Three greatest female vocalists ever?

[dfwgator]

Jimmy Johnson.

[canalabamian]

Glad I got to pull the trigger first and make your day. There are several others listed by others that I might have posted had I taken more time, but she was the first BEST to pop into my mind when I was trying to answer quickly. Probably a good reason for that psychologically.

[KC Burke]

bingo

knowing you, I imagine you didn’t have to look it up.

[Windflier]

She said guys enjoyed drinking w/ her & scr*wing her, but no one wanted to take her out in public or have a relationship with her.

That's understandable, given the way Janis put herself together. It's like she was born without the feminine gene. She always appeared to be slightly clueless where it came to girl stuff.

[Windflier]

name who was in her high school class that everyone knows.

You mean besides Janis herself? You got me.

[KC Burke]

As was already guessed up-thread, Jimmy Johnson, the football coach, was in her class at Port Arthur.

[Albion Wilde]

Annie Lennox
Kiri te Kanawa
Loretta Lynn

[Albion Wilde]

It’s amazing that it took 82 posts to get to Adele, a truly original voice and composer with great heart and expression. But it’s probably due to the average age of FReepers who sign onto these kinds of threads.

[Albion Wilde]

Too many to name only 3. This thread keeps changing my mind!

I feel the same. But it's heartening to learn how many others have considered my top dozen!

[dfwgator]

I think Janis became a lesbian by default.

[truth_seeker]

I have seen that video, before. The shades are of special interest to me, and that particular period has come back into style several times.

Anita had a whole lot of use/addiction issues, including Marijuana in 1953 and a near death heroin OD in 1968.

A good chance exists, that her easy style in the video is partly drug induced.

[dfwgator]

No mention of Julie London?

I grew up crushing on her as Nurse Dixie on “Emergency”.

[2ndDivisionVet]

My wife’s former company, Sears Optical (Luxottica) owns Ray-Ban and has carried them for years. Yes, I knew about the drug addiction.

[Rastus]

https://youtu.be/8do_Vsc4Frw

[Albion Wilde]

Janis is the only one I did not see perform live. She would have been great.

I saw her perform live in a small club in Philly, the Electric Factory, in 1969. She was drinking heavily and it was a zoo. Very disappointing.

[Windflier]

I think Janis became a lesbian by default.

I was a high schooler when Janis was in her prime, but I'm so out of the loop. I never heard that about her.

Is it just an ugly rumor, or did she really go that way?

[dfwgator]

I think she definitely did have some lesbian flings. And I would imagine that there were a lot more lesbians attracted to her than guys.

[TChad]

Is it just an ugly rumor, or did she really go that way?

She didn't hide it. See "Sexuality and relationships" at:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janis_Joplin

[Mase]

I've seen Renaissance twice in my life and will never forget being in awe when hearing Haslem's five octave range with perfect pitch for the first time. She would effortlessly hit G6 the entire show. Ashes are Burning remains my favorite live song even after 40 years.

Aimee Mann also has an exceptional voice. Saw her way back when she was with Til Tuesday. But Mann could never hit and hold the notes like Haslam back in her day. I am told Renaissance is, or will be, on tour this summer. Hope to see them.

[Slyfox]

Both Adele and Julie Andrews (before her unfortunate vocal surgery) are known for being able to sing in every octave possible and sound great to boot. I’d have to add Patsy Cline to the list if I was to pick a third because I respect great altos.