Stevie Wonder leads the list of the best 75 R&B singers of the story for Billboard. The ranking is based on a set of criteria that includes “vocal power, artistic trajectory, longevity, achievements in the industry, revolutionary influence and last generational impact.”
Updated list of an original published in 2015 that was led by Michael Jackson, the new one leaves Jackson in third place and her sister, Janet, in 17th. In addition to Stevie and Michael, they appear in the Top 5 Aretha Franklin (2), Beyoncé (4) and Whitney Houston (5). The ninth place is R. Kelly, currently imprisoned for several sexual crimes.
The Top 10 is completed with names such as Prince (7), Mariah Carey (8) or Marvin Gaye (10) and leaves out, for example, Usher, who must settle for 12. Less luck has had Alexander O’Neal, who does not appear at all. He worked side by side with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, but his work is not as remembered as Janet’s.
Top 75 opens with Ruth Brown and travels indispensable names such as Teena Marie (65), Rick James (51), Lauryn Hill (48) Aaliyah (40), Frank Ocean (37), Toni Braxton (36) or Green (18). Among the surprises, that Rihanna (46) appears above Brandy (41). TLC or Boyz II Men only appear through the inclusion of Babyface (35).
01 Stevie Wonder
02 Aretha Franklin
03 Michael Jackson
04 Beyoncé
05 Whitney Houston
06 James Brown
07 Prince
08 Mariah Carey
09 R. Kelly
10 Marvin Gaye
Podcast: 5 Stevie Wonder dishes
