List of musicians from Mississippi
This is a list of musical groups or organizations as well as musicians from the American state of Mississippi.
Musical groups or organizations
- 3 Doors Down – band (Escatawpa)
- Beanland – jam band (Oxford)
- The Blackwood Brothers – gospel singers (Choctaw County)
- Blind Melon – alternative rock and jam band (Starkville)
- Blue Mountain – alternative country band (Oxford)
- Cadillac Don & J-Money – rap duo (Crawford)
- The Chambers Brothers – soul music group (Lee County)
- Colour Revolt – indie rock band (Oxford)
- The Cook Family Singers – Christian country music group (Pascagoula)
- The Cooters – punk metal band (Oxford)
- Five Blind Boys of Mississippi – gospel singers (Piney Woods)
- Kudzu Kings – band (Oxford)
- Mississippi Mass Choir – gospel choir (Jackson)
- North Mississippi Allstars – blues-rock, jam band (Hernando)
- Saving Abel – rock band (Corinth)
Musicians
A–C
- John Luther Adams (born 1953) – composer of music inspired by nature (Meridian)
- Afroman (born 1974) – comedy rapper (Hattiesburg)
- Tommy Aldridge (born 1950) – drummer for Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake (Pearl)
- Mose Allison (born 1927) – jazz musician (Tallahatchie County)
- Robert Anderson (1919–1995) – gospel singer-composer and pianist (Anguilla)
- Steve Azar (born 1964) – country singer (Greenville)
- Milton Babbitt (1916–2011) – composer, electronic music pioneer (Jackson)
- Glen Ballard (born 1953) – songwriter and record producer (Natchez)
- David Banner (born 1973) – rapper and producer (Brookhaven)
- Matt Barlow (born 1970) – lead singer of the metal band Iced Earth (Biloxi)
- Prentiss Barnes (1925–2006) – rhythm and blues singer (Magnolia)
- Lance Bass (born 1979) – member of pop group 'N Sync (Laurel)
- Jeff Bates (born 1963) – country music singer-songwriter (Bunker Hill)
- Robert Belfour (born 1940) – blues musician (Holly Springs)
- Carey Bell (1936–2007) – Chicago blues harmonica player (Macon)
- Big Time Sarah (born 1953) – blues singer (Coldwater)
- James Blackwood (1919–2002) – one of The Blackwood Brothers (Choctaw County)
- Blind Mississippi Morris (born 1955) – blues artist (Clarksdale)
- Lucille Bogan (1897–1948) – blues singer (Amory)
- Charley Booker (1925–1989) – blues singer and guitarist (Moorhead)
- Eddie Boyd (1914–1994) – blues musician (Clarksdale)
- Bobby Bradford (born 1934) – jazz musician and composer (Cleveland)
- Jan Bradley (born 1943) – soul singer (Byhalia)
- Delaney Bramlett (1939–2008) – singer-songwriter (Pontotoc)
- Cory Branan (born 1975) – singer-songwriter (Southhaven)
- Jackie Brenston (1930–1979) – American R&B singer and saxophonist (Clarksdale)
- Big Bill Broonzy (1898–1958) – blues singer-songwriter and guitarist (Scott County)
- Eddie "Bongo" Brown (1932–1984) – percussionist (Clarksdale)
- Willie Brown (1900–1952) – delta blues guitarist and singer (Clarksdale)
- Jimmy Buffett (born 1946) – multi-genre singer-songwriter (Pascagoula)
- R. L. Burnside (1926–2005) – blues singer-songwriter (Harmontown)
- Jerry Butler (born 1939) – soul singer-songwriter (Sunflower)
- G. C. Cameron (born 1945) – soul and R&B singer (Jackson)
- Ace Cannon (born 1934) – tenor and alto saxophonist (Grenada)
- Gus Cannon (1883–1979) – jug band musician (Red Banks)
- Bo Carter (1893–1964) – blues singer (Bolton)
- Johnny Carver (born 1940) – country singer (Jackson)
- Sam Chatmon (1897–1983) – blues singer; brother of Bo Carter (Bolton)
- Otis Clay (born 1942) – R&B and soul musician (Waxhaw)
- Chalmers Clifton (1889–1966) – conductor and composer (Jackson)
- Odia Coates (1942–1991) – singer (Vicksburg)
- Hank Cochran (born 1935) – country music singer-songwriter (Isola)
- Bill Coday (1942–2008) – singer (Coldwater)
- Phil Cohran (born 1927) – jazz musician (Oxford)
- Mike Compton (born 1956) – bluegrass mandolin player (Meridian)
- David L. Cook (born 1968) – Christian country music singer-songwriter (Pascagoula)
- Sam Cooke (1931–1964) – gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer (Clarksdale)
- James Cotton (born 1935) – blues harmonica player and singer-songwriter (Tunica)
- Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (1905–1974) – Delta blues singer and guitarist (Forest)
- George Cummings (born 1938) – guitarist and songwriter (Meridian)
D–G
- Olu Dara (born 1941) – jazz musician (Natchez)
- Lester Davenport (1932–2009) – American blues harmonica player and singer (Tchula)
- Liz Davis (1987) – country music recording artist (Madison)
- Paul Davis (1948–2008) – singer-songwriter (Meridian)
- Jimmy Dawkins (born 1936) – blues guitarist and singer (Tchula)
- Al Denson (born 1960) – contemporary Christian artist (Starkville)
- Bo Diddley (1928–2008) – rock & roll/R&B singer-songwriter (McComb)
- Diplo (born 1978) – electronic dance music DJ and producer (Tupelo)
- Willie Dixon (1915–1992) – blues bassist, singer-songwriter record producer (Vicksburg)
- Nate Dogg (1969–2011) – West Coast hip hop and R&B artist (Clarksdale)
- Marshall Drew (born 1984) – folk rock singer-songwriter (Clarksdale)
- Kevin Dukes (born 1956) – guitarist (Brookhaven)
- Judy Dunaway (born 1964) – avant-garde composer, free improvisor, conceptual sound artist
- Omar Kent Dykes (born 1950) – blues guitarist and singer (McComb)
- Meredith Edwards (born 1984) – country singer (Clinton)
- Ruby Elzy (1908–1943) – opera singer (Pontotoc)
- Lehman Engel (1910–1982) – composer and conductor (Jackson)
- Chris Ethridge (1947–2012) – country rock musician, songwriter (Meridian)
- Shelly Fairchild (born 1977) – country music artist (Clinton)
- Charlie Feathers (1932–1998) – (Holly Springs)
- Steve Forbert (born 1955) – pop music singer-songwriter (Meridian)
- Barbara Siggers Franklin (1917–1952) – gospel singer; mother of Aretha Franklin (Shelby)
- Lee Garrett – R&B singer-songwriter
- Eric "Red Mouth" Gebhardt – multi-genre singer-songwriter (Biloxi)
- Bobbie Gentry (born 1944) – singer-songwriter (Greenwood)
- Mickey Gilley (born 1936) – country singer and musician (Natchez)
- Mark Gray (born 1952) – country music singer and keyboardist (Vicksburg)
- Garland Green (born 1942) – soul singer and pianist (Dunleith)
- Lloyd Green (born 1937) – country music steel guitarist (Leaf)
- Elizabeth Greenfield (c. 1820–1876) – concert singer; known as "The Black Swan"; born in slavery in Natchez
- Al Goodman (1943–2010) – R&B/soul singer (Jackson)
H–K
- Ted Hawkins 1936–1995) – singer-songwriter (Biloxi)
- Kenneth Haxton (1919–2002) – composer (Greenville)[1]
- Jessie Mae Hemphill (1923–2006) – blues musician (Como)
- Michael Henderson (born 1951) – bass guitarist, R&B singer (Yazoo City)
- Aretha Henry (born 1982) – rhythm and blues, pop singer-songwriter (Jackson)
- Caroline Herring – bluegrass musician (Canton)
- Faith Hill (born 1967) – country/pop singer (Star)
- Kim Hill (born 1963) – Christian singer-songwriter (Starkville)
- Ernie Hines (born 1938) – soul musician
- Milt Hinton (1910–2000) – jazz double bassist (Vicksburg)
- John Lee Hooker (1917–2001) – singer-songwriter and blues guitarist (Clarksdale)
- Big Walter Horton (1917–1981) – blues harmonica player (Horn Lake)
- Son House (1902–1988) – blues singer and guitarist (Riverton)
- Randy Houser (born 1975) – country music artist (Lake)
- Thelma Houston (born 1943) – R&B singer-songwriter (Leland)
- Guy Hovis (born 1941) – big band singer (Tupelo)
- Howlin' Wolf (1910–1976) – blues singer, guitarist, harmonica player (West Point)
- Cary Hudson – lead singer and guitarist for alternative country band Blue Mountain (Sumrall)
- Mississippi John Hurt (c. 1893–1966) – country blues singer and guitarist (Teoc)
- Clifton Hyde (born 1976) – multi-instrumentalist and producer (Hattiesburg)
- Carl Jackson (born 1953) – country and bluegrass musician (Louisville)
- Cordell Jackson (1923–2004) – rockabilly guitarist, producer (Pontotoc)
- Elmore James (1918–1963) – blues guitarist and singer-songwriter (Richland)
- Skip James (1902–1969) – Delta blues guitarist, pianist, singer-songwriter (Bentonia)
- Jimi Jamison (born 1951) – singer-songwriter (Durant, Mississippi)
- Roosevelt Jamison (born 1936) – songwriter, publicist (Olive Branch)
- Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson (born 1944) – drummer in The Allman Brothers Band (Ocean Springs)
- Big Jack Johnson (1940–2011) – blues musician (Clarksdale)
- Jimmy Johnson (born 1928) – blues guitarist and singer (Holly Springs)
- Robert Johnson (1911–1938) – blues and Delta blues musician (Hazlehurst)
- Syl Johnson (born 1936) – blues and soul singer (Holly Springs)
- Margie Joseph (born 1950) – R&B and soul singer (Pascagoula)
- Junior Kimbrough (1930–1998) – blues artist (Hudsonville)
- Albert King (1923–1992) – blues guitarist and singer (Indianola)
- B. B. King (1925–2015) – blues guitarist and singer-songwriter (Itta Bena)
- Fern Kinney – rhythm & blues and disco music entertainer (Jackson)
- Fred Knoblock (born 1953) – country singer-songwriter (Jackson)
- Big K.R.I.T. (born 1986) – hip-hop artist (Meridian)
L–M
- Skylar Laine (born 1994), –country music singer; finalist American Idol (Brandon)
- Sonny Landreth (born 1951) – blues musician and slide guitar player (Canton)
- Denise LaSalle (born 1939) – blues and contemporary R&B singer-songwriter, record producer (Belzoni)
- Rick Lawson (born 1973) – soul and R&B singer (Raymond)
- Chris LeDoux (1948–2005) – country music singer-songwriter (Biloxi)
- Mylon LeFevre (born 1944) – gospel and Christian rock singer (Gulfport)
- J. B. Lenoir (1929–1967) – guitarist and singer-songwriter (Monticello)
- Robert "Squirrel" Lester (born 1942) – second tenor of The Chi-Lites (McComb)
- Bobby Lounge (born 1950) – singer-songwriter (McComb)
- Dent May – musician (Jackson)
- Tommy McClennan (1908–c. 1962) – Delta blues singer and guitarist (Yazoo City)
- George McConnell – guitarist (Vicksburg)
- Kansas Joe McCoy (1905–1950) – blues musician and songwriter (Raymond)
- Papa Charlie McCoy (1909–1950) – Delta blues musician and songwriter (Jackson)
- Fred McDowell (1904–1972) – blues singer and guitarist (Como)
- Mulgrew Miller (born 1955) – jazz pianist (Greenwood)
- Little Milton (1934–2005) – blues and soul vocalist and guitarist (Inverness)
- Hoyt Ming – old-time fiddler (Choctaw County)[2]
- Mississippi Slim (born 1923) – country singer and guitarist (Smithville)
- Monkey Joe – blues musician (Jackson)
- Dorothy Moore (born 1947) – pop, R&B, gospel singer (Jackson)
- Johnny B. Moore (born 1950) – blues singer and guitarist (Clarksdale)
- Jasmine Murray (born 1992) – singer and beauty pageant titleholder; finalist, 8th season, American Idol (2009) television singing-competition series (Columbus/Starkville)
- Charlie Musselwhite (born 1944) – blues-harp player and bandleader (Kosciusko)
- Bill Myrick (born 1926) – country singer-songwriter, musician, producer, disc jockey (Simpson County)
N–S
- Brandy Norwood (born 1979) – R&B singer-songwriter/record producer (McComb)
- Willie Norwood (born 1955) – gospel singer (McComb)
- Alexander O'Neal (born 1953) – soul singer (Natchez)
- Paul Overstreet (born 1955) – country music singer-songwriter (Vancleave)
- Ginny Owens – contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter (Jackson)
- Junior Parker (1932–1971) – Memphis blues singer and musician (Clarksdale)
- Michael Passons (born 1965) – founding member of the Christian band Avalon (Yazoo City)
- Charlie Patton (1891–1934) – Delta-/Country-/Gospel blues musician (Edwards)
- Dion Payton (born 1950) – blues guitarist and singer (Greenwood)
- Leon Pinson (1919–1998) – guitarist and singer (Union County)[3]
- Robert Powell (born 1932) – composer, organist, choir director (Benoit)
- Elvis Presley (1935–1977) – multi-genre musician (Tupelo)
- Leontyne Price (born 1927) – opera singer (Laurel)
- Charley Pride (born 1938) – country music singer (Sledge)
- John Primer (born 1945) – blues singer and guitarist (Camden)
- Stephen Purdy (born 1970) – conductor, pianist and vocal coach (Hattiesburg)
- Ray J (born 1981) – contemporary R&B and hip hop singer/record producer (McComb)
- Jimmy Reed (1925–1976) – blues singer and musician (Dunleith)
- Del Rendon (1965–2005) – country musician (Starkville)
- Mack Rice (born 1933) – songwriter (Clarksdale)
- LeAnn Rimes (born 1982) – country and pop singer (Pearl)
- Fenton Robinson (born 1935) – blues musician (Greenwood)
- Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933) – country singer (Meridian)
- Jimmy Rogers (1924–1997) – blues singer and guitarist (Ruleville)
- David Ruffin (1941–1991) – former lead singer of The Temptations (Whynot)
- Jimmy Ruffin (born 1939) – soul and R&B singer (Collinsville)
- Bobby Rush (born 1940) – blues and R&B musician, composer, singer,(Jackson)
- Otis Rush (born 1935) – blues musician (Philadelphia)
- Oliver Sain (1932–2003) – saxophonist, drummer, songwriter, record producer (Dundee)
- Magic Sam (1937–1969) – Chicago blues and soul blues musician (Grenada)
- Scott Savage – drummer for Christian rock band Jars of Clay (Clinton)
- Johnny Sea (born 1940) – country singer (Gulfport)
- Toni Seawright (born 1964) – singer-songwriter (Pascagoula)
- Jumpin' Gene Simmons (1933–2006) – rockabilly singer (Tupelo)
- Byther Smith (born 1933) – blues musician (Monticello)
- Soulja Boy (born 1990) – rapper, record producer (Batesville)
- Otis Spann (1930–1970) – blues musician (Jackson)
- Britney Spears (born 1981) – pop singer (McComb)
- Judson Spence (born 1965) – songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (Pascagoula)
- Roebuck "Pop" Staples (1914–2000) – founder of The Staple Singers (Winona)
- Rogers Stevens (born 1970) – guitarist for the band Blind Melon (West Point)
- Lisa Stewart (born 1968) – country musician (Louisville)
- William Grant Still (1895–1978) – classical composer (Woodville)
- Barrett Strong (born 1941) – singer-songwriter (West Point)
- Marty Stuart (born 1958) – country music singer (Philadelphia)
- Hubert Sumlin (born 1931) – blues musician (Greenwood)
- Deanna Summers – songwriter
T–Z
- Ty Tabor (born 1961) – guitarist, singer-songwriter for rock band King's X (Pearl)
- Eddie Taylor (1923–1985) – blues guitarist and singer (Benoit)
- Hound Dog Taylor (1915–1975) – blues guitarist and singer (Natchez)
- Melvin Taylor (born 1959) – blues musician (Jackson)
- Ernie Terrell (born 1939) – singer and record producer (Belzoni)
- Jean Terrell (born 1944) – R&B and jazz singer (Belzoni)
- James "Son" Thomas (1926–1993), blues musician (Leland)
- Rufus Thomas (1917–2001) – R&B, funk, soul singer (Cayce)
- Ashley Thompson (born 1980) – singer (Booneville)
- Lil' Dave Thompson (1969–2010) – blues singer and guitarist (Jackson)
- Ike Turner (1931–2007) – multi-genre musician, record producer (Clarksdale)
- Conway Twitty (1933–1993) – country singer-songwriter (Friars Point)
- Freddie Waits (1943–1989) – hard bop and post-bop drummer (Jackson)
- Travis Wammack (born 1944) – rock and roll guitarist (Walnut)
- Walter Ward (born 1940) – R&B singer; lead vocalist of The Olympics (Jackson)
- Muddy Waters (1913–1983) – Electric blues and Chicago blues musician (Rolling Fork)
- Jim Weatherly (born 1943) – country and pop singer-songwriter (Pontotoc)
- Carl Weathersby (born 1953) – blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter (Jackson)
- Boogie Bill Webb (1924–1990) – blues guitarist and singer (Jackson)
- Bukka White (1909–1977) – Delta blues guitarist and singer (Houston)
- Carson Whitsett (1945–2007) – keyboardist, arranger, and songwriter (Jackson)
- Tim Whitsett (born 1943), band leader, songwriter, producer, publisher (Jackson)
- Webb Wilder (born 1954) – country/surf music/rock & roll musician (Hattiesburg)
- Big Joe Williams (1903–1982) – Delta blues musician and songwriter (Crawford)
- Hayley Williams (born 1988) – pop punk and alternative rock singer-songwriter (Meridian)
- Sonny Boy Williamson II (died 1965) – blues harmonica player and singer-songwriter (Glendora)
- Eddie Willis (born 1936) – electric guitarist (Grenada)
- Al Wilson (1939–2008) – singer and drummer (Meridian)
- Cassandra Wilson (born 1955) – jazz singer-songwriter (Jackson)
- Mary Wilson (born 1944) – singer and founding member of The Supremes (Greenville)
- Elder Roma Wilson (born 1910) – harmonica player (Blue Springs)[4]
- Nanette Workman (born 1945) – singer-songwriter, actress and author (Jackson)
- Charlie Worsham (born 1985) – country singer-songwriter (Grenada)[5]
- Tammy Wynette (1942–1998) – country music singer-songwriter (Tremont)
- Lester Young (1909–1959) – jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist (Woodville)
- Zora Young (born 1948), blues singer (West Point)
See also
References
- ^ "Kenneth Haxton: A Mississippi Musician and Writer". Retrieved June 20, 2009.
- ^ Hoyt Ming and His Pep Steppers, by Eugene Chadbourne
- ^ "Roma Wilson & Leon Pinson". Msbluestrail.org. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ^ [1]. Archived 2012-03-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Charlie Worsham on Mountain Stage". NPR. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2014.