Baritone voices have a unique depth and richness that can elevate pop music.
However, finding the right balance between a singer’s natural range and the genre’s expectations can be challenging.
In this blog post, we’ll explore 26 baritone pop singers who found that balance and redefined the genre with their exceptional vocal abilities and musical prowess.
From legendary artists like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash to modern-day stars like John Legend and Michael Bublé, we’ll delve into their careers, signature styles, and the impact they’ve had on the world of pop music.
Join us as we celebrate these incredible baritone voices and discover how they’ve shaped the sound of pop music over the decades.
The Classics: Icons of Baritone Pop
1. Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley, often called “The King of Rock and Roll,” was born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. He rose to fame in the 1950s with his distinctive baritone voice, energetic performances, and charismatic stage presence.
- Instrument: Guitar
- Years Active: 1953–1977
- Major Songs: “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock”
- Major Achievements: Cultural icon, numerous gold and platinum records, and a lasting influence on music and pop culture.
2. Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra, born in 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey, was a legendary singer, actor, and performer. His career spanned over five decades, during which he became known as “Ol’ Blue Eyes” and “The Voice.”
Sinatra’s smooth baritone voice and passionate delivery made hits like “My Way,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” and “Strangers in the Night” timeless classics.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 1935–1995
- Major Songs: “My Way,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Strangers in the Night”
- Major Achievements: Won 9 Grammy Awards, starred in numerous films, and sold over 150 million records worldwide.
3. Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison, born in 1936 in Vernon, Texas, was a singer-songwriter known for his powerful, operatic baritone voice and emotionally charged ballads.
- Instrument: Guitar
- Years Active: 1953–1988
- Major Songs: “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “Crying,” “In Dreams”
- Major Achievements: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and influential in shaping the pop and rock ballad genre.
4. Dean Martin
Dean Martin, born in 1917 in Steubenville, Ohio, was a singer, actor, and comedian. He rose to fame as part of the iconic “Rat Pack” alongside Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 1932–1995
- Major Songs: “That’s Amore,” “Everybody Loves Somebody,” “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head?”
- Major Achievements: Successful film and TV career, numerous hit singles, and a lasting legacy in music and entertainment.
5. Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby, born in 1903 in Tacoma, Washington, was a singer, actor, and radio personality. His career began in the 1920s and spanned over five decades.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 1926–1977
- Major Songs: “White Christmas,” “Swinging on a Star,” “Pennies from Heaven”
- Major Achievements: Sold over 1 billion records, starred in many successful films and won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
6. Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole was a gifted pianist and baritone singer born in 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama. He initially gained fame as a jazz pianist before transitioning to vocal performances.
- Instrument: Piano
- Years Active: 1934–1965
- Major Songs: “Unforgettable,” “Smile,” “The Christmas Song”
- Major Achievements: First African American to host a national TV variety show, numerous hit singles, and a significant impact on jazz and pop music.
The Innovators: Baritone Singers Who Brought New Sounds
7. Barry White
Barry White, born in 1944 in Galveston, Texas, was a singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his distinctive, deep baritone voice and romantic, soul-infused songs.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 1960–2003
- Major Songs: “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything,” “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up”
- Major Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, significant influence on 1970s soul and disco music
8. Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen, born in 1934 in Montreal, Canada, was a poet, novelist, and singer-songwriter. His introspective lyrics and deep, gravelly baritone voice made him highly respected and influential in music.
- Instrument: Guitar
- Years Active: 1956–2016
- Major Songs: “Hallelujah,” “Suzanne,” “So Long, Marianne”
- Major Achievements: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, numerous literary and musical awards
9. George Michael
Born in 1963 in East Finchley, London, George Michael was a singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first gained fame as part of the pop duo Wham! Before embarking on a highly successful solo career.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 1981–2016
- Major Songs: “Careless Whisper,” “Faith,” “Freedom! ’90”
- Major Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, sold over 100 million records worldwide
10. David Bowie
David Bowie, born in 1947 in Brixton, London, was a singer, songwriter, and actor known for his innovative music, visual style, and ever-evolving persona.
- Instrument: Guitar, saxophone
- Years Active: 1962–2016
- Major Songs: “Space Oddity,” “Heroes,” “Let’s Dance”
- Major Achievements: Influential figure in pop and rock music, numerous awards, over 100 million records sold
11. Lou Reed
Lou Reed, born in 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was a founding member of the influential band The Velvet Underground before pursuing a solo career.
- Instrument: Guitar
- Years Active: 1958–2013
- Major Songs: “Walk on the Wild Side,” “Perfect Day,” “Sweet Jane”
- Major Achievements: Influential in alternative and art rock, numerous awards, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
12. Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry, born in 1945 in Washington, County Durham, England, is a singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for the band Roxy Music.
- Instrument: Keyboard
- Years Active: 1967–present
- Major Songs: “Love Is the Drug,” “More Than This,” “Avalon”
- Major Achievements: Icon of art rock and new wave music, multiple awards, successful solo career
The Modern Icons: Contemporary Baritone Pop Stars
13. Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé, born in 1975 in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, is a singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his interpretations of American pop standards and smooth, jazz-influenced baritone voice.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 1995–present
- Major Songs: “It’s Time,” “Call Me Irresponsible,” “To Be Loved”
- Major Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, revitalized interest in classic pop standards
14. John Legend
John Legend, born in 1978 in Springfield, Ohio, is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and actor. His soulful baritone voice and heartfelt, socially conscious lyrics have made him a highly respected figure in contemporary R&B and pop music.
- Instrument: Piano
- Years Active: 2000–present
- Major Songs: “Ordinary People,” “All of Me,” “Glory”
- Major Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award
15. Josh Groban
Born in 1981 in Los Angeles, California, Josh Groban is a singer, songwriter, and actor known for his powerful, classically-trained baritone voice and blend of pop, classical, and musical theater styles.
- Instrument: Piano
- Years Active: 1997–present
- Major Songs: “Closer,” “Awake,” “Stages”
- Major Achievements: Multiple platinum albums, influential in popularizing classical crossover music
16. Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran, born in 1991 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His soulful baritone voice, confessional lyrics, and skillful guitar playing have made him one of his generation’s most successful pop artists.
- Instrument: Guitar
- Years Active: 2004–present
- Major Songs: “Thinking Out Loud,” “Shape of You,” “Perfect”
- Major Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, numerous chart-topping hits, significant global influence
17. Sam Smith
Sam Smith, born in 1992 in London, England, is a singer and songwriter known for their vibrant baritone voice and soul-baring lyrics.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 2007–present
- Major Songs: “Stay with Me,” “Too Good at Goodbyes,” “Lay Me Down”
- Major Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award
18. Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz, born in 1977 in Mechanicsville, Virginia, is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His laid-back baritone voice, positive lyrics, and a blend of pop, folk, and rock have made him a beloved figure in contemporary music.
- Instrument: Guitar
- Years Active: 1999–present
- Major Songs: “I’m Yours,” “Lucky,” “I Won’t Give Up”
- Major Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, successful global tours, known for uplifting and catchy songs
The Rising Stars: Emerging Baritone Voices
19. Lewis Capaldi
Lewis Capaldi, born in 1996 in Glasgow, Scotland, is a singer and songwriter known for his powerful, expressive baritone voice and heartfelt, often melancholy lyrics.
Capaldi’s breakout hit, “Someone You Loved,” and his debut album, “Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent,” have earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase.
- Instrument: Guitar, piano
- Years Active: 2013–present
- Major Songs: “Someone You Loved,” “Before You Go,” “Bruises”
- Major Achievements: Brit Award for Best New Artist, numerous chart-topping singles
20. James Arthur
James Arthur, born in 1988 in Middlesbrough, England, is a singer and songwriter who first gained fame as the winner of the ninth series of “The X Factor” in 2012.
Arthur’s soulful baritone voice and confessional lyrics are showcased in hits like “Impossible,” “Say You Won’t Let Go,” and “Train Wreck,” which have established him as a rising star in the pop music scene.
- Instrument: Guitar
- Years Active: 2011–present
- Major Songs: “Impossible,” “Say You Won’t Let Go,” “Naked”
- Major Achievements: Winner of “The X Factor,” multiple platinum singles
21. Hozier
Hozier, born Andrew Hozier-Byrne in 1990 in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his rich, soulful baritone voice and poetic, socially conscious lyrics.
- Instrument: Guitar, piano
- Years Active: 2008–present
- Major Songs: “Take Me to Church,” “Work Song,” “Cherry Wine”
- Major Achievements: Grammy nomination, multiple awards for songwriting
22. Rag’n’Bone Man
Rag’n’Bone Man, born Rory Graham in 1985 in Uckfield, East Sussex, England, is a singer and songwriter known for his powerful, gravelly baritone voice and blend of blues, soul, and hip-hop influences.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 2010–present
- Major Songs: “Human,” “Skin,” “Giant”
- Major Achievements: Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act, multiple international awards
23. Dermot Kennedy
Dermot Kennedy, born in 1991 in Dublin, Ireland, is a singer and songwriter known for his passionate baritone voice, introspective lyrics, and blend of folk, rock, and electronic influences.
- Instrument: Guitar, piano
- Years Active: 2014–present
- Major Songs: “Power Over Me,” “Outnumbered,” “Giants”
- Major Achievements: Gold and platinum certifications, international tours
24. Rex Orange County
Rex Orange County, born Alexander O’Connor in 1998 in Grayshott, Hampshire, England, is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his distinctive baritone voice, eclectic musical style, and reflective, often humorous lyrics.
His albums, such as “Apricot Princess” and “Pony,” have garnered him a cult following and critical praise for his unique blend of indie pop, jazz, and hip-hop influences.
- Instrument: Guitar, piano, drums
- Years Active: 2015–present
- Major Songs: “Loving Is Easy,” “Best Friend,” “10/10”
- Major Achievements: NME Award nominations, significant streaming numbers on digital platforms
The Unsung Heroes: Lesser-Known Baritone Talents
25. Matt Berninger (The National)
Matt Berninger, born in 1971 in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the lead vocalist and lyricist of the indie rock band The National. His distinctive baritone voice and introspective, often melancholy lyrics have become the band’s signature sound.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 1999–present
- Major Songs: “Fake Empire,” “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” “I Need My Girl”
- Major Achievements: Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, critical acclaim, strong influence in the indie rock genre
26. Scott Walker
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel in 1943 in Hamilton, Ohio, was a singer, songwriter, and composer known for his rich baritone voice and avant-garde, experimental approach to pop music.
Walker’s solo albums, like “Scott,” “Scott 2,” and “Scott 4,” have become cult classics, influencing generations of musicians with their dark, introspective lyrics and lush orchestral arrangements.
- Instrument: None primarily (vocals)
- Years Active: 1958–2014
- Major Songs: “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore,” “Jackie,” “Boy Child”
- Major Achievements: Cult status, influential in avant-garde and experimental music, numerous critical accolades
Wrapping It Up
The contributions of these remarkable baritone singers have raised the world of pop music.
From the pioneers who laid the foundation for the genre to the modern icons who continue to push boundaries, each artist has left an unforgettable mark on the music industry.
Their unique vocal qualities and energizing performances have attracted audiences and inspired countless aspiring singers. As we look to the future, the rising stars and unsung heroes of the baritone world promise to keep the genre alive and thriving.
So, the next time you find yourself humming along to a catchy pop tune, take a moment to appreciate the incredible baritone voices that have shaped the music we love.
Who knows? You might discover your new favorite artist among these talented singers.
