Billboard has named Stevie Wonder the greatest R&B artist of all time, topping its freshly updated list of the “75 Best R&B Artists of All Time.”
This newly expanded ranking, released a decade after the last edition in 2015, now includes 75 solo performers, up from the previous 35.
The list was curated based on several key criteria: vocal prowess, body of work, career longevity, industry achievements, groundbreaking influence, and lasting generational and cultural impact.
Rounding out the top five are Aretha Franklin at number 2, followed by Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and Whitney Houston.
The rest of the top 10 features James Brown, Prince, Mariah Carey, R. Kelly, and Marvin Gaye.
The top 20 also includes legends such as Ray Charles (11), Usher (12), Sam Cooke (13), Curtis Mayfield (14), and Isaac Hayes (15), alongside Mary J. Blige (16), Janet Jackson (17), Al Green (18), Smokey Robinson (19), and Otis Redding (20).
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Other notable names on the list include Donny Hathaway (21), Luther Vandross (22), Patti LaBelle (25), Chris Brown (26), Erykah Badu (28), Diana Ross (29), Alicia Keys (33), Babyface (35), Toni Braxton (36), Frank Ocean (37), Brandy (41), SZA (44), Rihanna (46), The Weeknd (47), Lauryn Hill (48), and John Legend (50).
The list was revealed progressively throughout Black History Month, culminating with the top 10 unveiled on June 19 in celebration of Juneteenth.
Here is Full List of Billboard’s 75 Best R&B Artists of All Time:
1. Stevie Wonder
2. Aretha Franklin
3. Michael Jackson
4. Beyoncé
5. Whitney Houston
6. James Brown
7. Prince
8. Mariah Carey
9. R. Kelly
10. Marvin Gaye
11. Ray Charles
12. Usher
13. Sam Cooke
14. Curtis Mayfield
15. Isaac Hayes
16. Mary J. Blige
17. Janet Jackson
18. Al Green
19. Smokey Robinson
20. Otis Redding
21. Donny Hathaway
22. Luther Vandross
23. Teddy Pendergrass
24. Bill Withers
25. Patti LaBelle
26. Chris Brown
27. Chaka Khan
28. Erykah Badu
29. Diana Ross
30. Gladys Knight
31. Anita Baker
32. Lionel Richie
33. Alicia Keys
34. Donna Summer
35. Babyface
36. Toni Braxton
37. Frank Ocean
38. Maxwell
39. Roberta Flack
40. Aaliyah
41. Brandy
42. Barry White
43. Dionne Warwick
44. SZA
45. D’Angelo
46. Rihanna
47. The Weeknd
48. Lauryn Hill
49. Bobby Brown
50. John Legend
51. Rick James
52. Stephanie Mills
53. Jill Scott
54. Jazmine Sullivan
55. Natalie Cole
56. Joe
57. Tevin Campbell
58. Peabo Bryson
59. Fantasia
60. Ne-Yo
61. Ashanti
62. Anthony Hamilton
63. Musiq Soulchild
64. Ledisi
65. Teena Marie
66. Keith Sweat
67. Tank
68. Phyllis Hyman
69. Bobby Womack
70. H.E.R.
71. Keyshia Cole
72. Jackie Wilson
73. Etta James
74. Summer Walker
75. Ruth Brown