Your top 3 Soneros / Singers

zorro

Changui
Following on from DJ Yuca's thread on your favourite Salsa artists, who would you rank as your 3 favourite vocalists?

My choices would have to be:

1. Chamaco Ramirez
2. Nestor Sanchez
3. Ismael Rivera
 
1. Cano Estremera (i really enjoy listening to Cano sing ANY song)
2. Jerry Rivas (most of my favourite songs of el gran combo are sung by him)
3. Marvin Santiago (again love hearing this guy put his unique voice to any song)
 
Ok, here's my three...

1. Tito Rodriguez
2. Cheo Feliciano
3. Bobby Cruz

And some honorable mentions:
Most distinctive voice - Yolanda Rivera
Most underrated voice - Wichi Camacho
Greatest living sonero - Cano Estremera
Most charismatic and entertaining - Luisito Carrion
 
.. only the first position is 'clear' - rest depending the daily mood.

1. Tirso Duarte
2.. Mandy Cantero, Michel Maza, Mayito Rivera, El Gallo, El Indio, Pepito Gomez, Paulito FG, etc..

Anyway it is almost impossible to rank timberos/soneros since they are all amazing singers, but of course a good song is even better with a correct singer. I've also noticed that I like male singers over female singers, except basically everything around Lazarito's/Limonta's projects; 'ya no hace falta', 'yo no parezco a nadie', 'con un canto en el pecho', 'andar andando', 'se acabo la rabia', 'identidad' which are all bombazos.
 
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If this is "of all time" it's so hard it's basically impossible. If it's "currently singing" it makes it a lot easier. I used to think Mayito was the best ever. Until all his side activities really messed up his singing. But Mayito in the days of Cabeza Mala, Amparame, Llego Van Van is basically unbeatable (calm down -- that leaves the possibility of a tie :)).

El Indio and El Gallo are also superb. Many of the other singers I like, however, are nameless because I either have forgotten or haven't done the research. Rumbavana's singer is kick butt. Tiburon also deserves a mention.
 
Don't forget Cándido Fabré. OK so is voice is hoarse but he never sings out of tune and he is a great improviser.

Favorites among current singers for both singing and improvising skills - Mayito, Tirso and also Paulito.

Michel Maza may have an amazing voice but I'm not sure how well he can improvise.

I never got to see El Gallo live but Elito told me that when they would record El Gallo would take his lyrics, go off for 30 minutes then come back and record 3 different versions of the songs and they'd pick the bits they liked best and put them together. I love his singing in general.
 
Don't forget Cándido Fabré. OK so is voice is hoarse but he never sings out of tune and he is a great improviser.

Timba singer who sings in tune. ;) Can you recommend me a couple of songs, I sure want to hear that. Something not very sweet. Also I think in 70's LVV had such singers, but this brings back the "is it really timba" topic. :)
 
Ismael Rivera & Héctor Lavoe (sorry, both tied in the first place. both were also show men and marked the way for others. before them, the term Sonero was barely known).

Cano Estremera (He can sing anyone's song with no flaws and -in the same time- he masters the improvisation arena. No one can beat him there).

Marc Anthony (may not be from the classic era of Salsa; not even a good sonero. but man, he knows how to sing).
 
Timba singer who sings in tune. ;) Can you recommend me a couple of songs, I sure want to hear that. Something not very sweet. Also I think in 70's LVV had such singers, but this brings back the "is it really timba" topic. :)

Are you serious? Timba singers that sing in too a rarity? You must not have listened to much. :(
 
Are you serious? Timba singers that sing in tune a rarity? You must not have listened to much. :(

Just name some good examples. Preferably something with an online sample. Everytime I try to find good timba myself I get a headache. Anyway, I'm sure good singers in timba exist, just hard to find. I assume it comes from rap roots, where lyrics are more important than singing quality.
 
Just name some good examples. Preferably something with an online sample. Everytime I try to find good timba myself I get a headache. Anyway, I'm sure good singers in timba exist, just hard to find. I assume it comes from rap roots, where lyrics are more important than singing quality.

Por dios.....
 
Everytime I try to find good timba myself I get a headache.

A common complaint that I can readily relate to, however it's the style of the genre that causes this, it is not in any way due to technical innacuracies on the part of singers or any other players in timba, who (at least afaik) are all technically outstanding.
 
Just name some good examples. Preferably something with an online sample. Everytime I try to find good timba myself I get a headache. Anyway, I'm sure good singers in timba exist, just hard to find. I assume it comes from rap roots, where lyrics are more important than singing quality.

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You can post photos here:


:) :thumb_up:
 
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