Top 20 Greatest Broadway Singers of All Time

I used to be the king the king the king of old Broadway welcome to Ms Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 Greatest Broadway singers of all time One Day More another day another destiny this never-ending road to Calvary for this list we'll be looking at the most talented vocalists who made names for themselves in the New York City musical theater scene is our number one who you expected let us know in the comments below number 20. Norm Lewis this notable performer has been cast in some of musical theater's most beloved roles since his Broadway debut in 1993 Lewis has wowed audiences as Curtis Taylor Jr and Dream Girls Billy Flynn in Chicago and Javert in Les Miserables [Music] [Music] plus he was the first African-American actor to play the titular role in Broadway's longest running show The Phantom of the Opera grasp it sends it trust his voice is slightly deeper warm and clear perfectly suited for intense male characters with Incredible control and placement Lewis's vocal Talent is majorly enhanced by his pristine technique oh my world foreign number 19 Raul Esparza the Law and Order Special Victims Unit actor made his first impression in the entertainment industry singing on stage but listen closely [Applause] in 2000 he drew eyes as riffraff in The Rocky Horror Show Broadway Revival and later starred in the 2006 Revival of Steven sondheim's company he was also cast in the original Off-Broadway run of Jonathan Larson's Tick Tick boom can we play with fire why do we run our fingers through the flame his distinctive voice has tons of Personality which is great for Live Theater Esparza may have broadened his resume with gigs in film and television but will always think of him as a musical guy first [Music] as you to help us survive I will be my life number 18 Joel gray after 70 plus years of work this charismatic actor has undoubtedly left his impression on modern musical theater cause it feels wonderful it's wonderful that's Quantic his most memorable performance is without a doubt as the Master of Ceremonies in the Broadway production of Cabaret and its film adaptation [Music] but he's also a show stealer in supporting roles like moonface Martin and anything goes and Amos Hart in Chicago expressive and Charming gray infuses each of his vocal performances with character the singing voice is light and bright perfect for solos and group numbers when the singer takes to the stage you can tell how dedicated he is to his craft Give My Regards to Broadway remember me [Music] number 17 Mandy Patinkin for his first appearance on Broadway Patinkin appeared in the play trelawny of the wells alongside Meryl Streep and John Lithgow soon after he was cast in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita with Patti LuPone train Ed but the mind s on having brushed shoulders with so much talent on stage it's no surprise that he's got incredible acting and singing skills of his own [Music] [Applause] [Music] in fact he won a Tony for his performance in Evita and was nominated for two others the singer's recognizable voice is Rich and Gruff with a prominent vibrato his high notes are powerful and fill whatever space he's singing in a true force on the stage if we've ever seen one wrong way for you know that however you live there's a part of you always standing by mapping out the sky number 16 Jeremy Jordan it's no wonder Jordan is one of Broadway's favorite Leading Men from the 21st century his voice is youthful heroic and clear with a four octave range [Music] foreign [Applause] it's perfect for Scrappy male protagonists like Jack Kelly from Newsies and Clyde Barrow from Bonnie and Clyde [Music] the native Texan claimed his spot as one of musical theater's greatest singers from not only the stage but also the screens big and small he was cast in the musical show Smash and stars opposite Anna Kendrick in the film adaptation of the last five years here I come here I come here I come number 15 Jennifer Holliday this star has one of the most powerful voices to ever grace a Broadway stage let alone our ears [Applause] [Music] foreign Soulful and strong her Talent is unmatched holiday's performance as Effie Melody white in the original run of Dream Girls is alone enough to qualify her for our list [Applause] her solo at the 1982 Tonys is one of the most iconic moments in Broadway history that being said we shouldn't forget her appearances in various stagings of the Musical Chicago and The Color Purple God is the flowers and everything else that was forever will be she's also a successful recording artist having produced both r b and gospel music tracks number 14 Carol Channing this memorable actor and singer is a staple of 20th century musical theater before the parade passes by I'm gonna go and taste Saturday's high life she starred as Lorelei Lee and Dolly Gallagher Levi in the original Broadway runs of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Hello Dolly respectively my old favorite songs [Music] besides her big eyes and blonde bob the icon's distinctive singing voice set her apart from other leading ladies in Showbiz it's raspy nasal and full of character making it perfect for comedic performances [Music] lose their shape damage a Girl's Best Friend stylistically Channing often embedded her singing with humor after Decades of success in 1995 she was awarded the Tony for Lifetime Achievement number 13 Christian Boral since the beginning of the new millennium Boral has made Regular appearances on the Broadway stage oh hello is it good to see Leo once Mondays are so busy it's making me dizzy there's so much I gotta do it's lunches and meetings and perjury readings and endless interviews his credits include The Bard in something rotten and Marvin in the 2016 falsetto's Revival likewise his performance as the original Emmett forest and Legally Blonde the musical holds a special place in our hearts with little Miss Woods comma foreign with a warm Rich tone that sits at a higher range borl's register is well suited for a variety of characters he shows technique with his ability to infuse the personality of whatever character he's playing into his performance whether cast is someone sweet conceited or just plain evil this singer always sounds incredible I'm best when I cheat so I'll cheat Wizard and Isle and I'll kill for that Thriller first love number 12 Betty Buckley this actress has appeared in celebrated works of film television and theater [Music] however despite her work on both the big and small screens she still often referred to as the voice of Broadway serenity [Music] serenity one of her most notable early roles is grizzabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber's cats for which she won a Tony she's since become associated with the role's power ballad memory which showcases her vocal talent and skill [Applause] s [Music] her voice ranges from being bright and clear in some instances to deep and Powerful in others other musical credits include Dolly and Hello Dolly and Mama Rose in Gypsy twice number 11 Kristin Chenoweth with a bachelor's degree in musical theater and a masters in Opera performance Chenoweth is quite literally a master of her craft foreign [Music] she had the option of also attending Philadelphia's Academy of vocal arts on a full ride but turned down the scholarship to accept her first professional role [Music] she's best known for originating the role of Sally Brown in the 1999 Revival of you're a good man Charlie Brown and Glinda in Wicked every thing that really has to be popular I'll help you be popular you'll hang with the right cohorts you'll be good at sports the character she plays always come through her performances effortlessly and do we even have to mention how incredible her vocal control is while her success in theater opened doors for her in film and television she regularly returns to her Broadway Roots [Music] number 10 Adina Menzel some have deemed her the queen of Broadway and it's not hard to see why foreign [Music] this Powerhouse singer originated two of the most well-known female roles in contemporary musical theater on stage there are no big names at least not yet I gotta get through opening night I have I have a job to do Menzel made a name for herself first as the diva performance artist Maureen in rent and then as the Misunderstood Witch of the West Elphaba in Wicked her bright and Powerful voice suits independent and aspirational female characters am I always starting over in a brand new story plus her range is expansive and she's a total pro at belting it's no wonder she was picked up by Disney to play Elsa in the Beloved animated film franchise Frozen number nine Sutton Foster this darling of contemporary musical theater is a triple threat skilled in acting dancing and of course singing [Music] please no more attention I counted it today her voice is full and bright perfect for a number of Broadway's most iconic leading roles her technique is solid and she always looks like she's having fun on stage [Music] Foster has a Timeless quality to her sound which makes her especially well suited for shows with historical settings she won a Tony for her performance as the titular character in Thoroughly Modern Millie and another as Reno Sweeney from anything goes Hal the performer manages her breath support after A minutes-long Dance break we will never understand [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] number eight Julie Andrews many of us first heard Andrews voices children watching Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music [Music] we've since come to respect her for her work on the stage as well as the screen she started on the west end as a child and quickly found her way to Broadway in 1956 she appeared as Eliza Doolittle in the original run of My Fair Lady [Music] when she was younger the soprano had a clear and Regal sound which she demonstrated with impeccable technique when there be certain besieged the folk not no blessed however do they manage to shed their weary looked oh what [Music] sadly an ill-performed surgery in 1997 permanently damaged her vocal cords still a singer at heart the actress is given occasional vocal performances in the years since a work of art with its own rare design it may not be the same but we still appreciate her new tone number seven Leia Salonga this musical theater star has a singing voice fit for a Disney princess [Music] who I am inside the Filipina actress landed a gig on the West End when she was just 18 years old as the original Kim in Miss Saigon [Music] [Applause] [Music] she won a Tony when she reprized the role on Broadway making her the first Asian actress to do so not to mention she's appeared as both eponine and faunting in Broadway Productions of Les Miserables God salonga's voice is beautifully bright and clear and she has impeccable technique her placement is precise and she demonstrates good control of her vibrato [Music] the last goodbye as the singing voice of both Princess Jasmine and Mulan we've enjoyed listening to her for basically our entire lives number six Angela Lansbury by the time she made it to Broadway Lansbury was already an award-winning actress from the Golden Age of Cinema just like in Hollywood she quickly found success in musical theater playing the titular character in Mame and Rose in Gypsy among other acclaimed parts I'll be swallow y'all be great her voice was totally her own and remarkably so since it was especially distinct it always felt so real to the roles she played many of which were rather comedic or at the very least tongue-in-cheek do forgive me if he had the little thing what is that but you think we have to play whether it was the devious Mrs Lovett or the maternal Mrs Potts Lansbury defines some of Broadway's and Hollywood's most beloved characters open a new window open a new door travel on you a highway that's never been tried before number five cheetah Rivera this passionate performer claimed her place as a Broadway Icon by originating more than one beloved role on stage early in her career she made waves as Anita in West Side Story and Velma Kelly in Chicago [Music] she went on to win a Tony for her performance as Anna in the rink as well as one for Kiss of the Spider Woman and a Lifetime Achievement Award to boot [Music] y foreign this is a woman who knows confidence is key combining music comedy and spectacle Rivera is a master Entertainer the fullness and wonderfully distinct quality to her voice only makes her Irreplaceable and we couldn't imagine musical theater without her show-stopping vocals and dance moves could be the start of something could be the start of something good [Music] number four Bernadette Peters this vocalist has understandably been deemed the foremost interpreter of composer Steven Sondheim I'm not good I'm not nice I'm just right I'm the witch you're the you're the one she's appeared in many of his shows on Broadway including Sunday in the park with George into the woods and A Little Night Music one who keeps tearing around [Music] her voice sits at a mid-range making it perfect for belting out passionate verses she's also capable of producing beautiful high notes making her an overall well-rounded artist plus her voice has a prominent vibrato and forward placement which distinguishes her from other mezzos with well-trained technique peters's vocal performances are some of Broadway's best [Music] number three Ethel Merman considered by some as the Undisputed first lady of the musical comedy stage this vocalist was a significant member of Broadway history [Music] with notable vocal talent and Technical skill she was certainly well deserving of the title up ahead [Music] my old spirit is showing from anything goes to Hello Dolly merman had appeared in many of musical theater's most iconic shows even originating the lead role of rose in sondheim's Gypsy [Music] her powerful mid-range voice was capable of blowing crowds away skill wise her Annunciation and placement were precise my man for anything more who could ask for anything more [Music] the performer's voice was practically built for belting a gift very few have when it comes to Broadway Legends She was an original There's No Business Like Show Business Like no business I know number two Patti LuPone this classic Broadway belter obtained her status as a musical theater Icon by appearing in many popular roles she first Drew attention as the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita shine [Music] [Applause] [Music] having gone on to play Nancy and Oliver fonteen and Les Mis Mrs Lovett and Sweeney Todd and Mama Rose and Gypsy her bio is totally stacked LuPone demonstrates practiced technique and confident Style with her mid-range singing voice she projects outward and manages to completely fill whatever space she's in let's hear it for the ladies for lunch everybody wrong her warm and focused tone is full of Personality which she tailors to suit whatever character she's performing as [Music] [Applause] truly no one's voice compares to lupone's before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions Hugh Jackman Wolverine sure knows how to hold the tune [Music] Mary Martin many iconic roles were originated by this inspiration [Music] the tenor has proven his vocal Talent playing some of Broadway's hunkier characters me when I did Andrew Reynolds we believe that Reynolds is a gifted vocal artist I believe that God has a plan for all of us I believe that plan involves me getting my own Planet Stephanie J block an acclaimed performer this mezzo has nailed some super challenging roles but I'm unfed on God [Music] [Applause] [Music] before we continue be sure to subscribe to our Channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them if you're on your phone make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications number one Audra McDonald although she celebrated for her work on the stage and the screen McDonald's Legacy on Broadway is unparalleled [Music] she's the recipient of six Tonys which is more than any other performer in the award shows history and she's also the only person to have won in all four categories and I've found the theater and I found my home and I found a place to express myself McDonald earned her accolades as Carrie in Carousel Sarah in Ragtime and Bess in Porgy and Bess among others [Music] [Music] her voice is Rich with an incredible feat of dimensionality and effortless Precision although her range is Broad she has a distinctly soprano tone that can honestly only be described as angelic [Music] and believe it is easy one thing's for sure when this icon starts to sing we always stop to listen do you agree with our picks check out this other recent clip from mismo Joe and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos

Channel: MsMojo

Views: 733,100

Keywords: Broadway, Musicals, Pop Culture, Theatre, angela lansbury, audra mcdonald, bernadette peters, betty buckley, broadway performers, broadway singers, carol channing, chita rivera, ethel merman, greatest broadway singers, greatest broadway singers of all time, idina menzel, julie andrews, kristin chenoweth, lea salonga, list, mojo, msmojo, patti lupone, singers, songs, sutton foster, top 10, watch mojo, watchmojo

Id: bZw1-ZTIWbQ

Length: 28min 34sec (1714 seconds)

Published: Mon Feb 20 2023