The Big Voices Are Gone: Male Powerhouse Voices We Miss

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Source: WENN

Earlier this week The Dream asked “where’s the big voice?” in R&B, saying today’s music is missing male powerhouse voices like we had in the ’90s. We can’t help but agree with Radio Killa and the more we thought about his statement, the more we were reminded of the male powerhouse voices we miss. Like these:

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Johnny Gill

My, my, my Johnny Gill’s voice sure sounded right whenever we heard it. Whether he was singing solo, with New Edition, or LSG, we could always count on him to hit those strong raspy notes that would have us running to the closet to put on our red dress and slip on those high heels.

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K-Ci

K-Ci belted out “oooh yeah” in songs so much he should’ve tradmarked the ad lib. He and Jo Jo were the perfect pair in Jodeci. Jo Jo brought the smooth silkiness and K-Ci was all about the booming church yell.

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Aaron Hall

Aaron Hall pretty much made Guy — with the help of Teddy Riley’s beats and production. There’s a reason Aaron is always mentioned in the same vein as Stevie Wonder and Charlie Wilson, they all have strong, soulful powerhouse voices. Unfortunately, Aaron is the only one we don’t get to hear from much these days.

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Source: WENN

Sisqo

Remember when Sisqo and K-Ci had that live battle of the ad libs back in 2009? Nobody could mess with either one of them back in their hey day — especially when it came to singing “yeeeaaaaahhhhh.”

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Teddy Pendergrass

Everybody knows the best part of “Turn Off The Lights” is when Teddy yells “Turn ’em off” no one who has walked this earth since has every been able to yell so melodically in a song.

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Source: WENN

Gerald Levert

Gerald was everything on Rude Boys’ song “Written All Over Your Face,” but when he sang “Casanova,” y’all…let’s just say he was his father’s child.

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Source: WENN

Luther

This doesn’t require explanation right? Luther could give us sweet baritone or strong and powerful depending on the song. We all know his love songs are probably responsible for half of the population in the ’90s. There has never been a voice like his, before or after.

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Source: WENN

Freddie Jackson

There was a reason everyone tried to create a rivalry between Luther and Freddie back in the day, they both had unparalleled vocals and a penchant for love songs. Last year, Freddie reminisced on his old buddy, saying: “Now I don’t have nobody to play with, I’m all by myself, and I’m kicking everybody’s behind!” Don’t we know it.

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David Ruffin

David Ruffin was perhaps the most troubled Temptation, but also the most talented. Women lived for his raspy tenor vocals back in the ’60s and he knew it. Unfortunately, his ego got ahead of him and his solo success was short-lived.

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Source: WENN

Peabo Bryson

If “A Whole New World” was Peabo’s only contribution to music it would have been enough, but he also lent his powerful vocals to another Disney classic, “Beauty and the Beast,” and a number of R&B medleys like, “Can You Stop the Rain” and “Tonight I celebrate My Love” with Roberta Flack. We don’t know if we’ll ever come across another voice as smooth as Peabo’s.

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Tevin Campbell

Tevin could come and talk — or sing — to us any time he wanted to in his prime. Remember how long he could hold notes in some of his classics?

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Kevon Edmonds

Babyface’s little brother has the power vocals in the family, even though Kevon Edmons is lesser known. We loved to hear him hit every note on the scale with After 7 and we still don’t understand why the group didn’t last longer.

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Source: WENN

Christopher Williams

You may not recognize the name immediately, but we know you remember Christopher Williams’ 1991 hit “I’m Dreamin.'” You better sang boy!

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Male Powerhouse Voices We Miss