Tune into the king’s very surprising playlist
We'll always have a place in our hearts for smooth-singing crooners. Decades ago, a number of charming men captivated audiences with their jazz-infused heartfelt singing. Crooning's popularity rose in the 1920s, when singers started to make the most of the new, dynamic range covered by microphones. Voices could be heard differently, and finer details picked up on. It's as if these singers were whispering sweet nothings in our ears.
The style evolved over the years to incorporate more pop elements, as well as other music genres. And while many of the great ones are no longer among us, some contemporary singers are still carrying the flag for crooners.
In this gallery, we travel to the bygone golden era when crooners dominated the charts and remember some of the greatest of all time. But we also show you there's still hope for the present and future! Ready? Click on!
One of the greatest singers of all time, Ol' Blue Eyes sits on the throne as the king of crooners. 'Theme from New York, New York,' 'Fly Me to the Moon,' or 'My Way' are just a few of the many brilliant tunes Sinatra sang like no other.
Tony Bennett had a remarkable career and received numerous accolades for it, including 20 Grammy Awards. His jazz phrasing with a pop sensitivity made him a global superstar. Bennett went on to collaborate with relevant pop artists such as Lady Gaga in his later years.
Michael Bublé is arguably the greatest contemporary crooner. The Canadian singer introduced Great American Songbook classics to a whole new generation of fans, and continues to sell out concerts worldwide.
The smooth jazz pianist and singer is often quoted as being one of the greatest artists to mix jazz and pop. Ballads such as 'Unforgettable' are indeed unforgettable.
Crosby was a multi-talented star with a successful career as both an actor and singer. Bing Crosby's bass-baritone voice can be heard in classics such as 'White Christmas.'
The "King of Cool" will forever be remembered as a legendary crooner. His smooth serenating voice in romantic songs such as 'That's Amore' is as iconic as it gets.
The Welsh singer's powerful pipes turned him into a global pop star in the 1960s. From energetic songs like 'It's Not Unusual,' to emotional ballads like 'Green Green Grass of Home,' Tom Jones could do it all, and do it well.
Barry Manilow has spent over seven decades under the spotlight. With several multiple-platinum albums under his belt and a setlist of hits including 'Looks Like We Made It,' 'Mandy,' and 'Copacabana (At the Copa),' to name a few, it's easy to see why Barry Manilow deserves a spot on this list.
The Canadian-born singer is best known for hits such as 'Diana,' 'Lonely Boy,' and 'Put Your Head on My Shoulder.' Paul Anka also wrote numerous songs for other artists, including Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, and Michael Jackson.
Julio Iglesias is arguably the most famous Spanish crooner of all time. His unique voice and romantic allure helped him reach stardom. In 2013, Iglesias became the best-selling male Latin artist of all time.
Harry Connick, Jr. is a multi-talented star with a successful acting and music career. With over 30 million records sold worldwide, Harry Connick, Jr. is one of the most accomplished crooners of the 21st century.
Charles Aznavour was known for his signature vibrato and tenor voice. He has been dubbed "the French Frank Sinatra."
Eddie Fisher had a successful career as an actor, TV presenter, and as a singer. His charismatic voice made him one of the greatest crooners of his era.
With over 360 million albums sold, Johnny Mathis knew a thing or two about crooning. The 1958 album 'Johnny’s Greatest Hits' earned Mathis a Guinness World Record after spending almost 10 years on the Billboard album charts.
Sam Cooke's silky, soulful voice mixed a number of genres perfectly, including gospel, pop, and rhythm and blues. Cooke was also a romantic crooner, with songs such as 'You Send Me.'
The singer, songwriter, and pianist is one of the pioneers of soul music. Ray Charles mixed elements of jazz, blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues, and captivated audiences with his soulful voice. "The Genius" could sing passionately and croon smoothly.
The "King of Rock 'n' Roll" was known for his energetic performances, but he also had a sensitive side. Elvis Presley's crooner ballads are definitely worth a listen.
Louis Armstrong is one of the world's most famous jazz musicians. He is known for playing the trumpet, but also for his innovative singing technique. Louis Armstrong sang some of the smoothest jazz tunes impeccably.
Engelbert Humperdinck became huge during the late '60s and early '70s with his romantic ballads. Humperdinck's 1966 rendition of 'Release Me' was one of his many hits.
The English singer known as "The Man with the Golden Voice" had a gorgeously smooth voice indeed. Monro is definitely one of the greatest British crooners of all time.
The "Emperor of Easy" had a sweet and effortless singing style. His career in the entertainment industry spanned over 50 years, and he even hosted his own TV variety show. Many of us listen to one of his greatest hits at least once a year: the Christmas classic 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.'
Robert Goulet's voice was perfect for both Broadway hits and croony ballads. 'If Ever I Would Leave You' from the 1960 Broadway musical 'Camelot' and his version of 'You've Got a Friend in Me' from 1999's 'Toy Story 2' are among some of his signature songs.
Al Martino's baritone voice made fans' hearts skip a beat. He has been called "one of the great Italian American pop crooners."
"The best pipes in the business," according to Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone was known for hits such as 'You're Breaking My Heart,' 'On the Street Where You Live,' and 'I Have But One Heart.'
"The Velvet Fog" really did have a velvety voice. A classic example is 'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).' Mel Tormé was a brilliant jazz singer who certainly deserves a place on this list.
The Italian-American crooner sang ballads like no other, in both English and Italian. Jerry Vale's songs went on to feature in some of Martin Scorsese's movies.
From Great American Songbook standards to romantic pop classics, Steve Lawrence is yet another great crooner. The singer also found success performing with his wife Eydie Gormé, billed as the duo Steve and Eydie.
Frankie Laine mixed elements of jazz, blues, and pop in his songs. Songs like 'I Believe' and 'That's My Desire,' among others, certainly deserve a listen.
Darin started his career as a rock and roll artist, but it was his renditions of classics such as 'Beyond the Sea' that secured him a place on this list.
Perry Como's effortless warm vocals helped him become a successful actor, TV personality, and singer. Como had dozens of hit songs, including 'And I Love You So,' 'It's Impossible,' and 'For the Good Times,' to name a few.
Sources: (Ranker) (Melodyful)
The greatest crooners of all time
Past and present
MUSIC Singers
We'll always have a place in our hearts for smooth-singing crooners. Decades ago, a number of charming men captivated audiences with their jazz-infused heartfelt singing. Crooning's popularity rose in the 1920s, when singers started to make the most of the new, dynamic range covered by microphones. Voices could be heard differently, and finer details picked up on. It's as if these singers were whispering sweet nothings in our ears.
The style evolved over the years to incorporate more pop elements, as well as other music genres. And while many of the great ones are no longer among us, some contemporary singers are still carrying the flag for crooners.
In this gallery, we travel to the bygone golden era when crooners dominated the charts and remember some of the greatest of all time. But we also show you there's still hope for the present and future! Ready? Click on!