No. 2: Ann Wilson - Heart
Heart and their incredible lead vocalist Ann Wilson may be best remembered for their power ballads in the mid-80s. Wilson’s technically sound power chords on such hits as “What About Love” and “Alone” are perfect examples of how great she was.
That said, her performances on Heart’s late 70s show off the versatility of her rock vocals. Tunes like “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” and of course, “Crazy on You” display rock and roll vocal chops only matched by one other woman in rock history.
Wilson’s immense vocal talents led to the band's great commercial success. Heart had 29 songs that made the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including 20 top 40 hits, nine top 10 hits, and two number-one songs (though Ann’s sister Nancy sang lead on “These Dreams”). The band continued to produce hits well into the 1990s.
As good as the band was overall, Ann Wilson’s vocals set them apart from everyone else in the rock genre. She is a powerhouse vocalist with fantastic range and force to her voice. It’s the standard all rock vocalists strive to attain, and few have the talent to do so. There is no doubt that Ann Wilson is a rock goddess.
No. 1: Janis Joplin
Simply put, she’s the queen. A bright, brief, shooting star of a queen. She showed that there was a place for women in rock and roll; they could be as powerful and have as much stage presence as any man.
Unfortunately, Joplin died of a drug overdose at the age of 27; her full potential was not reached. She charted five songs on the Billboard Hot 100, but four were posthumous.
For Joplin, it wasn’t about commercial success. It was about her role as a pioneer for all women in rock and roll. Her voice could be tender and tell a beautiful story, as in “Me and Bobby McGee.” It could be powerful like in “Piece of My Heart.” It could also be raw and emotional, like in “Cry Baby.”
Her bluesy style of rock and roll would influence many future stars. Few mixed the two sounds as effectively as she did. She was an incredible artist with superb vocals, but everyone is left wondering how great she could have been had she lived. As it is, she left a legacy behind, proving women could have great success in the genre.
It was challenging to cull this list and to rank these incredible vocalists. It was hard not to include more, but these nine stand out. You likely have your own list, and that is what makes music so great. There is something for everyone.