San Francisco has long been a city with deep musical roots, giving rise to some truly remarkable vocal talents. From soul-stirring R&B singers to powerhouse rock vocalists, the city’s influence on American music is undeniable. In this post, we spotlight Ten of the best vocalists to emerge from or be based in San Francisco. These artists have not only showcased incredible vocal ability but have also made lasting contributions to their genres. Let’s dive into the voices that helped shape the city’s rich musical legacy. Here are Ten of the most talented vocalists in San Francisco ready to elevate your next event.
Jay Middleton
Jay Middleton is a San Francisco Bay Area singer/songwriter who has been writing songs, releasing albums, forming & leading bands and entertaining people at thousands of live performances since 1985.
Middleton recently released his first solo album “Forward”, an “uplifting & ambitious, deeply textured & exquisitely produced album with a polished sound that unfolds kaleidoscopically into a variety of configurations.
🌐 Website
Alex Sandra
Vybe Society is the consummate blend of excellence and outstanding entertainment. Our band has some of the best musicians in the Bay. They have performed with major label and international artists such as Cee Lo Green, Sheila E, the Family Stone Experience and Tony Toni Tone, to name a few. We can provide a soloist all the way to a full 20-piece band that can fit your event’s theme and budget. If you can dream it, we can bring it to life.
🌐 Website | Instagram | YouTube
Mete Tasin
Mete Tasin is a Turkish-born opera singer and vocalist based in San Francisco, known for a diverse career performing both opera and classical music. He has performed with companies like Opera San Jose and the San Francisco City Opera, and has been recognized for his work in roles such as Don Jose in Carmen and Arlecchino in Pagliacci.
🌐 Website | X | Instagram| YouTube
Dwayne Jarrell
A self-described “late bloomer with an explorer’s heart,” Dwayne Jarrell boldly announced his entrance onto the roots music scene with the eclectic debut, West Coast Diaries. Now, the Bay Area-based artist is readying more new music and gearing up to play live. “I never give up. I am constantly seeking new perspectives on the world and my place in it. I want to be 80 years old and still learning new things,” Dwayne enthuses. He continues: “I started taking music more seriously and writing songs after a long, twisted life journey took me to Northern California, where I discovered I’d always belonged.”
🌐 Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Noel Rokswel
Noel Freidline and Maria Howell define chemistry. Musically they breathe as one, communicating almost telepathically as they explore and re-interpret some of the best music of the last 80 years. Always approaching the music from “the left,” Noel and Maria have made a name for themselves as they offer listeners something they have heard, but that they have never heard before. Combine this fresh musical approach with a rapport and witty banter that harkens back to a bygone era, and you have Noel and Maria in their element: on stage, thrilling an audience at every turn.
🌐 Website
Maya West
Hi! I’ve been in music field my whole life and performed around the world. I won many European contests and graduated one of the best University in music industry. I do vocal sessions for other companies and producers. I love to post cover songs on YouTube and enjoy to teach my students to sing! Also I do voiceover and teach kids piano lessons. Will be happy to meet you and share my skills with you!
Matt Bolton
Matt Bolton is a modern day one-man-band show using live-on-the-spot created loops and technology with a contemporary pop, classic rock, roots-rock vibe and feel. Often with hints of retro electronic, rock, reggae, and funk, he combines guitar, drums, bass sounds, keyboards, synth, harmonica, mic and live vocal sounds to create a full band sound and feel that gets crowds of all sizes up and dancing. Matt picks from a seemingly endless collection of covers and originals to create an unforgettable live performance in which his ingenuity in looping magically reproduces the feel and energy of a complete band with no pre-recorded tracks.
🌐 Website | Facebook | X | YouTube
Aaron Sion
“Hello! My name is Aaron and you may have heard my music on MTV, CMT or Freeform Network. I’m a 31 year old singer-guitarist based in the SF Bay Area. I have been performing professionally and recording since age 16.
I’ve performed on more than 500 stages nationally: from historic clubs and pubs in NYC to five-star resorts in California’s Wine Country, legendary rock clubs in LA to hotel-casinos in Nevada. “
🌐 Website | YouTube | Instagram
Danielle Helena
Oakland-based singer/songwriter Danielle Helena has been creating music and performing all her life. As a child of 90’s R&B and her parents’ “oldies” collection, her sound is the lovechild of many genres–the heart of it is soul, and there is always a rhythm with an essence of blues. She tries to not let the idea of genre influence her writing, but the song structure often follows a pop music format. Some tunes are reminiscent of Dionne Farris or Des’ree, but she would tell you her favorites are Sade and Amel Larrieux.
🌐 Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
Donna Sachet
After an unsettling year, not yet fully embracing San Francisco, she decided to wait no longer for the city to come to her, but to take action and pursue happiness more agressively. She cancelled her New York Times subscription, began to volunteer at a local AIDS organization, and joined the SF Gay Men’s Chorus. This strategy worked! Within a couple of years, she had moved into a beautiful 3-bedroom house in the Castro and entered the a pageant, becoming Miss Gay San Francisco 1992.
🌐 Website
Final Thoughts
From powerhouse soul singers to country legends and refined jazz stylists, San Francisco’s vocalists bring depth, range, and personality to every stage. Whether your vision includes soaring ballads or laid-back acoustic vibes, the talented artists above are ready to bring your event to life.
📩 Need help finding the perfect San Francisco-based vocalist for your private event? Reach out anytime at dreamteam@booklive.com — we’d love to help make your celebration unforgettable.