100 Greatest Lead Singers of Vocal Groups
Criteria: These lead singers were chosen and ranked based upon the popularity of the songs they sang lead on, their influence on other lead singers, their uniqueness and level of innovation, their longevity, and the importance of their lead singing as a part of their group's overall sound. Only singers who led secular groups were considered for this list.
Lead Singers of Vocal Groups
1. Clyde McPhatter
(Dominoes - Drifters)
2. Tony Williams
(Platters)
3. Bill Kenny
(Ink Spots)
4. Levi Stubbs
(Four Tops)
5. Sonny Til
(Orioles)
6. Smokey Robinson
(Miracles)
7. Russell Thompkins Jr.
(Stylistics)
8. David Ruffin
(Temptations)
9. Eddie Kendricks
(Temptations)
10. Frankie Valli
(Four Lovers, Four Seasons)
(Dominoes - Drifters)
2. Tony Williams
(Platters)
3. Bill Kenny
(Ink Spots)
4. Levi Stubbs
(Four Tops)
5. Sonny Til
(Orioles)
6. Smokey Robinson
(Miracles)
7. Russell Thompkins Jr.
(Stylistics)
8. David Ruffin
(Temptations)
9. Eddie Kendricks
(Temptations)
10. Frankie Valli
(Four Lovers, Four Seasons)
11. Gladys Knight
(Pips)
12. Curtis Mayfield
(Impressions)
13. Martha Reeves
(Vandellas)
14. Diana Ross
(Supremes)
15. Hank Ballard
(Royals, Midnighters)
16. James Sheppard
(Heartbeats - Shep and the Limelites)
17. Marvin Junior
(Dells)
18. Darlene Love
(Blossoms, Crystals, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans)
19. Frankie Lymon
(Teenagers)
20. William Hart
(Delfonics)
21. Teddy Pendergrass
(Blue Notes)
22. Jimmy Ricks
(Ravens)
23. Little Anthony Gourdine
(Chesters, Duponts, Imperials)
24. Patti LaBelle
(Blue Belles, Labelle)
25. Ben E. King
(Crowns, Drifters)
26. Arlene Smith
(Chantels)
27. Willie Winfield
(Harptones)
28. James "Pookie" Hudson
(Spaniels)
29. Nate Nelson
(Flamingos)
30. Rudy West
(5 Keys)
31. Philippe Wynne
(Spinners)
32. Bobby Lester
(Moonglows)
33. Gene Mumford
(Larks, Dominoes)
34. Nolan Strong
(Diablos)
35. Marilyn McCoo
(5th Dimension)
36. Connee Boswell
(Boswell Sisters)
37. Mavis Staples
(Staples Singers)
38. Shirley Owens
(Shirelles)
39. Eddie Levert
(O'Jays)
40. Donald Mills
(Mills Brothers)
41. Maithe Marshall
(Ravens, Marshall Brothers)
42. Brian Wilson
(Beach Boys)
43. Michael Jackson
(Jackson 5)
44. Maryland Pierce
(5 Keys)
45. Johnny Maestro
(Crests, Brooklyn Bridge)
46. Johnny Funches
(Dells)
47. Jackie Wilson
(Dominoes)
48. Rudy Lewis
(Drifters)
49. Dennis Edwards
(Contours, Temptations)
50. Johnny Moore
(Drifters)
51. Ray Pollard
(Wanderers, Ink Spots)
52. Jesse Belvin
(Various Groups)
53. Earl Lewis
(Channels)
54. Jay Black
(Jay and the Americans)
55. Eugene Record
(Chi-Lites)
56. Richard Blandon
(Dubs)
57. Jimmy Beaumont
(Skyliners)
58. Milton Love
(Concords, Solitaires)
59. Johnny Tanner
("5" Royales)
60. Cleve Duncan
(Penguins)
61. Earl Carroll
(Cadillacs)
62. Bobby Nunn
(Robins, Coasters)
63. Otis Williams
(Charms)
64. John "Buddy" Bailey
(Clovers)
65. George "Smitty" Smith
(Manhattans)
66. Eugene Pitt
(Jive Five)
67. Lee Andrews
(Lee Andrews and the Hearts)
68. Carl Gardner
(Coasters)
69. Pirkle Lee Moses
(El Dorados)
70. Carl Wilson
(Beach Boys)
71. Gerald Alston
(Manhattans)
72. Fred Parris
(Scarlets, Five Satins)
73. Ernie Lee Warren
(Cardinals)
74. Grady Chapman
(Robins)
75. Sollie McElroy
(Flamingos, Moroccos)
76. Grover "Dean" Barlow
(Crickets, Montereys)
77. George Grant
(Castelles)
78. Herman "Junior" Denby
(Swallows)
79. Eddie Rich
(Swallows)
80. Cuba Gooding
(Main Ingredient)
81. Billy Murray
(American Quartet)
82. Harvey Fuqua
(Moonglows)
83. Dion DiMucci
(Dion and the Belmonts)
84. Charlie White
(Checkers, Clovers)
85. Cissy Houston
(Sweet Inspirations)
86. Sam "Little Sonny" Brown
(Intruders)
87. Jimmy Sacca
(Hilltoppers)
88. Dickie Smith
(5 Keys)
89. Leroy Griffin
(Nutmegs)
90. Jerry Lawson
(Persuasions)
91. Al Alberts
(Four Aces)
92. Ruby Nash
(Ruby and the Romantics)
93. Veronica "Ronnie" Bennett Spector
(Ronettes)
94. Gladys Horton
(Marvelettes)
95. Ray "Buddy" Wooten
(Mello-Moods)
96. Wallace "Scotty" Scott
(Whispers)
97. Jimmy Ellis
(Trammps)
98. Mike Love
(Beach Boys)
99. General Johnson
(Showmen, Chairmen Of The Board)
100. Larry Harrison
(Four Buddies)
(Pips)
12. Curtis Mayfield
(Impressions)
13. Martha Reeves
(Vandellas)
14. Diana Ross
(Supremes)
15. Hank Ballard
(Royals, Midnighters)
16. James Sheppard
(Heartbeats - Shep and the Limelites)
17. Marvin Junior
(Dells)
18. Darlene Love
(Blossoms, Crystals, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans)
19. Frankie Lymon
(Teenagers)
20. William Hart
(Delfonics)
21. Teddy Pendergrass
(Blue Notes)
22. Jimmy Ricks
(Ravens)
23. Little Anthony Gourdine
(Chesters, Duponts, Imperials)
24. Patti LaBelle
(Blue Belles, Labelle)
25. Ben E. King
(Crowns, Drifters)
26. Arlene Smith
(Chantels)
27. Willie Winfield
(Harptones)
28. James "Pookie" Hudson
(Spaniels)
29. Nate Nelson
(Flamingos)
30. Rudy West
(5 Keys)
31. Philippe Wynne
(Spinners)
32. Bobby Lester
(Moonglows)
33. Gene Mumford
(Larks, Dominoes)
34. Nolan Strong
(Diablos)
35. Marilyn McCoo
(5th Dimension)
36. Connee Boswell
(Boswell Sisters)
37. Mavis Staples
(Staples Singers)
38. Shirley Owens
(Shirelles)
39. Eddie Levert
(O'Jays)
40. Donald Mills
(Mills Brothers)
41. Maithe Marshall
(Ravens, Marshall Brothers)
42. Brian Wilson
(Beach Boys)
43. Michael Jackson
(Jackson 5)
44. Maryland Pierce
(5 Keys)
45. Johnny Maestro
(Crests, Brooklyn Bridge)
46. Johnny Funches
(Dells)
47. Jackie Wilson
(Dominoes)
48. Rudy Lewis
(Drifters)
49. Dennis Edwards
(Contours, Temptations)
50. Johnny Moore
(Drifters)
51. Ray Pollard
(Wanderers, Ink Spots)
52. Jesse Belvin
(Various Groups)
53. Earl Lewis
(Channels)
54. Jay Black
(Jay and the Americans)
55. Eugene Record
(Chi-Lites)
56. Richard Blandon
(Dubs)
57. Jimmy Beaumont
(Skyliners)
58. Milton Love
(Concords, Solitaires)
59. Johnny Tanner
("5" Royales)
60. Cleve Duncan
(Penguins)
61. Earl Carroll
(Cadillacs)
62. Bobby Nunn
(Robins, Coasters)
63. Otis Williams
(Charms)
64. John "Buddy" Bailey
(Clovers)
65. George "Smitty" Smith
(Manhattans)
66. Eugene Pitt
(Jive Five)
67. Lee Andrews
(Lee Andrews and the Hearts)
68. Carl Gardner
(Coasters)
69. Pirkle Lee Moses
(El Dorados)
70. Carl Wilson
(Beach Boys)
71. Gerald Alston
(Manhattans)
72. Fred Parris
(Scarlets, Five Satins)
73. Ernie Lee Warren
(Cardinals)
74. Grady Chapman
(Robins)
75. Sollie McElroy
(Flamingos, Moroccos)
76. Grover "Dean" Barlow
(Crickets, Montereys)
77. George Grant
(Castelles)
78. Herman "Junior" Denby
(Swallows)
79. Eddie Rich
(Swallows)
80. Cuba Gooding
(Main Ingredient)
81. Billy Murray
(American Quartet)
82. Harvey Fuqua
(Moonglows)
83. Dion DiMucci
(Dion and the Belmonts)
84. Charlie White
(Checkers, Clovers)
85. Cissy Houston
(Sweet Inspirations)
86. Sam "Little Sonny" Brown
(Intruders)
87. Jimmy Sacca
(Hilltoppers)
88. Dickie Smith
(5 Keys)
89. Leroy Griffin
(Nutmegs)
90. Jerry Lawson
(Persuasions)
91. Al Alberts
(Four Aces)
92. Ruby Nash
(Ruby and the Romantics)
93. Veronica "Ronnie" Bennett Spector
(Ronettes)
94. Gladys Horton
(Marvelettes)
95. Ray "Buddy" Wooten
(Mello-Moods)
96. Wallace "Scotty" Scott
(Whispers)
97. Jimmy Ellis
(Trammps)
98. Mike Love
(Beach Boys)
99. General Johnson
(Showmen, Chairmen Of The Board)
100. Larry Harrison
(Four Buddies)
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Edited By: Bruce
Last Updated: 2015-06-02
Newly added names are in Red
Newly added names are in Red