Top 10 Greatest Classic Broadway Singers

Originating the role of Billy Bigelow in “Carousel,” John Raitt’s resonant voice made him an almost instant star. He became the very image of a leading man during Broadway’s Golden Age. On stage, he played some of the greatest leading roles in musical history. From his Broadway debut in 1945 to his various appearances on television, he never strayed too far from live performance. In fact, he only made one film appearance, and that was to reprise his role in “The Pajama Game.” His daughter, Bonnie, would go on to become a successful vocalist and musician in her own right.

When he opened in “Evita” in 1979, Patinkin wowed audiences in his Tony-winning role as the show’s narrator, modeled after revolutionary Che Guevara. He commanded the stage with his rich tone and a vibrato for days. After “Evita,” he found continued success in stage musicals like “Sunday in the Park with George” and “The Secret Garden.” Balancing a successful career on stage and on screen, he continues to be one of Broadway’s legendary performers. Although he came in at the very end of the Golden Age, Patinkin’s voice hearkens back to the more sonorous tones of the classic leading men.

With her growl of a voice and her irreverent stage persona, Pearl Bailey’s stunning power and immeasurable charisma was a natural fit for Broadway. She made her debut in the 1946 production of “St. Louis Woman,” and juggled careers on stage, in film, and on television for several decades afterward. One of her biggest and most remembered Broadway triumphs was her leading role in the all-African American cast of “Hello, Dolly!” If her incredible and distinctive voice wasn’t enough, her sense of humor was unmatched. It didn’t matter whose show she was on. When Pearl Bailey was on stage, she was the star.

Having begun his career in radio, Kiley was renowned for his booming voice and striking diction. Steven Spielberg even sought him out for the theme park narration in the original “Jurassic Park.” One of Broadway’s foremost baritones, Kiley was said to be among the most versatile actors of his time. His roles in musicals ran the gamut from the impoverished, mad knight errant Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha” to the Caliph in “Kismet.” He also holds the distinction of being the first actor to record the now famous showtune, “The Impossible Dream.” Over his career, he won several awards for acting, including two Tonys for Best Actor in a Musical.

From her Broadway debut in 1951 to her death in 2017, Barbara Cook was one of the American theater’s legendary vocalists. Renditions of songs by the great composers like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Harnick and Bock, and Stephen Sondheim established her as one of Broadway’s finest song interpreters. In 1957, she originated the role of Marian and the song “Till There Was You” from “The Music Man.” When health issues and personal problems affected her stage work in the 70s, she shifted to a successful career in cabarets and concert halls. Even as her clear, ringing soprano became deeper with age, her power as a performer was undeniable.

How good is Betty Buckley? When the notorious musical version of “Carrie” opened, it’s said that when the lights went down the audience booed. But when the lights came back up for Buckley and her co-star’s bows, they rose to their feet in a standing ovation. By then, Buckley had been a pro on the Broadway stage for nearly two decades, having made her debut in the 1969 production of “1776.” Her impressive list of stage credits may be split between New York and London’s West End, but her dynamic vocals led to New York Magazine labeling her the “Voice of Broadway.”

Although later audiences knew her for her film performances, Julie Andrews bookended her singing career with acclaimed runs on Broadway. Despite making a name for herself in Hollywood, Andrews’ earliest successes were on Broadway. After appearing on the West End, she made her debut on the American stage in 1954’s “The Boy Friend.” It was her masterful, Tony-nominated performance as Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” that cemented her place among Broadway’s most beloved leading ladies. With a four-octave range, her voice was a technical marvel. She was on Broadway doing “Victor/Victoria” when her singing career came to an end, due to a botched throat surgery in 1997.

Sometimes she’s innocent with a sickly sweet lilt in her voice. Sometimes she’s a bawdy dame with a mouth like a horn. Bernadette Peters’ range is her secret weapon. When she made her Broadway debut in 1967, Peters had been sharpening her skills in regional and summer stock productions for almost a decade by that point. Later roles in shows like “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Into the Woods” would add to the legend, but it was shows like “On the Town” and “Mack & Mabel” that first brought her major attention. Her incredible staying power as a performer is matched only by her ability to make every song her own.

A Juilliard graduate and a member of John Houseman’s Acting Company, Patti LuPone already seemed like a seasoned vet when she made her New York debut. Her first musical, “The Robber Bridegroom,” earned her a Tony nomination despite only running for a limited 14-performance engagement. When she played Eva Peron in “Evita,” her placement among Broadway’s best ever vocalists was secured. No one sings a song like Patti LuPone. Her tone and her stylistic flourishes are uniquely her own. From her theater-filling, powerhouse vocals to her pointed and sometimes hilarious opinions about theater etiquette, Patti is one of the last bastions of the traditional theater-going experience.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Carol Channing
Channing’s Voice May Not Be Top 40 Friendly, but Her Distinctive Style Made Her a Legend

Liza Minnelli
She May Have Been Hollywood Royalty, but Liza Began Her Career Wowing Broadway Crowds

Robert Goulet
Goulet’s Rich, Opera-Trained Baritone Made Him a Star On & Off the Stage

Angela Lansbury
Her Presence & Personality Are What Made Her Truly Stand Out

Joel Grey
He’ll Always Be the Emcee, but Joel Grey Truly Is a Triple Threat

If you want to talk about a voice that filled the entire theater and maybe even the alley behind the theater, look no further than Broadway’s First Lady. Ethel Merman debuted on the Great White Way in 1930 and headlined her last production nearly fifty years later. In that time, she became inextricably linked to the American standards she originated on stage. These include “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Anything You Can Do,” “Anything Goes,” and many, many more. Her voice has been described as “clarion-like” and “authoritative.” Like any big star, Merman knew how to command an audience’s attention, even if she had to take it by sheer force.