Shirley Caesar

Caesar is one of the greatest living Gospel singers -- she holds up extraordinarily well when placed against those who have joined the Lord's army on a full-time basis. She can sing up an amazingly fiery down-home storm, but she specializes in preaching while singing. Even Jews and Buddhists can embrace Caesar's music: citizens of Earth, if you want to give your children the world's biggest guilt trip, simply play them "Don't Drive Your Mama Away." Soulsters of any faith will want to dive straight into her achingly beautiful rendition of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," which can open up tear ducts faster than a pantry full of onions. If everyone preached as magnificently as Caesar, our gin joints would be empty and our churches full.