I'd have to go with the legend, Elvis Presley. Since the question is about 'singing' lets take a look at Elvis' voice: Elvis Presley was a baritone whose voice had an extraordinary compass- the so-called register- and a very wide range of vocal color. It covered two octaves and a third, from the baritone low-G to the tenor high B, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D flat. Elvis' best octave was in the middle, D-flat to D-flat. In ballads and country songs he was able to belt out full-voiced high Gs and As, showing a remarkable ability to naturally assimilate styles. Elvis' range, though impressive in its own right, did not in itself make his voice that remarkable, at least in terms of how it measured against musical notation. What made it extraordinary, was where its center of gravity lay. By that measure, and according to Gregory Sandows, Music Professor at Columbia University, Elvis Presley was at once a bass, a baritone, and a tenor, most unusual among singers in either classical or popular music. -wiki I took the liberty of attaching some elvis videos. Maybe they'll help sway your decision one way or the other.

Even though I'm not a fan of his, I would say Elvis Presley because there is no rock and roll singer as popular as he is now that he's gone.

Cher

Mick Jagger! The Stones don't sound dated on record at all, I still listen to them a lot even though most of their stuff was released before I was born.

Can I count David Bowie as Rock and Roll? He has the voice and the attitude and still manages to be cool now.

i think it would definatly be Mick Jagger!!! Or maybe umm.. i dont know the lead singer guy from queen?

Janis Joplin, and I love rock and metal, with a teenager in the house I guess you have to adapt or go insane, but if I had to pick some one from from any group I would pick Pasty Cline she is considered country blues, but she laid the path for the future of rock and roll, as did Elvis.

As far as men, Elvis bridged country music with rhythm and blues, and partly the color line. Before Elvis, white singers didn't "do" rock and roll. Although I like Elvis, I would give the edge to Marvin Gaye, though, because so many of his performances have moved me so deeply. As far as women, Janis Joplin was like Elvis - opening a lot of doors. But in my eyes, Dusty Springfield was the first and best "blue eyed soul" singer ever. There are a lot of great women rock singers, though, that some people don't even think about today - like Ronnie Spector, Mama Cass, Martha Reeves ... women who might not have been as technically perfect as an opera singer or as big at belting as Aretha Franklin, but when you heard them, you knew who you were hearing. That's an great thing about the best rock vocalists!

I agree with everyone's answer (except for Janis Joplin, but whatever). I really like Axel Rose's voice because he can sound very rough and edgy but also smooth and melodic. All of the guys from the Eagles sound really good. Jim Morrison. So sexy. Robert Plant. Again, can sound edgy or smooth. And again, very sexy voice. In my opinion, Elvis is a given. You just can not deny his talent as a singer. If you have ever heard things he has done that weren't recorded singles, then you can attest to his versatility.

hehehehe... The Ramones... although mainly punk, were also considered rock and roll... I may have not been around when they were, but I love 'em :D Hmm... the video sound quality isn't that good, but ah well :P

Only one??? For my Rock and Roll: man=Plant (but many others)...and woman=Ann Wilson of Heart!

PINK FLOYD

As a singer, like in vocal qualities, I pick Freddie Mercury He had an astounding voice, and it could never be replicated.

Rod Stewart

I would say Rod Stewart. He has a voice like no other male singer.

Female: Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac and solo career) -- a haunting, unique voice with that husky quality 2nd choice, Joni Mitchell -- what range!!! Male: Ben E King ("Stand By Me") and Paul Simon

No brainer - hands down - John Lennon.

Jackie Wilson......"Lonely Teardrops".

The female award goes to Karen Carpenter. best female singer, ever.........

the guitarist in coldplay

Chris Martin of Coldplay. He has a wonderful voice.

Freddie Mercury....hands down

Right. Mick Jagger (of course) Freddie Mercury (of course) Ray (and Dave) Davis (The Kinks (more rock than roll)) Pete Townshead and Roger Daltery (The Who (more rock than roll)) Does Pink Floyd count?

Chuck Berry.......the most mistreated artist of all. Roll over beethoven, maybelline, johnny b. goode, are just a few of his best. Chuck berry was mistreated by his recording company. he has never received any royalties for his songs. a scam contract is to blame.

Van Morrison......brown-eyed girl

Bono of U2

bruce springsteen and pink floyd

Here are a few of my current faves...check'em out. Soul- http://www.corinnebaileyrae.net/ Romantisysmic Trip Rock- http://www.myspace.com/blueoctober and... http://www.mymorningjacket.com

I'd say Bono. Who's full nickname, Bono Vox, means "beautiful voice." He has a decent range and I've even heard him sing opera.

Michael Sadler. Lead singer from the early eighties progressive band Saga out of Canada. In the states they were mainly know for the song "On the Loose" and lesser known for "Wind Him Up". A lot of people think On the Loose was done by Loverboy. "Flyer" probably shows his skills best. I know they weren't all that popular in the states but I've seen and heard a lot of singers and though these clips may not be the best of quality, I heard him live and no one impressed me more. You may have to crank up the volume for Wind Him Up. Incidently, I just looked at that one again and realized I was at the very show in the video. Eighth row center. You just might see me if you look closely. Not really, they ended up not using any audience shots. Enjoy: Just thought I'd add that the frist two vids sound best if you turn the youtube volume down to half-way (click the little speaker) then crank your computer volume!

I think one of the best singers of today at least may be Jordan Pundik- New Found Glory;It's Not Your Fault for example. He has a pretty good voice, at least I think so.

Brian Johnson of AC/DC.

This is the video to New Found Glory-

The band boston cannot be beat they are the best band ever their music never gets old and im not even from their era but i kno greatness when i hear it no matter what u say u will not sway me if u want to kno why they're so good go to rhapsody, its free all u need to do is install the plug-n which takes like 2 mins and then u get free music. Search for boston and disregard the song by augustina it sucks

Then again, I might be wrong with my first answer. I realized that I liked someone else's voice the same or even more!! Here is a video of them, Crash Test Dummies' lead singer Brad Roberts:

Mark Knophler end of.

I really don't have a fav. but I really like David Gilmore, David Grohl, Jim Morrison, Bon Scott, Robert Plant, John Fogerty, Layne Staley, Ozzy, Freddie Mercury, Cat Stevens, I like Stevie Ray Vaughns voice, Joe Walsh, Jack Johnson, All the Beatles had good voices i think. yea i'm not naming ne more cuz i dont feel like it but yea there's most of my fav.

I would probably say Elvis Presley because when I think Rock and Roll I think Elvis. He *was* rock and roll

Chubby Checker? he was only 16 when he recorded "The Twist".

Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses. His vocal range is amazing if the question was greatest singer ever, it would be Johnny Cash

The Shirelles.................. "Soldier Boy" "Will You Still Love Me Tommorrow" "This Is Dedicated To The One I Love" "Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This"

what about maybe jim morrison i think taht he had the perfect way of singing the right tone for the right song, how ever my list would go on forever i thinkas there are sooooooooo many that you could choose from

I can think of no one other than Ann Wilson of Heart and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin.

She's not rock, but Bonnie Raitt has the most fabulous voice.

How about Freddy Mercury? He was freakin good in the day. To bad he died.

John lennon -Everybody smokin but nobody is getting high.

Elvis wasn't the king by accident.

I love Meatloaf. And Freddie Mercury has some voice!!!

I like Paul Rodgers

frank zappa for his music and his sulfuric lyrics