Who are some of the distinctive voices in Blues?

I realize this is rather subjective, but what singers in your mind have one-of-a-kind voices who could never be mistaken for anyone elses?

One obvious example would be Howling Wolf. Who else belongs in this category in your opinion?

Billie Holliday
John Lee Hooker
B.B. King
Ray Charles
Etta James
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Eric Clapton
Big Mama Thornton
Muddy Waters
Johnny Otis
Elmore James

Sun House
Stevie Ray
Muddy Waters
Etta James
Bessie Smith

Yep, all of the above.

Also:

Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy (that yelpy thing he does with his voice is a dead giveaway), Janis Joplin (blues singer? For me, yes), Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Odetta, Freddie King (emotion on fire, at his very best), Leon Redbone, Memphis Slim, Johnny Winter (don't like his voice, but could pick it out anywhere), and Delbert McClinton.

One not mentioned? Jimmy Reed.

cheese

Ya'll left out Robert Johnson. That boy's voice raises the hair on the back o' my neck.

Two that haven't yet been mentioned:
Charlie Musselwhite
Dr. John

Koko Taylor
Slim Harpo
Sonny Boy Williamson2
Muddy Waters
Buddy Guy
Sam Lightnin Hopkins
BB King
Sonny Terry

Amy Winehouse is a relatively new singer and wails on the blues. Definitely check her out if you're looking for something current, but has that old classic sound vocally.

Bessie Smith

most definatly.... she's amazing

how about james cotton? the nicest raspiest howling whisper a guy could make.

Have to agree, Robert Johnson, one of a kind. For me, Elmore James is it. Don't know if you consider this true blues, but feel Greg Allman is very distinctive.

B.B.King, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Steve Ray,Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Big Mama Thornton, Johnny Otis.

Blind Blake, Blind Lemmon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Willie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Lonnie Johnson, Tommy Johnson.

i agree with all of the answers below. some left out

Skip James
Charlie Patton
sonny terry

bessie smith sonny boy williamson memphis sim muddy waters howling wolf ma rainie ray charles gary moore eric clapton robert johnson b.b. king

How about Gatemouth Brown? I know he played a wide variety of genres, but he was a bluesman at heart.

I have got to chime in on this one. The most one-of-a-kind voices in Blues music through the years are as follows.

Robert Johnson
Freddie King
Albert King
James Dewar from the Robin Trower band
Johnny Winter
Koko Taylor
Etta James (more Soul than Blues but that's ok)
A. C. Reed
Sun Seals
Snooky Pryor
Warren Haynes
Gregg Allman

There are others that belong in this list, but don't disgrace the list of great Blues vocalists with the likes of SRV and people who can't sing one single note.

Ray Charles, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Koko Taylor, Shameka Copeland, Dr. John, Earl Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Margie Hendrix (background for Ray Charles -- listen to Night Time is the Right Time)

Distinctive voices in blues.....my picks would have to be....
SRV, BB King, Shemekia Copeland, Bonnie Raitt, of course ETTA JAMES, Jimmy D. Lane and I also think Noah Hunt that sings with The Kenny Wayne Shepherd band has a very strong, distinctive voice.

Richard Pfeifer

Any particular kind of blues?

Blind Willie Johnson and Captain Beefheart

No one has mentioned "Spoon"...Jimmy Witherspoon. He's pretty distinctive.

Blues singers: Sonny Terry & Browny McGee, Jon Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, BB King, John Mayer, the list is endless