This is just my opinion. Based on some of the music that I've heard compared to a worldwide range of others, I feel that these are "top of the line" singers. With respects to other similar singers, nationalities and genres, I believe that these ten have every necessary tools (and then some) to compete and rock the talents of singing. James Brown is number one due to his enthusiasm, spirit, format, risks and full throttle experience. I believe Aretha Franklin's "respect", Stevie Wonder's "signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours" and Ray Charles's "Georgia on my mind" can move, groove, impact, grip and relate to many of people's love lives and opinionated feelings. Curtis Mayfield and John Lennon are in my book the top two influencial thrillers of our time. Then, McCartney, Jackson (the king of pop), Robinson, and LaBelle's passionate, throbbing voices and lifestyles makes dungy paths turn into cakewalks. I can continue the list, but as it stands now, these ten singers, dead or alive, have went through it all and have became singing's purpose of maturation. And concluding, wouldn't this make a climax a race to the finish!?!