The history of the performing arts has included hundreds of golden voices, but for a singer to truly be considered the best they need to transcend time and space. In this feature, we’ll spotlight five vocal performers who changed the world of music.

Freddie Mercury
The Queen lead singer is widely famed as one of the most dynamic, powerful voices of the 20th century. Mercury’s incredible voice was suited for ballads, rockers and more, and it’s a tragedy that he died so young.

Aretha Franklin
From one queen to another, the singer known as the Queen of Soul laid the groundwork for modern R&B music over several decades, with more #1 albums than any other female artist.

Luciano Pavarotti
One of the greatest tenor voices of all time, Pavarotti’s incredible power and presence made him one of the greatest stars of the 20th century. He collaborated with a wide range of musicians across many genres.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Widely considered the greatest musician Pakistan has ever produced, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan boasted a vocal range of six octaves and could perform at full steam for hours. His work is lively, emotional and compulsively listenable.

Frank Sinatra
One of the most influential voices in pop history, Frank lent his own unique swagger to every song he sang. His talent was staggering, with a brutal professionalism that made each performance unforgettable.