Legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder has been crowned the Greatest R&B Artist of All Time by Billboard, topping the outlet’s newly released list of “The 75 Best R&B Artists of All Time.”
According to Billboard, the ranking considered several factors including vocal prowess, body of work, career longevity, industry achievements, game-changing influence, and enduring cultural impact.
Trailing Stevie Wonder in the top five are iconic figures:
Aretha Franklin (#2),
Michael Jackson (#3),
Beyoncé (#4), and
Whitney Houston (#5).
Other notable artists making the top 10 include:
James Brown (#6),
Prince (#7),
Mariah Carey (#8),
R. Kelly (#9), and
Marvin Gaye (#10).
Further down the list, fans will find the likes of Ray Charles (11), Usher (12), Sam Cooke (13), Curtis Mayfield (14), and Isaac Hayes (15).
Also featured in the top 20 are Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Al Green, Smokey Robinson, and Otis Redding.
The list, released during Black Music Month, has sparked widespread conversation online, with fans celebrating—and debating—the rankings of R&B legends past and present.
