Vote

She does it all pop, jazz, blues in a magnificent way

My beautiful friend, Susan Cowsill.

Measha Brueggergosman, Canadian rock-star soprano, DG artist, and, to paraphrase Amadeus, "an ornament on our state."

Sandy Denny

Billie Holiday

There are too many to choose from, so I'll pick one from the sixties and one current one: Aretha Franklin, for the combination of skill, range and soul, and Cassandra Wilson, the most creative (by which I mean the most artistically successful,not the most experimental) of contemporary jazz singers.

Sarah McLachlan, Eva Cassidy, Serena Ryder.

Alison Krauss—sound from the heavens.

Edita Gruberova, soprano, has recorded and performed many of the greatest roles in opera.

It's a tough one, I've always liked the idea of putting a whole host of my favorites together on one record, but it would probably be a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. Two I always love though are Skin from Skunk Anansie and Annie Lennox. Great edge to their voices.

Not just one: Joni Mitchell, Rosanne Cash, Sarah McLachlan.

k. d. lang, the only singer who could go toe to toe with Roy Orbison!

Shirley Horn!

Let's just say I have favorites. For truly expressive female voices, I could recommend Brandi Carlile, Nina Diaz of Girl in a Coma, the incomparable Diana Krall, and Etta James. Whatever genre of music you like, there is a woman with a voice that can move you.

Lisa Hannigan

Angela Gossow from Arch Enemy!

Nina Simone is my favorite vocalist, but it depends on the mood. Runners up include Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, Janis Joplin, Marisa Monte, Mariza, Astrud Gilberto, and Toto la Momposina.

Do I win a prize by identifying the photo of Meredith Monk? She's great and I've followed her career since the early '80s. These days I'm completely taken by Iva Bittova. An Eastern European native, her voice conjures up the mysticism of that often ethereal region. When called for, images of vampires and horror pour forth in a New Music idiom. Sort of like a Mario Bava film for the ears. Young Goths should check her out! Her two ECM albums, along with the many discs by Monk, are challenging and ultimately rewarding.

Christine Aguilera

Celtic/Folk legend Maire Brennan of Clannad fame. Ethereal embodied. Period.

Loreena McKennitt

Marisa Monte. The next would-be Maria Callas, who went back to her roots and became one of the greatest Brazilian voices ever.

If forced to chose a favorite, I would have to say Rickie Lee Jones. Although I also really enjoy Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Roseanne Cash, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Anita Baker, Be Good Tanyas, Liz Wright, Melanie, and Linda Ronstadt.

Mary Margaret O'Hara. One album ('89), one soundtrack ('02.) Appears on all five The Henrys (Toronto) albums and numerous anthologies, notably Hal Wilner projects.

Reeta-Leena Korhola (Husky Rescue).

Anna Netrebko

At the moment I would have to say Victoria Legrand of the indie group Beach House.

Kirsten Flagstad

I have two. Bjork and Sandra Nasić of the Guano Apes, for not hiding as a woman in the super-male-dominated German metal/trance-funk-hip-prog-rock field.

Sarah Vaughn hands down, one of the most tantalizing singers ever! Incredible voice, one of the few who could hit the high and low octaves successfully.