When it comes to western music, my range is massively huge.
I wouldn't really regard Michael Jackson as THE best singer, but after seeing him live on every tour after the ''bad''tour, I would definitely say that he was a Great Entertainer, may be the best in the music industry!!!
His performance was fantastic and actually got better and better with time. But, I can't just isolate his singing voice away from his whole performance to say that it was the best singing!! -I think that his performance was unique but was just a great combination of everything he gave.
Because of this, if he was still around then he may have become a legend as such like Elvis.- Maybe he will, only time will tell.
My musical interest are very wide from classic jazz and rock to todays dance and hip hop. I can't say that I rate anyone as a favourite singer as such, in my opinion I always think that if someone can sing better than me, then they are good and I can't criticize them. I may compare them to each other by all means.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38877
With certain musicians you can isolate their singing away from their bands and music so that the pure quality of singing shines through-
- In this regard, I would probably say Bono, Phil Collins, Mick Jagger, Steve Tyler, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Perry, Bruno Mars and of course the king Elvis!!- There are probably many more but these are the ones that come to mind at the moment.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=38877
From the Indian subcontinent, I rate many of which some I don't even know their names! But I would say- Bhai Gurpreet Singh shimlawal, Gopal singh Ragi, Tirlochan singh Ragi, Joginder Singh Riar and many more kirtanae.
Folk singers, I would say Kuldip Manak and Yamla Jatt.
More modern singers, I would have to say Jazzy Bains and Surinder (DCS). -
-The reason for these four is because they can carry any melody or tune in any raag quite well, whilst others can only limit to a selected few quite well.
Again, these are the only ones that come to mind at the moment as there are probably many more.