| Anybody can argue about who's the best at any | | | | a solid 9 weeks.Surprisingly, at least as far as |
| particular occupation. The all time "best" lists are in | | | | popularity goes, no other stars even come close |
| no way either right or wrong. But they sure are a | | | | to the popularity of Crosby and Presley. However, |
| lot of fun to come up with. People love lists. They | | | | there have been other great singers during the |
| love to see what other people think so that they | | | | 20th century and certainly somebody, even if he |
| can send in letters and emails arguing with those | | | | or she is far from the front runners, has to come |
| lists.Well, according to almost every list ever | | | | in at number 3. Unfortunately, this is where most |
| made, from TV Guide, to Entertainment Weekly, | | | | lists usually go off in their different directions. |
| to you name it, the most popular, if not the | | | | Many are split between pre 1950s singers and |
| greatest singer of all time, was Bing Crosby. | | | | post 1950s singers and the top 10 in many lists is |
| Crosby had no less that 383 songs in the top 30 | | | | so varied that it is hard to get a sense of who |
| during his lifetime, including 41 number 1 hits. | | | | the majority of the people feel should be in that |
| Crosby had a one of a kind voice that simply | | | | top 10.For example. Many lists have Al Jolson at |
| dominated the music scene from 1931 to 1954. | | | | number 3 because of his 91 charted hits and 23 |
| His biggest hit of all time was "White Christmas", | | | | number 1 hits. But other lists don't even have |
| which radio stations still play today when | | | | Jolson listed, probably because he was in an era |
| Christmas time comes around. Not only was it | | | | that has long been forgotten. Certainly Jolson had |
| Crosby's biggest hit but it was the biggest selling | | | | one of the most unique voices of all time. Some |
| single of all time. It was number one on the charts | | | | lists have Elton John coming in at the third position |
| for an amazing 14 weeks. There is no artist that | | | | because of his 47 top 30 hits and 8 number 1 |
| has come even close to Crosby's popularity, not | | | | hits. Much of John's appeal must be credited to his |
| even the man most lists have at number 2.That | | | | ties to many other people as well as his tributes |
| would be the great Elvis Presley, who was the | | | | to Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana. And yet, |
| most popular singer of the last half of the 20th | | | | there are lists that don't even have Elton John in |
| century. Presley is given credit for almost single | | | | the top 30.Much of the problem probably can be |
| handedly starting the rock and roll revolution. His | | | | attributed to who you ask. Younger people will |
| style completely changed the look and feel of | | | | lean more towards the post 1950s era while older |
| popular music. His popularity ran from 1956 to | | | | folks will go for the old time standards. That's |
| 1981. He had 85 songs in the top 30 and a total | | | | why to find Crosby and Presley at the top of |
| of 18 number 1 hits. His biggest hit of all was "All | | | | most lists is truly a tribute to these two great |
| Shook Up" which was number 1 on the charts for | | | | singers. |