HOF discussion - Male vocals

[The Flying Mouse]

:twisted: Here's your chance to have your say on why you think your favourites should be enducted to our hall of fame, or even why you think other nominees don't make the grade.

As always, please respect the opinions of others, even if you don't agree with them.

Your nominated male vocalists are................


Bryan Adams
Steve Barton
Jon Bon Jovi (2)
David Bowie
James Brown
Johnny Cash
Joe Cocker
Phil Collins
Alice Cooper
Davis Coverdale
John Denver (2)
Neil Diamond (2)
Bruce Dickinson (2)
Ronnie James Dio
Peter Frampton (2)
Ian Gillan
Rob Halford
Michael Jackson
Billy Joel
Elton John (6)
Tom Jones
John Lennon
Freddy Mercury (5)
Roy Orbison (4)
Elvis Presley (4)
Sam Roberts
Kenny Rogers (2)
Richie Sambora
Bruce Springsteen (4)
Barry White

Numbers in brackets indicate how many members (if more than one) have nominated this singer.

[The Flying Mouse]

:twisted: As I said last time around..................

One of our nominees, Elvis Presley, called this man the greatest singer in the world.
Another of our nominees, Bruce Springsteen, said he grew up wanting to be him.

That was The Big O, Roy Orbison :cool:

A graduate from that melting pot of rock n roll that was Sun Records, Roy burst onto the scene in 1961 with his first record "At The Rock House".

He would remain a prolific song writter and performer until his sudden death on 6th December 1988, just two days after his last show.

He is an inductee of both the R&RHOF, and the Song Writters Hall Of Fame.

Although many of his most well known songs don't have the happiest themes (his typical style was much more angsty than that) his vocal performances were always stunning in their quality.

Recordings of his live performances are always a pleasure to see, particularly Black And White Night, where he was joined on stage by many famous admirers to perform some of the hits that made him a legend.

Though all his proffessional success and acclaim he is well remembered as a quiet and humble man.

The long list of famous singers, song writters, and musicians who worked with Roy, or credit Roy as an influence is a testimony to his greatness.
But perhaps it was best expressed in the film "The Commitments" that was brought out the year after his death..............



So you've got a band? - Yeah.
I don't know why you bother. Everything's shite since Roy Orbison died.

[chairboys]

Ronnie James Dio, lead singer of Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio.
Case closed.

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Another of our nominees, Bruce Springsteen, said he grew up wanting to be him.

That was The Big O, Roy Orbison :cool:

I'm sure you probably know that Bruce inducted Roy into the Cleveland HOF: http://www.royorbison.com/bruce-springsteens-speech-for-roy-orbisons-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-1987/

I always thought that this song showed a big Roy influence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8MkGqT0Z54

Okay, here goes (cracks knuckles)- my nominees:

Bruce Springsteen- I think that most people who are not fans of Bruce just see him as the bandanna-wearing “Born in the U.S.A.” guy, which is understandable, since that’s when he became most popular. But he’s much more than that guy, if he ever was that guy to begin with.

Bruce has many strong suits, and I’ll talk about his songwriting in that category, as I have nominated him there as well. Here, I’ll mention his skill as a live performer, at which he is one of the best. At 63 years old, he’s still putting on 3 and ½ to 4 –hour shows, all without a break. During that time, he’s singing, playing guitar, harmonica (occasionally piano), leading the band, and changing the setlist on the fly, all while he’s running around the stage like someone half his age. He has an incredible ability to connect to the audience, and they to him. Again, a (fans’ eye view) video is worth 10,000 words: http://youtu.be/kaEVvbovENs?t=1m39s

As much fun as his shows are, they can also have some beautiful musical moments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrBCgS_ELoE

He's equally at home alone with just an acoustic guitar, or leading the currently 17-member E Street Band.

Add to that the number of younger musicians who cite Bruce as an influence, and I think he definitely deserves a place in the Hall.

Elton John- Elton is one of my all-time favorites, and he has been since I was a kid. He's a great live performer, and his current band (which includes both Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson) is fantastic as well. All of these years later, "Tiny Dancer" and "Your Song" can still give me chills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkv5KvD9uk8

John Denver- Another artist taken too soon, John had a lovely voice, and wrote songs that were beloved by many around the world. I love his songs, including "Annie's Song", "Perhaps Love", "Rocky Mountain High", "Calypso", "Leaving On a Jet Plane", and this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc4bJj6sSGc

Peter Frampton- Pete became a huge star very quickly with the release of "Frampton Comes Alive" back in 1976, and he was never quite ready for the fame it brought him. I think his status as a teen idol overshadowed his true ability as a musician, and I think he's highly underrated as a guitarist. He's still performing and releasing new music today. Vocally, he sounds as good as he ever did, and I think his guitar skills are better than ever. "I'll Give You Money" is an absolute powerhouse live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_P05Fmlynk He's one of the few guitarists who still plays wired these days.

He also does some pretty acoustic tunes, such as "Just The Time of Year":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49bKDeYa8w0

Ian Gillan- Some time lead singer of Deep Purple, Gillan once possessed what is probably my favorite male rock voice ever. He could scream, yet still keep the musicality and the emotion. No other version of "Gethsemane" from "Jesus Christ Superstar" can touch his, IMO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49bKDeYa8w0

"Child in Time" gives me chills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1slq_FwRN8o

[Adje]

Because there is only One King:

Elvis Presley

It's simple, if the King, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, is not in the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame has no right of existence at all

[stretch37]

DIO...omg his vocals were amazing even at age 67. Proof that it all doesn't end at 65 :D Or even CLOSE.

:-)

[wolfy35]

I can not in good conscience vote for either Elvis or Roy Orbison in this category for the simple reason I believe they have had such a massive impact on music and music that continues to be as sublime today as the day it was recorded that they should both be granted automatic entry into R&R heaven.

So with these 2 out of the equasion the only person who gets my vote is

Bruce Dickinson, Who many of you will only know of as the lead singer of Iron Maiden.

Amazing voice that sounds as good when he sings ballads as it does tearing at his vocal chords when he is giving it everything in the hardest of metal.

Not only that but how many other metal lead singers are also commercial airline pilots ( He flies Maiden's own plane while on tour as well as working for Astraeus airlines & both owning & flying for Cardiff Aviation ) Bruce was the first pilot to fly into Haiti with relief supplies after their devastating earthquake, He also regularly flies relief flights to evacuate people from prospective war zones and drop supplies.

All in all a good egg.

[The Flying Mouse]

:twisted: A quick run through of my nominations...................


1. Steve Barton
Again, like the bands category, I thought it would be fair to keep to my original nominations as closely as possible, so i've once more put Steve's name in the hat.
Not everybodys cup of tea, perhaps, but IMHO the work he did on Tanz was nothing short of perfection, and had he taken the lead in DOTV on Broadway I believe things would have gone very differently.

2. Johnny Cash.
I'm not a massive fan of Country, but Johnny Cash was a fantastic singer. Certainly the best thing that ever happened to Country music IMHO.

3. Joe Cocker.
What a guy. With those wild screams and body spasms, Joe was pure energy. You could hook that boy up to the national grid and light up Sheffield for a week :shock:
And what noise emanated from those pipes :shock:
Joe is the only British born singer in my list of nominations for Male Vocal, and I think he's well worth that distinction.

4. Freddie Mercury.
Undoubtedly one of the greatest voices ever.
Not to mention a flamboyant and entertaining showman.
A true artist.

5. Roy Orbison.
What more can I say that I haven't already said?
How about the time he was touring with The Beatles, went on first, and did FOURTEEN ENCORES? The crowd just wouldn't let him go.
It would have been more if Paul McCartney and John Lennon didn't physicaly restrain him from going back on stage.
You know it's something pretty special when the crowd don't want the act on stage to hurry up and get finished so The Beatles can perform.

If I could pick one singer who's passed away that I wish I could have seen live, Roy would top the list every time.
An artist without measure.