This list is a compilation of the greatest singers in the history of Rock music.

These vocalists are rated according to three criteria.
Vocal Influence, Musical Impact, Vocal Skill

Vocal Influence refers to how much a singer's vocals influenced other singers.
Musical Impact refers to how much a singer's career impacted rock music.
Vocal Skill refers purely to a singer's ability as a vocalist; specifically a singer's technique, vocal control, range, power, and versatility.

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100 Greatest Rock Singers
Editor: Cruz
Last updated 11/19/2012

1. Elvis Presley
2. Aretha Franklin
3. Freddie Mercury (Queen, Solo)
4. Sam Cooke
5. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin, Solo)
6. Clyde McPhatter (The Drifters, The Dominoes, Solo)
7. Roy Orbison
8. Jackie Wilson
9. Little Richard
10. Roger Daltrey (The Who, Solo)
11. Michael Jackson (Jackson Five, Solo)
12. Otis Redding
13. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)
14. Marvin Gaye
15. Stevie Wonder
16. Ray Charles
17. Whitney Houston
18. Jeff Buckley
19. Ann Wilson (Heart)
20. Smokey Robinson (The Miracles, Solo)
21. Al Green
22. Janis Joplin
23. Steve Perry (Journey, Solo)
24. Etta James
25. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings)

Rough lists, used as guidelines, for the highest scorers in each criterion:

Influence
Males:
Sam Cooke
Elvis Presley
Clyde McPhatter
Robert Plant
Michael Jackson
Stevie Wonder
Marvin Gaye
Freddie Mercury
Roy Orbison
James Brown
Bob Dylan
Otis Redding
James Brown
Jim Morrison
Eddie Vedder
Ian Gillan
Roger Daltrey
Ray Charles
Bruce Dickinson
Rob Halford
Jackie Wilson
Chris Cornell
Jeff Buckley
Paul McCartney
Steve Perry
Roy Hamilton
Levi Stubbs
Eddie Kendricks
David Ruffin
Tony Williams
Smokey Robinson

Females:
Aretha Franklin
Janis Joplin
Whitney Houston
Mariah Carey
Etta James
Ruth Brown
Joni Mitchell
Dusty Springfield
Karen Carpenter
Ann Wilson
Patti Labelle
Chaka Khan
Annie Lennox
Darlene Love
Gladys Knight

Vocal Skill
Males:
Jackie Wilson
Adam Lambert
Dan Arlie
Tim Buckley
Freddie Mercury
Jeff Buckley
Chris Cornell
Michael Kiske
Steve Perry
Geoff Tate
Michael Bolton
Mike Patton
Daniel Gildenlöw
John Farnham
Steve Balsamo
Chang Yu-Sheng
Mark Boals
Rob Halford
David Phelps
Stevie Wonder
Roy Khan
Myles Kennedy
Russell Allen
Axl Rose
Matt Barlow
Michael Jackson
Graham Bonnet
Ronnie James Dio
Bruce Dickinson
Roy Orbison
Jon Bon Jovi
Paul McCartney
Roger Daltrey
David Coverdale
Lou Gramm
Morten Harket
Steven Tyler
Tom Jones
George Michael

Females:
Christina Aguilera
Mariah Carey
Patti LaBelle
Barbra Streisand
Patsy Cline
Celine Dion
Aretha Franklin
Whitney Houston
Janis Joplin
Tina Turner
Chaka Khan
Etta James
Donna Summer
Teena Marie
Linda Ronstadt
Cher
Toni Braxton
Ann Wilson

First thing's first, we need to discuss the criteria and get that nailed down before we proceed to compiling the list. This list is going to be a bit different than the ones that have existed in the past, namely in two significant ways:
(1) This list will not only refer to male rock vocalists. When we are only discussing skill, it makes sense to segregate the analysis of male and female singers, but this list will best serve the main site if we present as one that is historically accurate and will provide people with the information that they are most likely looking for when they come to DDD.
(2) This list will not only be compiled by looking purely at a singer's vocals. We will also take into account their, for lack of a better term, importance to music in general and their significance at performers and as cultural figures.

Feedback, comments, questions, etc. Let's get this thing rolling.

I like this

A mixed-gender list, finally! I've been waiting for this.

Be nice to see Aretha and Janis competing with the likes of Plant and Perry.

I still see Elvis as top 5 by this criteria.

Cruz, who do you see topping the list? Aretha?

Yes, Sherick?

I'm not entirely sure I agree with 'cultural impact' being part of this.
It's just something that's not really quantifiable when it comes to vocalists.

And what's wrong with Aretha topping the list? I'm not saying it's set in stone, but it definitely is not an unreasonable choice for #1.
Freddie would probably take her in skill, but I see Aretha getting influence. Impact is the toughie.

Freddie Mercury = Number 1 singer

This will be funny, even more with mix of male and female
I'm still not in favor of mixing.

Why not?

However you order them, the top 5 is most likely going to be Mercury, Franklin, Plant, Presley and maybe McPhatter or Cooke.

But it's about time we made this list. Cruz for president.

I think all of those that you mentioned are good names for the top 10, except for Mcphatter.

I don't know, I think difficult to compare male x female in a vocal list. Just my opinion.

But I appreciate the Cruz's initiative.