50 Great Voices

[Rick Henry]

You know Karen Carpenter belongs on this list.

Please click on the link below and enter Karen as your nominee. I also sent a video clip of "Solitaire", "I Can't Make Music", "Happy" and "Guess I Just Lost My Head" as these songs display her versatility.

www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113301632&sc=nl&cc=mn-20091007

[enigma]

thanks for the link i voted and we all know who my number one would be regardless of how the votes turn out

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Voted last night. Thanks, Rick.

[Boat2Sail]

This is great. I will head over and nominate Karen right now.

[Rick Henry]

Karen is doing very well in this poll. I will be very surprised if she is not included in the 50 Great Voices.

[cinscorp]

I hope so, I saw her name a number of times when I sent in my vote. She DESERVES to be at the top of any poll like this one

[Rick Henry]

Oct 12, 2009 15:33:35 GMT -5 cinscorp said:

I hope so, I saw her name a number of times when I sent in my vote. She DESERVES to be at the top of any poll like this one

I agree she deserves to top the list... but I'll settle for her finishing with in the Top 15.

[wisejester7]

Thanks for the link. I just sent in my vote!

[Rick Henry]

Oct 13, 2009 10:04:35 GMT -5 wisejester7 said:

Thanks for the link. I just sent in my vote!

Hi WJ7 long time no hear... glad that you put in your nomination for Karen. I'm pretty sure she will be on this list... she does deserve to be there.

[Rick Henry]

The voting is now over. Around 8,000 people voted and I'm certain Karen must have received more than enough votes to get her into the top 50. The next step will be a vote of the Top 50 to determine their ranking. I will keep everyone osted so we can go to vote on Karen to get her as high as possible in the Top 50.

For now you can read the update at the following link:

www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113301632&sc=nl&cc=mn-20091007

[Rick Henry]

Some very good news in this competition... first let me correct an incorrect comment I made. In the previous post I said that 8,000 people voted when in fact it was more than 100,000 people who voted. This was a big deal.

Anyhow the voting is over and it is now narrowed down to 135 great voices... not quite yet down to the 50 great yet... but it will be there soon. Anyhow Karen Carpenter has made the first cut and is still in there as one of the 135 great voices. I am confident she'll see this one all the way through to the 50 Great Voices.

Here's a link to see the latest article: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114013402

I am happy to see other favorites of mine are still there including Louis Armstrong, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury, Van Morrison, Morrissey, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Robert Plant, Elvis Presley, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, Martha Wash, Hank Williams and Stevie Wonder.

[ps11932]

Rick, I sure hope you are correct and Karen makes the top 50. What makes me a little guarded (though not pesimistic) is that the group selected, if I understand correctly, won't necessarily be the best or most known voices; there is to be an effort to include an wide variety of styles and genres, and people who have had a great deal of overall influence on the music scene. (For me, she would fit the criteria anyway.) I did hear that neither Frank Sinatra nor Josh Grobin made the list. Let's hope for the best!

[Rick Henry]

Jan 22, 2010 17:17:09 GMT -5 ps11932 said:

Rick, I sure hope you are correct and Karen makes the top 50. What makes me a little guarded (though not pesimistic) is that the group selected, if I understand correctly, won't necessarily be the best or most known voices; there is to be an effort to include an wide variety of styles and genres, and people who have had a great deal of overall influence on the music scene. (For me, she would fit the criteria anyway.) I did hear that neither Frank Sinatra nor Josh Grobin made the list. Let's hope for the best!

Frank Sinatra is still in the running. I'm positive he will make the 50 Great Voices.

Another one I noticed that is still in the running is Jeff Buckley. This somewhat surprised me as he technically only released one album (before his untimely death). He really didn't get the chance to develop and expand. Although with his one album Buckley more than made an impression and has left an indelible mark on the musical landscape. Many musicians and vocalists site Buckley as an inspiration. He was as much at home with a experimental jazz fusion tune as he was a scorching rocker. He had a sparkling personality in his voice. Jeff Buckley was one of the most inspiring and versatile singers of the past 20 years.

Here is a great song he did with the Jazz Passengers in 1994 called "Jolly Street".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCNucRq5S2w

I, too, noticed many fine singers are not there such as Michael Buble, Celine Dion, Jim Morrison and others. I thought for such Jim Morrison would be there as his style is quite unique and he has influenced legions of male singers (myself being one back when I was making music in the 80's and 90's). Many on the list are technically not good singers such as Bob Dylan, Edith Piaf and even Frank Sinatra. But what it is they have charisma and personality in voice that touches the listener at the core of the soul. Where as the technically perfect voice doesn't always quite reach into the trenches of the soul. I wouldn't be surprised if Bob Dylan makes the 50 great voices, it won't be because he sings in perfect pitch, tone, key or harmony... because he doesn't. It'll be because he has been able to really connect with his listeners on a very personal level... as Karen Carpenter has.


As for Karen Carpenter, I am most certain she will rank within the 50. Her influence as a vocalist is phenomenal. She is sited by hundreds of thousands of vocalists and musicians as an influence and/or favorite. He voice was not only outstanding but also unique and a one of a kind.

[Rick Henry]

Jan 23, 2010 1:13:22 GMT -5 Rick Henry said:

Jan 22, 2010 17:17:09 GMT -5 ps11932 said:

Rick, I sure hope you are correct and Karen makes the top 50. What makes me a little guarded (though not pesimistic) is that the group selected, if I understand correctly, won't necessarily be the best or most known voices; there is to be an effort to include an wide variety of styles and genres, and people who have had a great deal of overall influence on the music scene. (For me, she would fit the criteria anyway.) I did hear that neither Frank Sinatra nor Josh Grobin made the list. Let's hope for the best!

Frank Sinatra is still in the running. I'm positive he will make the 50 Great Voices.

My mistake... O.E. you are correct Frank Sinatra did not make the cut for the 50 Great Voices. I find this very hard to believe as of all singers out there Sinatra is certainly an original with his own unique style.

Anyhow, I just read the article, "A Behind-The-Scenes Look At NPR's '50 Great Voices'" in this article they mention that both Sinatra and Groban did not make the 50 Great Voices. Sinatra however did make it to the 135 who were nominated.

Here's a link to that particular article: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122693575

[gwen]

That was really stupid. Karen wasnt even on that list & it was full of nutsheads