGowan Joe Strummer Billy Bragg Freddie Mercury Joey Ramone Bob Mould Corrinne Tucker (Sleater-Kinney) David Byrne Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes) Exene Cervenka Cyndi Lauper ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/18 "2009-10-03T09:10:27Z")
Tom Waits and the guy from Crash Test Dummies ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/19 "2009-10-03T09:25:10Z")
Randy Travis ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414/20 "2009-10-03T09:58:31Z")
With out question, **Karen Carpenter**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmistakable-voices/512414.md?page=2)