The “best voice” in early rock ‘n’ roll, according to Paul Simon
The 1960s was a transformative period for musical vocals. Artists like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and The Beach Boys collectively showcased the power of rawness and harmonic blends, while acts like Simon and Garfunkel revolutionised the appeal of delicate precision mixed with introspective, haunting melodies. For Paul Simon, however, there was one voice that held more talent than the rest of them.
The 1960s was home to some of the most defining musical vocalists whose talent and musical intuition enabled the era’s accompanying movements to thrive. Dylan and The Beatles redefined the parameters of rock and musical innovation, but the likes of Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, and Dusty Springfield made significant strides for female empowerment with their unique voices and poetic lyricism.
Simon and Garfunkel, on the other hand, demonstrated the poignancy of utilising emotion and nuance, creating a sonorous sound that would convey the subtle shifts in folk and rock that were beginning to flourish at the time. Many associate defining rock voices as ones filled with rawness and a note of aggression, but Simon and Garfunkel showcased a range of vocal textures that often highlighted the lyrical content of their songs.
For Simon, in particular, being able to balance various aspects of vocal delivery was a delicate act, but there existed one musician whose ability to achieve such a feat resonated more than any other artist. “Sam Cooke was the best voice”, the musician told Spin. “I don’t think anybody was in Sam Cooke’s league.”
Describing the musician as “a big influence”, he explained his ability to “be more of a soft singer and phraser”, which was particularly important to him because “that’s what my voice is naturally”. Reflecting on his ability to also “belt” if he wanted to, he noted the power of his “smoothness”, particularly as an integral part of the Soul Stirrers, which he enjoyed more than “his pop stuff”.
Although Simon also notes the importance of Elvis Presley on the 1950s rock ‘n’ roll scene, Cooke’s voice seemed to hold more timelessness while providing a glimpse into where the genre could go and how other elements, like folk and soul, could infiltrate the space and influence its appeal. In Simon’s view, Presley was “the most important force” in rock who “had the voice”, but Cooke seemed more of an influence on his own vocal style.
This is an interesting comparison when you consider Simon’s longtime appreciation for Presley’s music. However, it also makes complete sense. Presley infiltrated the way he thought musically, but Cooke taught him about the skill of versatility. Cooke had exceptional voice control, which was an important feature in the realm of forward-thinking folk rock.