My music teacher, Mrs Patterson, was an alto. She hated it when the sopranos in the choir got all of the attention. “We’re the backbone,” she’d say, pointing at her chest. “Take us away, and it all sounds thin.” I didn’t get it then. Thought she was just bitter about not reaching the high notes. But I finally get what she was referring to, years after living with music every day.
There’s something about a deep female voice that just hits differently. So here’s my completely subjective, probably controversial list of the top 10 famous alto vocalists who’ve made me stop and actually listen.
Adele
Look, everyone knows Adele. When “Someone Like You” was released, my flatmate played it so much I threatened to throw her laptop out the window. But here’s the other thing: even after hearing it five or 500 times, that voice still gets you.
There is just something about the way she sings that makes you feel like she has lived through whatever it is she’s singing. It doesn’t matter whether you’re 15 years old or 75; when Adele starts singing about love gone sideways, you feel it. That is how a good alto voice behaves. It’s not about hitting crazy high notes; rather, it’s about making you feel something in your chest.
Amy Winehouse
Amy passed away at 27; that’s absolutely tragic. But that voice? She sounded like she’d lived about three lifetimes. I remember watching her on Jools Holland years ago and thinking she sounded a lot more mature than she looked. That raspy, smoky thing she had going on was addictive.
After she died, my brother would play ‘Back to Black’ every morning as he made breakfast. Drove me mad at the time. Now I get it, though. It’s a perfect album, and her voice is the reason why.
Toni Braxton
“Un-break My Heart” was extremely popular in the 90s. You can’t get away from it. My mum liked it, so it was automatically uncool. But Toni’s voice is so incredibly deep and silk smooth; even teenage me admitted that it was good.
She’s an actual contralto; apparently, they’re very rare. Most female singers with low voices are technically altos, but Tones’ voice goes even lower. She was so close to becoming a teacher instead of a singer, which would have been such a waste.
Cher
Cher is 79 now and still performing. Her voice is indelible; you listen to two notes and you know it’s her. “Believe” was huge when I was a kid, and that bizarre auto-tune thing she did set off a whole trend.
But forget the 90s stuff for a second. Go listen to “If I Could Turn Back Time” or any of her old songs. That deep female voice has been amazing for years. She has won pretty much every award you can win. Oscar, Grammy, Emmy—the lot.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys at the piano and singing “Fallin’” on your TV screen in 2001 was a moment. At 20 years old, she already sounded mature. That’s what a good alto does — it gives you heft and depth that makes you take it seriously.
I saw her once, live, at a festival. She sang ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ and half the place was crying. Not that it’s a sad song exactly, but because that voice is so honest. No tricks, no showing off. Just proper singing.
Tracy Chapman
“Fast Car” is one of those songs that makes you sit down and shut up. My dad had it on constantly while I was growing up. I didn’t realise it at the time because I was a stupid teenager who thought anything before 2005 was ancient.
Tracy’s voice is warm and deep, and he tells stories better than most writers. She’s very private, doesn’t seek out fame or go on tonnes of interviews. Just makes brilliant music and lets it stand on its own.
Sade
Sade’s voice is like butter. And there’s no other way to say it. Smooth, sophisticated, effortless. “Smooth Operator” is a great title for one of her songs because that’s what her voice is.
She’s British-Nigerian and has this unique style that no one can copy. My girlfriend’s obsessed with her. Turns on Sade whenever she feels like relaxing. I always thought it was boring music, but it rubs off on you. That voice just wraps around you.
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox has this haunting quality to her voice that’s hard to explain. “Sweet Dreams” defined the 80s, but her voice is what makes it memorable. She’s Scottish, a proper activist, and does loads of humanitarian work.
I watched a documentary about Eurythmics last year and realised how much influence she had on music. That alto voice of hers broke through in an era when everyone was trying to sound like Whitney Houston. She said, “Nah, I’m doing this,” and became a legend anyway.
Lana Del Rey
Right, so Lana’s divisive. People either love her or find her pretentious. I’m in the love camp. That dreamy, sorrowful lilt is like crack for the ears. Video Games” came out when I was in college, and it was all the rage.
Her voice has this cinematic sound, as it should be in a Tarantino movie. She has made being an alto cool again for younger singers. My niece wants to sing like Lana, and that would’ve been unheard of 20 years ago when everybody wanted to be Mariah Carey.
Ella Fitzgerald
Had to end with Ella. She’s the standard. The one against which everyone compares themselves. That voice: perfect, pure, flexible, completely perfect. She could sing anything. Jazz, swing, blues, whatever.
I got into Ella through my granddad. He had all of her albums, and he’d play them on Sunday mornings. Seemed like old people’s music at first. Then I actually listened. “Dream a Little Dream of Me” is beautiful. Everything she touched was gorgeous. Over a span of six decades, she won 13 Grammys. Now that’s what you call a career.
Why This Matters
So why am I banging on about alto singers? Because they’re underrated, that’s why. Everyone obsesses over hitting high notes like that’s the only thing that matters. But deep female voices bring something else—warmth, emotion, depth.
When a proper alto sings, you feel it in your chest. That’s the difference. Sopranos can make your ears ring, but altos make your heart hurt. Both are good, but altos don’t get enough credit.
True contralto voices are really rare, too. Most female singers are sopranos or mezzo-sopranos. Finding someone with a genuine alto range is special.
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What They’ve Got in Common
These top 10 alto vocalists aren’t just technically good—they tell stories. They make you believe what they’re singing. It doesn’t matter if it’s Adele making you sob or Ella making you smile; these women know how to use their voices properly.
They also proved you don’t need to be a soprano to be massive. For years, the highest voices got all the glory. These women said, “We’re good down here,” and built incredible careers anyway.
An alto voice sits in the middle range—not too high, not too low. That range gives them this warmth that higher voices can’t match. They can belt out powerful notes or sing softly. That flexibility, whilst keeping that distinctive deep tone? That’s the magic.
Mrs Patterson was right all along. Take the altos away, and something crucial is missing. They’re not always the loudest, but they’re the ones who make you actually feel something.
Next time you’re listening to Adele, or you’ve got Sade on in the background, appreciate that gorgeous alto. It’s something special.
