The Best Prog Rock Singers Of All Time Ranked

Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Initially termed “progressive pop”, the style was an outgrowth of psychedelic bands who abandoned standard pop traditions in favour of instrumentation and compositional techniques more frequently associated with jazz, folk, or classical music. Additional elements contributed to its “progressive” label: lyrics were more poetic, technology was harnessed for new sounds, music approached the condition of “art”, and the studio, rather than the stage, became the focus of musical activity, which often involved creating music for listening rather than dancing. Progressive rock is based on fusions of styles, approaches and genres, involving a continuous move between formalism and eclecticism. Due to its historical reception, the scope of progressive rock is sometimes limited to a stereotype of long solos, long albums, fantasy lyrics, grandiose stage sets and costumes, and an obsessive dedication to technical skill. While the genre is often cited for its merging of high culture and low culture, few artists incorporated literal classical themes in their work to any great degree, and only a handful of groups, such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, purposely emulated or referenced classical music. Here are all of the best Prog Rock Singers of all time ranked.

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20. Jonas Renkse

“Jonas Petter Renkse is a founding member, songwriter, lead vocalist and ex-drummer of the band Katatonia, founding member, songwriter, bassist, backing vocalist, ex-guitarist of the band Bloodbath.”

19. Russell Allen

“Russell remains overlooked in such polls most of the time but the truth is, that as a singer he owns Gilmour or Waters or whoever from the top of this list (with all respect to them) with no effort. If it comes to pure skill and talent instead of popularity, Russell is the best.”

18. Maynard James Keenan

“Maynard James Keenan, often referred to by his initials MJK, is an American musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor, best known as the vocalist for Grammy Award-winning progressive metal band Tool. He also is the singer of A Perfect Circle and Puscifer bands that vary in style.”

17. Robert Fripp

“His compositions often feature unusual time signatures, which have been influenced by classical and folk traditions. His innovations include Frippertronics, soundscapes, and new standard tuning. As a guitarist for the progressive rock band King Crimson, Fripp has been the only member to have played in all of King Crimson’s line-ups from their inception in the late 1960s to the present.”

16. Chuck Schuldiner

“Charles Michael “Chuck” Schuldiner (1967-2001) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known as the founder and vocalist, guitarist and bassist of the American heavy metal band Death. He is considered the most influential figure in Death Metal, with some publications referring to Chuck as the “Godfather of Death Metal”. Schuldiner died in December 13, 2001 of brain cancer, his death subsequently leading to the disbandment of Death, but has remained influential among many aspiring metal artists.”

15. James LaBrie

“Kevin James LaBrie is a Canadian vocalist and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater. No one like him. Versatile voice and range. No one else could front Dream Theater with more confidence and ability.”

14. Steven Wilson

“Steven John Wilson is an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer, most closely associated with the progressive rock genre. He is best known for his band Porcupine Tree.

13. Devin Townsend

“Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has an extensive career as a solo artist.”

12. Daniel Heiman

“Daniel Heiman (born June 11, 1974) is a Swedish power metal singer. He is most famous for his time in Lost Horizon. After leaving Lost Horizon, he recorded an album with the band Crystal Eyes, and later founded the band Heed.”

11. Mikael Akerfeldt

“Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician, prominently known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of progressive death metal band Opeth, as well as being the former vocalist of death metal supergroup Bloodbath for three albums up until 2012.”

10. Syd Barrett

“Roger Keith Barrett was an English musician, composer, singer, songwriter, and painter. Best known as a founder member of the band Pink Floyd, Barrett was the lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter in its early years and is credited with naming the band.”

9. Freddie Mercury

“Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5th September 1946 – 24th November 1991) was a Zanzibari-born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter and record producer, known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band Queen. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range.”

8. Geddy Lee

“Gary Lee Weinrib, known professionally as Geddy Lee, is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. His voice is essential for progressive rock.”

7. Phil Collins

“Philip David Charles Collins LVO is an English drummer, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and 1990, Collins scored three UK and seven US number-one singles as a solo artist.”

6. Annie Haslam

“Annie Haslam is an English vocalist, songwriter and painter. She is best known as the lead singer of progressive rock band Renaissance since 1971, and for her long and diverse solo singing career. She has a five-octave vocal range”

5. Justin Hayward

“Justin is not really the lead singer of the Moody Blues, since most of the band members sang leads on the songs that they individually wrote. Justin did sing lead on more songs than any other member did, though. He has a beautiful voice.”

4. Greg Lake

“Greg Lake’s voice was really like a hand of steel in a velvet glove, as he was capable of delivering explosive performances like in “21st Century Schitzoid Man” as well as delicate and beautiful moments as he proved with “I Talk to the Wind” and “Still…You Turn Me On”.
While I agree when somebody says that Gabriel’s flamboyant performances are more peculiar, the beauty and the smoothness in Greg’s voice are still unmatched”

3. Peter Gabriel

“Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer-songwriter, musician and humanitarian activist who rose to fame as the original lead singer and flautist of the progressive rock band Genesis. His vocal inflection trumps just about anything from anybody else at his time, and although his flute wasn’t incredibly skilled, it added quite a bit to the music.”

2. David Gilmour

“David Jon Gilmour is an English singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He joined the progressive rock band Pink Floyd as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1968. Even today now at his age, he still has th3 best voice, and still makes the best solo albums

1. Jon Anderson

“Jon has something else, something extra, a mercurial joyful playfulness, he makes people happy, he makes me smile, for instance on Walls, its just one of those songs that makes me dance round the room, its just delightful, he’s obviously having fun, and its infectious. I can’t think of any other singer who sings about beautiful positives in such a playful and joyous way”