MEN (44 from the 1960s)
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 ten of the following forty-four that are superior to the other great 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 ten are: Jerome Gourdine (Little Anthony & The Imperials); Marvin Junior (The Dells); Ben E. King (The Drifters); Johnny Maestro (The Brooklyn Bridge); Sam Moore and Dave Prater (Sam & Dave); Gary Puckett (& The Union Gap); Smokey Robinson (& The Miracles), David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks (The Impressions); David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears); snd Frankie Valli (The Four Seasons). Their song links are included with all of the following forty-four singers:
Gregg Allman, The Allman Brothers (Whipping Post 1971) https://open.spotify.com/track/1uXZqJagwZS6QY7DhiILyk?si=C0DclrcNSM-xno2bqp_GEw
Gerald Austin, The Manhattans (Follow Your Heart 1965) https://open.spotify.com/track/46VXY6ICU226D25CODh6zr?si=o5ca7pYeQFaGCAmaSk0SUg
Hank Ballard & The Midnighters (Nothing But Good 1961) https://open.spotify.com/track/0be3v1RAmETzOVcITGpUjE?si=E9lfhZtMTGOX8x06b9D_Eg
Archie Bell & The Drells (Tighten Up 1968) https://open.spotify.com/album/5zsOpnZyZidaZo5KXL0xzr?si=3C3WjWU7RFClds6Ebt0zTg
Joe Billingslea, The Contours (Do You Love Me Now 1962) https://open.spotify.com/album/0lsPVVIQ2e9CzDZCTtQB89?si=g0X29_InT-qvU14iJ31Hqw
Jay Black, Jay & The Americans (Come a Little Bit Closer 1964) https://open.spotify.com/track/0UXT8kfjYJjKFd00SkExE5?si=EwmNc6qMTLmeljcPuuxXag
Eric Burdon, The Animals (House of the Rising Sun 1964) https://open.spotify.com/track/2UNubhwW58kZLHj29uNRZb?si=hah7WVgWSruVHyhyhZVt9A
Arlester Christian, Dyke & The Blazers (Funky Broadway 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/16tZWLOZW2BDoHzsHh1lX0?si=Wt4ju0F_TGGIqojix3m_Kg
Allan Clark, The Hollies (Bus Stop 1966) https://open.spotify.com/track/5ffgAz1iEbGYC9EDrH07sy?si=kuf6QLn9TtueaIe6z820Bg
Jack Bruce, Cream (Sunshine of Your Love 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/6FRwDxXsvSasw0y2eDArsz?si=ReJPTbz7TrKT3rFHJw175A
Clarence Burke Jr., The Five Stairsteps (Baby Make Me Feel So Good 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/0wSvnAFcmkeP9gU5L6RRjQ?si=qcGuLIxCTwa65rgffSIVzA
Steve Cropper, Booker T & The MGs (Green Onions 1962) https://open.spotify.com/track/0LiHWulNk5Vws57m9pvo9D?si=XZYlyXCRTAylYIJZhYUo-A
Burton Cummings, The Guess Who (American Woman 1970) https://open.spotify.com/track/2FT4gakd3matx4vI6YCTD8?si=fRbxz_htTFCDCd2WXjbXnA
Roger Daltry, The Who (I Can See for Miles 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/64SFBGTQvXgEHds3F01rpc?si=dsztaNUyQLmgq5InXb8-Mg
Sweet James Epps, The Fantastic Four (The Whole World is a Stage 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/3nTQYbmBGXgeZfgDVAcjAm?si=dIZpHAJVQLSdw9QvC-LFTA
Jerome Gourdine, Little Anthony & The Imperials (Hurt So Bad 1965) https://open.spotify.com/track/5N4ruSTYznhRHBiYRUkDPy?si=7LSTJjbTRzeIrdRl-O2c6A
William” Poogie” Hart, The Delfonics (You Got Yours, I’ll Get Mine 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/6MZfXzTL12sm7dqFn1m1jl?si=zgmITht-R92KAHdJRJVOqQ
Ronald Isley, The Isley Brothers (It’s Your Thing 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/3ZxfehzRtB3oJcBuxWXFZQ?si=LXfZEtSXRw2dGGvJB8Rlog
Michael Jackson, Jackson Five ( I Want You Back 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/5LxvwujISqiB8vpRYv887S?si=Dss9TqNTQGynLS1nbM49Jg
Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones. (Gimmie Shelter 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/14uQWXYRflpBP8J6olZ8mH?si=b35bUo5cT7qZqqQR2O5geA
Davy Jones and Micky Dolen, The Monkeys (Daydream Believer 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/43ewdqrSZLqA9UzFpOmQjn?si=ovODBxsgQMiwHt9t0QMx9Q
Marvin Junior, The Dells (Oh! What a Night 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/1S5eC9PiwzHG6QkVeQYbWn?si=q0AA5QMOQM6-j_WtROpEkQ
Ben E. King, The Drifters (Under the Boardwalk 1964) https://open.spotify.com/track/65jrjEhWfAvysKfnojk1i0?si=E8G58jN0TQy2ITD28Gph0w
John Lennon, The Beatles (A Day in the Life 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/0hKRSZhUGEhKU6aNSPBACZ?si=1-Izg6MoS7WYN5Fz_LiqSg
Eddie Levert, The O’Jays (Lonely Drifter 1963). Greatest Hits https://open.spotify.com/playlist/59yj6NaYHvV6AOgDBZIewI?si=wMl3l1ixSMSSxudPNjgnFA&pi=8-AgHE-rSeisw
Johnny Maestro, The Brooklyn Bridge (Worst that Could Happen 1969) https://open.spotify.com/track/5fkpToUxgnHcaoICNr3AJF?si=yOUsZ_YoSgq-kmFZiXrolg
Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions (People Get Ready 1965) https://open.spotify.com/track/6AeG6jSoAVbmUFO6LyYmBf?si=xBauOu-mR8i_xwVnjDJzUA
Garnet Mimns & The Enchanters Cry Baby 1963) https://open.spotify.com/track/5G0yErsdIKfplod526gygr?si=c7PKBxJyTXSEQLukVsZkGA
Sam Moore and Dave Prater, Sam & Dave (Soul Man 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/4EPb7V3UW4WpDmQQcxAPvd?si=4KH2GAfHTuaorY3SJJ96rA
Jim Morrison, The Doors (Light My Fire 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/5uvosCdMlFdTXhoazkTI5R?si=cpqaM5kqSQqKeP6JqazFMg
Peter Noone, Herman Hermits (Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter 1965) https://open.spotify.com/track/1GJCJpKYfzRUsYnSRy4Mfz?si=QZYBbVHqSYicgY0gRlR8uw
Wally Palmos, The Romantics, Wally Palmos (Talking in Your Sleep 1984) https://open.spotify.com/track/7fRvtXvJMpGfTLdF0M09a1?si=vk6k6ypPTkSYTnPfhjTKvQ
Joseph “ Joe” Pope, The Tams (What Kind of Fool 1963) https://open.spotify.com/track/619paal0VMcfrmtFdN6kGf?si=HzbTp2rGQsSOilfp-R94HQ
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (Young Girl 1968) https://open.spotify.com/track/6s10XyfYy0X2vQrPAnJ2lh?si=JOzm5iOaSyuFsymw9VTIvg
Smokey Robinson, The Miracles (Shop Around 1960) https://open.spotify.com/track/47IRIQxGDe2Sc6F4pe2FMf?si=FKEegOQDSj2HqSDeuFkvMQ
David Ruffin & Eddie Kendricks, The Temptations (My Girl 1965) https://open.spotify.com/track/745H5CctFr12Mo7cqa1BMH?si=liFbD0GpSDGAjlJTdmUzWg
Sly (Stone) & The Family Stone (Dance to the Music 1968) https://open.spotify.com/track/1MQWtVcs0PKsY4PA6ZvLiy?si=OWw-8rHsQ9GNA1zIh3WsPQ
Levi Stubbs, Four Tops (Reach Out, I’ll Be There 1966) https://open.spotify.com/track/6Pkj4nv5K53i64cLVgkVyY?si=yi1pESvPT-u-jESbfk57wQ
David Clayton-Thomas, Blood, Sweat & Tears (You’ve Made Me So Very Happy 1968) https://open.spotify.com/track/76OUhpuAQSQ2orR5TUeeRc?si=R9V53VeqT4yFVuqYGSiG4Q
Sal Valentino, The Beau Brummels (Laugh, Laugh) 1965 https://open.spotify.com/track/66V3speCvzVe6lUnIezZ0J?si=9OVjrGm0RnCe708JhJr2ug
Frankie Valli, The Four Seasons (Sherry 1962) https://open.spotify.com/track/7sqK6f8dHVx3Q1GjFrVyGl?si=92GnSfspTyqNhuw7kTI6TA
Junior Walker, & The All Stars (Shotgun 1965) https://open.spotify.com/track/2Zk0eoq7d6Vw0fRVRXPWnc?si=fYwcPnFxRE-d6qwRH4priw
Tony Williams, The Platters (With This Ring 1967) https://open.spotify.com/track/1ST5NcCW3ObipBqtSLpVow?si=QBGQRgP5SYq-fSGl5lwcDA
Steve Winwood, The Spencer Davis Group (Gimmie Some Lovin 1966) https://open.spotify.com/track/0e7GqIo8VprrozIcG3CZY9?si=tOpx54UkSoC5WkLd8G5YKA
All-Time Greatest Music 