[For an introduction to The Greatest Voices Project, click here.]

[For numbers 50 through 46, click here. For numbers 45-41, click here.]

——————————

#40: Larry Gatlin

A singer most well known for country songs, Larry Gatlin’s beautiful voice could have been popular in nearly any genre of music he chose. For most music fans, Larry Gatlin is best known as the lead singer of the Gatlin Brothers, but his voice set him apart, as he also sang a few solo numbers, and was quite often a singer with the Gaither Homecoming Friends.

Gatlin’s range is not extreme, but his control over his voice is amazing. He could sing honky-tonk style, ballads, or up tempo country songs, and sing them all with ease. One aspect that is often overlooked with Gatlin’s voice is his ability to change from his natural voice into falsetto, and still be in total control.

Most well known for hits such as “All the Gold in California,” Gatlin’s voice is best on display on slower songs such as “The Heart.” Enjoy this great tune.

——————————

#39: Brad Delp

The vocal power behind the band Boston, Brad Delp is probably most well known for his soaring notes on songs such as “More Than a Feeling.” While his high register is the most famous part of his voice, Delp also had a great deal of power behind each word he sang.

Of course, the tragedy behind Boston was that their producer, Tom Sholz, was such a perfectionist that he would not release an album until he felt it was perfect. That led to Boston only releasing three studio albums in their first 11 years as a group! Delp’s voice was the central figure of each album, but we are left to wonder how many more great songs he could have sung had it not been for the eccentric Sholz.

While “More than a Feeling” and “Longtime” are probably the best known songs by Boston, other songs equally feature Delp’s amazing vocal songs. One of my favorites, though it is not as well known, is “Can’tcha Say/Still in Love.” Delp sang the lead and higher harmonies on this track, as he did on several songs by Boston. Enjoy this great song.

——————————–

#38: Alison Krauss

Country star Alison Krauss is able to pull off something vocally that I usually do not find to be entertaining. She is able to sing in a very soft voice, but can hold the listener’s attention through every note. Personally, I am not usually drawn to softer voice, but Krauss’s emotion is undeniable.

Mostly singing country and bluegrass songs, Krauss has gained fans from all musical backgrounds with her emotion-filled voice, and her ability to select songs that fit her own style perfectly. The lead singer and a musical player in the band Union Station, Krauss probably came into her greatest level of fame from being featured on the “O Brother, Where Art Thou” soundtrack. However, her early song “When You Say Nothing At All” set the standard for her emotive performance. Here is that country classic.

———————————-

#37: Beverly Sills

Originally considered an unskilled opera singer, American native Beverly Sills went to Europe and gained broad appeal as her voice began to be seen for its amazing clarity. After some time, she returned to the United States and was received with great appeal. In fact, she eventually became the manager of the New York City Opera.

A recipient of four honorary doctorate degrees, Sills was also a tireless charity worker. Best known for her ability to hit high notes quickly and with great clarity, she sang from a wide variety of composers. Sills, known as “Bubbles” for her great personality, was one of the major voices in “The Barber of Seville” and other operas that held worldwide attention throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Sills died in 2007 at the age of 78 from lung cancer, but her voice lives on. Here she is singing an aria from a Handel opera.

———————————-

#36: Karen Carpenter

There are few singers in the history of pop music who have been able to display a vulnerability of emotion and still be considered a great singer. Karen Carpenter has to be at the top of the list of those who were able to do both.

With her deep range, and even deeper emotion, Carpenter was the star of The Carpenters. Of course, she was also the drummer for the group, and often would play somewhat elaborate solos on the drums to show off those talents. But it was her deeply emotional voice that constantly drew people to listen to The Carpenters. From TV specials to album sales, Karen’s voice was seen for what it was: a gift.

It is hard to select one song that shows the emotion in Karen’s voice. It really takes listening to a lot of songs by The Carpenters. Maybe, though, the song that shows it more than any other is “Rainy Days and Mondays.” Enjoy Karen’s voice in this wonderful song.