Deep-voiced singers have always been a staple of the music industry.
Whether it’s the booming bass of Barry White – or the cool contralto of Cher – there’s something about a deep voice that simply commands your attention.
In this article, we’ve compiled 30+ of the best deep-voiced singers in the business, as well as some background & insight on what makes each artist so great.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Male Singers With Deep Voices
1. Barry White
Vocal Range: C3-A4
Barry White has one of the most iconic deep voices in pop culture. His rich baritone voice is instantly recognizable, having been used to sell everything from food products to cars.
He’s one of the best-selling musical artists of all time and is famous for his love songs, including Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe and You’re the First, My Last, My Everything.
2. Khalid
Vocal Range: F2-C5
Khalid has made an undeniable impression on the music industry thanks to his deep, soulful voice.
His musical style incorporates a mix of R&B, hip hop, and pop-soul, bringing a vintage feel to the modern-day pop music realm.
The uniqueness of his style is evident on his debut album American Teen, which was certified four times platinum and featured the hits Location and Young Dumb & Broke.
In 2019, TIME named him one of the 100 Most Influential People, serving as a testament to his immensely-successful career.
3. Isaac Hayes
Vocal Range: B1-E6
Isaac Hayes had a wonderfully deep voice, which he utilized as both a musician and an actor.
He also composed musical scores for movies, famously creating the score for the 1971 movie Shaft.
One of his most famous songs – Soul Man – was named one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone, demonstrating his lasting impact on the music world.
4. Elvis Presley
Vocal Range: D2-A5
Elvis Presley – otherwise known as the King of Rock ’N’ Roll – was a pop culture icon known for his deep, smooth-as-butter voice.
His first single – Heartbreak Hotel – became a number one hit almost instantly.
While Elvis would be considered tame compared to artists of today, his performative style and rockabilly-style music were considered risqué and a threat to the youth in the 1950s and 1960s.
5. John Legend
Vocal Range: C2-C6
John Legend is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. His soulful baritone voice and piano playing have accompanied many modern pop artists, such as Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.
Many say he has the voice of an angel, which is almost true since he played Jesus in the live taping of Jesus Christ Superstar.
John Legend is also known for being a judge on the hit TV show The Voice, serving as an all-time fan favorite on the show.
In addition, he’s one of the few celebrities to be given EGOT status, meaning that he’s won all four major entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
6. Johnny Cash
Vocal Range: D2-B5
Johnny Cash is one of the best-known country stars in the world, largely due to his deep baritone voice.
He had several hits throughout his career, including I Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, and Man in Black.
He was famously portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in the biopic Walk the Line. However, Phoenix had too high of a voice to sing Cash’s songs in their normal keys.
As such, the production team had to adapt the soundtrack to transpose many of the songs to a higher key to allow Phoenix to sing them convincingly.
7. Scott Stapp
Vocal Range: A2-B4
Creed was a popular rock band in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, and their lead lead singer – Scott Stapp – was known for his deep powerful voice.
Stapp later pursued a solo career following the band’s break up in 2004, but eventually reunited with the rest of the band in 2009.
He also founded a nonprofit organization called The With Arms Wide Open Foundation, which helps underprivileged children and families around the world.
8. Michael Bublé
Vocal Range: B3-G4
Michael Bublé has one of the most soothing and smooth voices around.
His ability to write and sing original material – as well as Christmas classics – as well as classics has won him fans from all generations.
Despite his record company initially saying they weren’t sure how to market his jazz-like genre of music, his string of multi-platinum albums has won him millions of fans worldwide.
9. Frank Sinatra
Vocal Range: G2-G4
There was more to Frank Sinatra than just his blue eyes: his deep and lovely voice.
He’s considered one of the most popular and successful entertainers of the 1940s-1960s, thanks to his easy-listening style and the rise of the swing era.
He was also a successful actor, winning an Oscar for From Here to Eternity and appearing in several popular movie musicals.
10. Billy Idol
Vocal Range: B1-E6
Billy Idol is an English singer who gained notoriety and fame in the London punk rock scene.
He’s famous for his sneering delivery, which sounds especially convincing when delivered via his baritone voice.
He started out in the band Generation X and then moved to New York City to pursue his solo career.
His solo efforts were a huge success, thanks to singles like Dancing With Myself and White Wedding.
11. David Bowie
Vocal Range: B1-E6
David Bowie is one of the most beloved performers of the 20th century thanks to his creativity and his ability to break the mold across various aspects of popular culture.
He was able to perform in a number of vocal ranges, including baritone to tenor. However, he’s perhaps best-known for his rich baritone delivery, which is evident on hits likeLet’s Dance.
He filled many acting roles throughout his career, most notably the Goblin King in Labyrinth and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige.
12. George Ezra
Vocal Range: C3-C4
George Ezra is an English singer with the perfect bluesy deep voice to complement his folksy songs.
His hit single Budapest reached number one in several countries, quickly skyrocketing him to international fame.
He won a Brit Award in 2019 for British Male Solo Artist and has also worked on a podcast called George Ezra & Friends.
13. Beck
Vocal Range: F2-C5
Beck – whose full name is Beck David Hansen – is a prolific singer and songwriter hailing from Los Angeles.
His deep, raspy voice adds a narrative quality to the experimental music he’s known for. As such, he’s popular with fans of several genres, including grunge, punk, lo-fi and folk.
He’s also had an extensive career across the wider artistic field, working on collages, drawings, and poetry.
14. Bill Withers
Vocal Range: B2-G4
Bill Withers had a rich, smooth baritone voice and produced well-known hits such as Ain’t No Sunshine, Lean On Me, and Just The Two of Us.
His fantastic output saw him be nominated for nine Grammy Awards, of which he won three. In addition, two of his songs were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
His songs have also been covered by numerous well-known artists, including Maroon 5 and Micheal Jackson.
15. Shaun Morgan
Vocal Range: G2-E6
Shaun Morgan is the charismatic frontman of the band Seether; a popular heavy metal band formed in the late 1990s.
Originally from South Africa, Morgan became involved in the grunge scene at the age of 14, after listening to Nirvana’s seminal album Nevermind.
His voice is deep and raw, adding a truly powerful quality to the hard-hitting music the band produces.
Female Singers With Deep Voices
1. Cher
Vocal Range: C3-E5-F6
Cher is one of the most recognizable female icons of our time and is a beloved singer around the world thanks to her smokey deep voice.
She got her start as part of the husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher, then later embarked on her solo career, where she saw unparalleled success with hits like Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves and Dark Lady.
In the late 20th century, she gained increased popularity thanks to danceable songs such as Believe and If I Could Turn Back Time.
She’s also had success as an actress, starring in movies such as the rom-com Moonstruck and the movie musical Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
2. Katy Perry
Vocal Range: D3-A5-G6
Katy Perry got her start in gospel music, but ventured into secular music when she moved to Los Angeles at the age of 17.
She gained immense popularity with her hit singles I Kissed a Girl and Hot N Cold, which made an immense impact on the noughties pop scene and launched her to unspeakable heights of fame.
She has since produced several more chart-topping hits and was famously a judge on American Idol. She’s also the most followed woman on Twitter, with over 100 million followers.
3. Beyoncé
Vocal Range: G2-G5-F6
Beyoncé is one of the best-selling artists of all time. She started out in the girl group Destiny’s Child before starting a solo career, which proved immensely successful.
Her voice has been described by the New York Times as “velvety yet tart,” with a wide vocal range that can cover everything from ballads to gospel songs.
However, she’s perhaps best known for her deep and soulful delivery on hits such asI’M THAT GIRL.
4. Adele
Vocal Range: C3-F5
Adele is not only a powerhouse performer, but also one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Her rich sultry voice compliments the raw emotions she sings about, and her album sales prove that it resonates with fans everywhere.
Her debut album – 19 –went triple platinum in the US and won her a Grammy for “Best New Artist.”
Her second studio album – 21 – was the best-selling album of the 21st century worldwide and included hits such as Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You.
5. Whitney Houston
Vocal Range: C3-G5-D6
Whitney Houston was nicknamed “The Voice” due to her deep, powerful, and soulful style of singing.
She got her start singing in church as a child and signed to Arista Records at the age of 19. Her first two studio albums, Whitney Houston and Whitney, both hit #1 on the Billboard 200.
She made her acting debut in the romantic thriller The Bodyguard, with the soundtrack including her version of I Will Always Love You. This track serves asthe best-selling physical single by a woman ever.
6. Alicia Keys
Vocal Range: C3-E6
Alicia Keys is a classically trained pianist and vocalist known for her deep, soulful style of singing.
She started composing songs at the age of 12 and signed with Columbia Records at the age of 15, serving as a testament to her immense talent.
Her first single – Fallin’ – made it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her five Grammy Awards.
She’s since sold over 90 million records worldwide, making her one of the world’s best-selling artists.
7. Amy Winehouse
Vocal Range: D3-E6
Amy Winehouse died far too young, but her raspy and deeply emotional voice continues to live on.
Her music was a mixture of jazz, blues, and soul, bringing a vintage feel to the noughties pop landscape. Her distinctive voice lent itself well to the raw emotion of those genres, adding an emotive and confident aurora to her music
Her 2006 album Back to Black was an international sensation upon release, including the hit single Rehabwhich serves as one of her most well-known songs.
In 2008, she won five awards at the Grammys, tying with artists like Lauryn Hill and Norah Jones for the most wins by a female artist in a single night.
8. Annie Lennox
Vocal Range: D3-G5
Annie Lenox is known for her deep voice and androgynous look. She became famous in the 1980s as part of the band Eurythmics and their hit single Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).
VH1 called her the Greatest White Soul Singer Alive due to her rich vocal delivery, cementing her as one of the most notable deep-voiced female singers of all time.
In addition to her music, she is also a political activist and philanthropist.
9. Lady Gaga
Vocal Range: F2–G5–C6
Lady Gaga burst onto the music scene in 2008 with her hit song Just Dance,which marked the start of an incredibly successful career.
While she’s known for her unique and creative outfits and styles, she also has a critically acclaimed singing voice.
Her deep, powerful delivery serves as a fantastic vehicle for the lyrical themes she’s known for, which include individuality, confidence, and resilience.
Since the late noughties, Lady Gaga has amassed a huge following of fans, whom she lovingly calls “Little Monsters”. She is also a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
10. Tracy Chapman
Vocal Range: E2-A4
Tracy Chapman is an American singer who has released several award-winning hit singles such as Fast Car, Crossroads, and Talkin’ Bout a Revolution.
She’s famous for her distinctively deep voice and is involved in many social activism causes, including human rights and education.
11. Lana Del Ray
Vocal Range: B2-F5-E6
Lana Del Ray has one of the richest and most unique voices around, which lends an ethereal quality to her work. She often cites pop culture and 1950s-1960s America in her songs.
Her music has a “cinematic” quality and she often sings about tragic romance and melancholia.
As such, she’s written and recorded several songs for movies, including “Young and Beautiful” for The Great Gatsbyand “Once Upon a Dream” for Maleficent.
12. Dua Lipa
Vocal Range: G2-D5-A5
Dua Lipa is one of the most popular singers of the 21st century and has received numerous awards for her deep, sultry voice.
Her disco pop sound has been played in clubs around the world, while she’s also collaborated with other famous artists such as Megan Thee Stallion and Elton John.
She originally started out as a model and branched off into music after signing with Warner Bros. Records. Her debut album produced eight singles, which solidified her reputation as a pop star.
13. Shakira
Vocal Range: D3-A5
Shakira is a Columbian singer known as the “Queen of Latin Music” who made her recording debut at the tender age of 13.
Her Spanish-language albums became huge hits in the late 1990s; afterward, she made the transition to the English-language market with her album Laundry Service.
Her deeper voice is recognizable across Latin America and many have applauded her ability to incorporate both Western and Eastern influences into her music.
14. Florence Welch
Vocal Range: E3-F5-E6
Florence Welch is a singer and songwriter who is best-known for being the lead singer of the indie rock band Florence & The Machine.
Her voice has a deep, rich quality to it, serving as a core aspect of the band’s success
Besides her singing, Florence Welch is known for her bohemian style and is a huge proponent of reading and literature, even going so far as to host book clubs for fans.
15. Nina Simone
Vocal Range: G2-C6
Nina Simone was a singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. She used her rich and powerful voice to not only sing, but to move people to action when it came to social justice.
Her debut album – Little Girl Blue – was a huge success and she went on to record other pop songs; however, she only made music to generate an income.
Her real passion was fighting for civil rights, and she rallied many people throughout her life to the cause.
Closing Thoughts
We hope this all-encompassing list of singers with deep voices has armed you with some great new artists to check out!
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to browse through our list of the best songs for deep voices next.