Women (26 from the 1960s)
This is a followup to my last post which reviewed forty-four male lead singers and their respective singing groups.
Looking back over sixty years ago, it may be difficult to know what the names of your favorite group lead singers were. I would suggest that there are six of the following twenty-six female lead singers that are superior to the other great lead singers.
I am basing my selections upon their technical skills, precise pitch, breath control, unique resonant tone and their ability to connect with an audience.
The six are: Judy Craig (The Chiffons); Judith Durham (The Seekers); Mama Cass Elliot (The Mamas & Papas); Gladys Knight (& The Pips); Ruby Nash-Garnett (& The Romantics) and Diana Ross (& The Supremes).
Here are all twenty-six lead singers, their respective groups and a Spotify link of one of their top recordings:
Barbara Alston, The Crystals (Then He Kissed Me 1963) https://open.spotify.com/track/01HtqrT522ETarRrnXVNRJ?si=cBRK7QLbSyyOKVm3F-5gNw
Shirley Alston Reeves, The Shirelles (Dedicated to the One I Love 1961) https://open.spotify.com/track/4HdRMye6yPWOFrfLLM7W6b?si=07UaryKHRJST6X2Kojchmg
La La Brooks, The Crystals (Da Doo Ron Ron 1961) https://open.spotify.com/track/4ANp6cNMvHic5klSdeNOXj?si=-c2XKcF9Qa2Drhjrt9bu-w
Chaka Chan, The Rufus Singers (Tell Me Something Good 1974) https://open.spotify.com/track/1OO2Fp9PsnaayiekeXuGJX?si=U2ooteiMSSq-nL6ihb3peQ
Judy Craig, The Chiffons (He’s So Fine 1963) https://open.spotify.com/track/2Bs1Lw9LX8hBm70t1iGdlh?si=6FMl9DbyTMa_mTIXtNz3kg
Sandy Denny, Fairport Connection (Who Knows Where the Time Goes 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/2cYBpE6L4dnDchKzQhTqYe?si=lK0Y7vN4Q6O15gbnJSSE6Q
Julie Driscoll, The Trinity (This Wheel’s on Fire 1968) https://open.spotify.com/track/2omByGzf4mhcyDAnOAdgWq?si=ooTL6ccwRrKHg6drUCVMyA
Judith Durham, The Seekers (Georgie Girl 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/73XQBWHSVLL1939hb8cQTm?si=5G0jL0P_QyC24lj9Rqs5qw
Mama Cass Elliot, The Mamas & The Papas (California Dreamin’ 1965) https://open.spotify.com/track/1ZEOIhSn6BKErV59bIgn76?si=zKpiXafETYm6LU6zkdhyKw
Rosetta Hightower, The Orions (Don’t Hang Up 1962) https://open.spotify.com/track/6WU8iaVVYHvuhwkowevC0V?si=k-G9hX4MRE-p0One4WIHqA
Gladys Horton, The Marvelettes (Please Mr. Postman 1961) https://open.spotify.com/track/5fNDP3NTdE69szQHUl4fFr?si=sFYpv54rRKOSg62Exoyjng
Janis Joplin, Big Brother & The Holding Company (Me and Bobby McGee 1968) https://open.spotify.com/track/1IqFh00G2kvvMm8pRMpehA?si=EVlOA5CQQoetviJoNZlcig
Gladys Knight & The Pips (I Heard It through the Grapevine 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/1aRrJewQmqU3wMUf86VVc6?si=zSasgIn7RmG6bZA3neu-bQ
Rita Lee, Os Mutantes (Banho de Lua 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/72PwhCFGZhwNNZsPMC26fg?si=3sU0YAG6TWiUaJ3Oe-Hvvg
Ruby (Nash-Garnett), & The Romantics. (Our Day Will Come 1963) https://open.spotify.com/track/6ncy7ALy1d33xXkJ0Eh6G5?si=u8mSoks0QPifHaqBCKfc4w
Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac (Dreams 1977) https://open.spotify.com/track/0ofHAoxe9vBkTCp2UQIavz?si=NPvDdLEfReeI_WPmuDelVw
Nico, The Velvet Underground (Pale Blue Eyes 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/11VwZwNF29HrqwalYUMitb?si=0HD8Pt59SJGM2aGlipHpXA
Emma Pought, The Bobettes (Mr. Lee 1957) https://open.spotify.com/track/1mU4AfMj8OYJLsQ1vesY16?si=zlE9Xk4nT3avxq36AouIjA
Martha Reeves, Martha & The Vandellas (Dancing in the Street 1964) https://open.spotify.com/track/6rLqjzGV5VMLDWEnuUqi8q?si=c4_Ph0RYRRaZO2YhLM4ErA
Linda Rhonstadt, The Stone Ponies (Different Drum 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/3k63RLvRgkgPGx0keOH3P6?si=CVMzhh53RA2_i5aURYmi3A
Diana Ross, The Supremes (Where Did Our Love Go 1964) https://open.spotify.com/track/69RH84na5iUNwrwxpgjC5j?si=5guwl_5uSM-4OShzVRNw_g
Grace Slick. Jefferson Airplane (White Rabbit 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/4vpeKl0vMGdAXpZiQB2Dtd?si=HckJM0YmQAqmQYJ96wSrNg
Mavis Staples, The Staple Singers (I’ll Take You There 1972) https://open.spotify.com/track/7sxTjnPqokxnHlLrZorBK7?si=G9m8PR9OQ-2ficKSrbtfYg
Mary Weiss, The Shangri-Las (Out in the Streets 1965) https://open.spotify.com/track/2nCMkTfSIjCSN7OjdQK1AC?si=LXbWP9qnT0uqZqqGuLu4_g
Ann Wilson, Heart (Crazy on You 1975) https://open.spotify.com/track/5zH710lFSLtkHbMkslLDjR?si=L7iyzvcZQDe1w1vh9aRL5Q
Wanda Young & Ronnie Spector, The Ronettes (Be My Baby 1963) https://open.spotify.com/track/2G2YzndIA6jeWFPBXhUjh5?si=eQxBZjKoS7a5nJThAI6dxQ
All-Time Greatest Music 