I think Clint Holmes has the most beautiful voice in the world. Here's a web-only MP3 of him singing my most favorite song in the world, "You Can Believe Again" - http://lisadawnmiller.com/audio/audi...ieve_again.mp3

He sings, and my soul sings along. I get to experience heaven on earth 90 minutes at a time when I go to his shows.

But alas those only come every few months or so.

So, in the meantime, what are your favorite male vocalists? I'm particular to notes that are held for a long time (and particularly if they turn into another note at the end).

Thom Yorke. I believe is an amazing vocalist. I wouldn't extend that compliment to most other music I listen to. I tend to prefer unique to "beautiful".

If that makes any sense.

While maybe not technically "beautiful", I do think Damien Rice conveys a lot of emotion and heart in his vocals and it really comes across wonderfully in his music.

Jeff Buckley
Antony
Jónsi Birgisson from Sigur Rós

Maynard James Keenan (A Perfect Circle) - 3 Libras (Song)

When Michael Akerfeldt is singing, I would say his vocals are hauntingly beautiful.

George Michael
Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys)

Lindsey Buckingham from his Out of the Cradle period to the present. He's never had great range, but on stuff like "Red Rover," "Time Precious Time," "Shut Us Down," and (especially) "Someone's Gotta Change Your Mind," his voice is absolutely beautiful to these ears. Great, great vocalist.

Mick Jagger in Moonlight Mile.

Pretty much anything Johnny Cash recorded as part of his American Recordings, especially the final album (American V: A Hundred Highways). You can debate beauty, but I defy anyone to truly listen to--not simply hear--those songs and not be haunted.

Aaron Neville. I think that if he'd grown up today instead of in the segregated South, he could have gone into opera. Listen to his cover of With God on Our Side.

Some great singers listed so far in this thread, but none can compare to Mark Kozelek, from Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon, when it comes to "hauntingly beautiful" vocals.

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Vince Gill

Off the top of my head:

Ben Bidwell (Band of Horses)
Jeff Buckley
Brian Wilson (Beach Boys)
Gary Louris (Jayhawks)
Jonathan Auer (The Posies)
Steve Perry (Journey)
Tom Chaplin (Keane)
Jim James (My Morning Jacket)
Freddie Mercury (Queen)
Thom Yorke (Radiohead)

Looks like most of my favorites have been mentioned but they definitely deserve repeating

Jeff Buckley
Freddy Mercury (Queen)
Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
Mark Olson and Gary Louris (Jayhawks)
Ben Bidwell (Band of horses)
Neil Tennant (Pet shop boys)
Seal
Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode)
Noah Hunt (Kenny Wayne Shepherd band)
Steve Hogarth (Marillion)
Ian Gillian (Deep Purple) - his voice isn't 'haunting' the way the others I listed are but his singing is so powerful I think it's remiss not to mention him in any male vocals threat

Michael

Roy Orbison
Chris Isaak

Antony and the Johnsons. Look them up and love them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_4ZCaEuppU

Top 3 hauntingly beautiful male vocalists

Elliott Smith
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Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
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Sufjan Stevens
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Other favorites of mine:

Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)
Sam Beam (Iron & Wine)
Win Butler (Arcade Fire)
Chris Taylor and Ed Droste (Grizzly Bear)
Spencer Krug (Wold Parade, Sunser Rubdown, Swan Lake)
Jón “Jónsi” Birgisson (Sigur Ros)
Damien Rice
Thom Yorke (Radiohead)

Tom Waits.

Unless your soul is whitewashed into submission, it will sing along with that.

For more conventional stuff, I second Elliot Smith.

I always thought Bernard had great vocals and still.

Add Phil Oakley (The Human League)

Jimmy Sommerville?

Are we looking for males with haunting voices, or specific performances by males that were haunting? In the latter, the male's voice isn't always "haunting" but the particular performance was.


Haunting Performances (video in spoiler):

George Michael..."Calling You" (The song is haunting without GM)

Antony Hegarty..."Dull Flame of Desire" (Bjork featuring Antony Hegarty)