Amongst the thousands of popular singers who graced the concert halls, night clubs and record charts in the twentieth century, a handful have risen to become the greats of their craft. This book rashly identifies the twenty best singers of the century, describes their lives, and analyzes the technical elements of their art. The chosen ones represent almost every aspect of their trade: vaudeville, jazz, stage and screen, pop, rock, country and western, folk, R&B, gospel and cabaret. The 20 singers, in chronological order of their birth, are Al Jolson, Ethel Waters, Mabel Mercer, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Vera Lynn, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Etta James, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and Chico Buarque.