Top 10 Singing Drummers

Born into a family overflowing with musical talent, the path towards percussion was laid out before this performer from a very early age! A regular collaborator with icons in the industry, perhaps her most famous pairing was also one of her first. Sheila E. worked alongside Prince for much of the early '80s, and even had a brief romance with the flamboyant musician! Since then she's worked with a large variety of artists, from Ringo Starr to Cyndi Lauper to Beyoncé... She's one of the best in the business!

This guy can drum, he can sing, and he can 'monkey around'! Micky Dolenz was fashioned as the front man for the legendary '60s pop/rock band, The Monkees - despite his duties behind the drum kit! A made-for-TV group, when The Monkees were first cobbled together, Dolenz couldn't actually play! But he was a 'believer', and he learned enough that the band was able to tour a short time after! Soon Dolenz was combining his newfound skills with a unique singing voice - and we were all singing along!

Throughout the seventies, this sibling partnership was no stranger to chart success, thanks in no small part to the sister, Karen! This lady could lay down a beat as well as anyone else, but she was also blessed with a distinct singing voice! 'Rainy days and Mondays always got her down', but there was nothing to feel negative about when it came to her talents, and her abilities to multi-task them! This woman really knew what she was doing!

He drummed for Nirvana, he sings for Foo Fighters, and he combines the two for Them Crooked Vultures! Dave Grohl is one of the most influential musicians of the modern era, but it’s no coincidence that success has followed him everywhere he goes - this guy is immensely talented! Sure he’s not the lead vocalist in the Vultures supergroup - that title goes to Josh Homme - but as a back-up, Grohl’s brilliant! His fellow Foo Fighter Taylor Hawkins ain’t no slouch as a singing drummer himself, but Grohl’s so versatile, we’d almost go as far as to call him a one man band!

Lead singer and percussionist for one of the most influential acts in British music history, Dave Clark is held in the highest of regards! DC5 were the main rivals to The Beatles during the mid-60s, and are widely recognised as forerunners within the 'British invasion' of America around that time! In fact, the band fared better in the States than they did in the UK and Dave Clark's impressive drumming and singing combination may have had something to do with that!

More brilliant backing vocals next, as we move into the realms of rock royalty, quite literally! Freddie Mercury was as iconic a front man as has ever been seen, but his vocal talents were majestically complimented by one Roger Taylor. Known for his high-falsetto talents, Taylor's tones became synonymous with the Queen sound. With vocal credits for tracks such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “The Invisible Man,” this guy definitely didn't fade into the background in this band!

One of the most famous drummers ever to have picked up sticks, Ringo Starr remains one of the most influential individuals to ever play the instrument! He regularly paired his snare drum with his singing, and was often featured in at least one lead vocal role per Beatles album. Post-Fab Four, Starr's scope has continued to expand, with the Liverpudlian embarking on a solo career, and forming his All Starr Band! He's five star material, a jack of all trades, and a musical master of everything!

As America rustled up an answer to Britain's '60s stronghold, Levon Helm was at the helm of everything that was good about the USA sound! A front man for the ages, there was very little that this guy couldn't do! Recognised for his distinctly soulful vocals, a southern twang to savor, and a creative drumming style... He was not only multi-talented; his music was multi-faceted! Inventive in all things, the only surprise is that Helm headed a band called The Band... Apparently his muse malfunctioned on band-naming day!

Soaring into second spot, Don Henley was a driving force within rock music during the '70s and '80s, and has led a commendable career into the 21st century as well! As one quarter of the Eagles, Henley shared vocal responsibilities with the rest of the band, but is thought of by the majority as the main man! A unique voice and an incredible talent for drumming have had critical acclaim and Grammy Awards heaped onto Henley decade after decade... He can now boast a WatchMojo runner-up spot as well!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- The Rev
Avenged Sevenfold
- Aaron Gillespie
Underoath
- Matt Helders
Arctic Monkeys
- Peter Criss
KISS
- Jen Ledger
Skillet
- Jack White
The Dead Weather
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Appropriate drum roll please... our king of coordination, our master multi-tasker, you might have 'felt it coming in the air tonight'... It's Phil Collins! We had singing drummers before him, and we've had singing drummers after him, but nobody has been able to match him! He's one of the most successful artists of all time, an anthemic all-rounder who sings almost as well as he drums... Or is it the other way round?! He's the genius behind Genesis, he's a seriously good solo artist, and he wins this race with ease!

Do you agree with our list? Which singing drummer did we skip? For more multi-talented top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.