Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in California and groups formed in California.
Here are the best artists and bands from California. From the San Francisco Bay to the coast of San Diego, there is a lot to love about the Golden State. With almost 40 million residents, it is no surprise to see that California has produced some of the most influential singers and bands of all time. These are the most popular musical artists from California in every genre imaginable.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are the best example of the California lifestyle. Anthony Kiedis, Flea, and the rest of the boys love California so much, they've written numerous songs about it. However, it is more than just rock that has come out of the state. The Bakersfield Sound is well-known around the globe, and country acts from Buck Owens to Merle Haggard have honed their styles in the heart of California. Home to West Coast hip hop, some of the greatest rappers of all time, like Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre, were either born or raised in Los Angeles.
The most famous musical artists from California are on this list, and they have all impacted the world in some way. Which ones do you listen to regularly? Vote up the best California artists, and feel free to add any other musicians, rappers, singers, and bands with CA roots.
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240134The Beach Boys
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Pet Sounds, Surfin' USA, Ultimate Christmas, Endless Summer, Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock and roll band. Formed in 1961, they gained popularity for... more
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233135Metallica
Thrash metal, Rock musicAlbums: Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, Metallica, …and Justice for All, Kill 'Em All
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by... more3
218125The Doors
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: The Doors, L.A. Woman, Strange Days, Morrison Hotel, Light My Fire
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, with vocalist Jim... more4
203114Guns N' Roses
Glam metal, Blues-rockAlbums: Appetite for Destruction, G N' R Lies, Use Your Illusion I, Chinese Democracy, Use Your Illusion II
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, in 1985. The classic lineup... more5
260159Red Hot Chili Peppers
Alternative Rock, Funk MetalAlbums: Californication, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Stadium Arcadium, Mother's Milk, By the Way
Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's... more6
206121Tupac Shakur
Hip hop music, Political hip hopAlbums: All Eyez on Me, Me Against the World, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Still I Rise, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
Tupac Amaru Shakur ( TOO-pahk shə-KOOR; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September... more7
176100Snoop Dogg
Hip hop music, Pop musicAlbums: Doggystyle, Tha Doggfather, Tha Last Meal, Snoop Dogg Presents Christmas in tha Dogg House, Welcome To The Dogg House
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg, is an... more8
204124Green Day
Pop punk, Rock musicAlbums: American Idiot, Dookie, 21st Century Breakdown, ¡Dos!, Insomniac
Green Day is an American rock band formed in 1986 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe... more9
175103The Eagles
Rhythm and bluesAlbums: Trying to Get to You / Please, Please, Kiss Them for Me / Ladies in the Sky
The Eagles were a 1950s rhythm and blues vocal group from the Washington, D.C. area. They... more10
179107Dr. Dre
Hip hop music, Rap musicAlbums: The Chronic, 2001, Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang / Let Me Ride, California Love, The Chronicle: The Best of the Works...
Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American... more11
15190Van Halen
Glam metal, Rock musicAlbums: Van Halen, 1984, Diver Down, OU812, Van Halen II
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California in 1972. Credited with... more12
170106Kendrick Lamar
Hip hopAlbums: good kid, m.A.A.d city, Section.80, Overly Dedicated, Memories Back Then
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record... more13
15695Creedence Clearwater Revival
Blues-rock, Blue-eyed soulAlbums: Green River, Cosmo's Factory, Willy and the Poor Boys, Bayou Country, Pendulum
Creedence Clearwater Revival (often referred to as Creedence or CCR) was an American rock band... more14
12676Sublime
Hip hop music, Alternative hip hopAlbums: Sublime: 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, 40oz. to Freedom, Sublime Acoustic: Bradley Nowell & Friends, Robbin' the Hood, Second-Hand Smoke
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's... more15
13091Journey
Rock music, Jazz fusionAlbums: Escape, Frontiers, Evolution, Journey, Departure
Journey is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former... more16
13094Ice Cube
Hip hop music, Alternative hip hopAlbums: AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, The Predator, Death Certificate, Lethal Injection, Laugh Now
O'Shea Jackson (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper,... more17
13095Blink-182
Pop punk, Rock musicAlbums: Enema of the State, Dude Ranch, blink-182, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, Cheshire Cat
Blink-182 is an American rock band formed in Poway, a suburb of San Diego, California in 1992.... more18
146111Linkin Park
Alternative rock, Hip hopAlbums: Hybrid Theory, Living Things, Meteora, Minutes To Midnight, Burn It Down
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. The band's current lineup... more19
9865No Doubt
Pop punk, New WaveAlbums: Tragic Kingdom, Rock Steady, Icon, Don't Speak, Everything in Time (B-Sides
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California, formed in 1986. Since 1989, the... more20
10168The Byrds
Jangle pop, Pop musicAlbums: Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Mr. Tambourine Man, Younger Than Yesterday, Turn! Turn! Turn!, Fifth Dimension
The Byrds were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band... more21
10983Weezer
Pop punk, Rock musicAlbums: Pinkerton, Weezer, Weezer, Weezer, Raditude
Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1992. Since 2001, the... more22
5528Rage Against the Machine
Crossover thrash, Nu metalAlbums: Rage Against the Machine, Evil Empire, The Battle of Los Angeles, Renegades, Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in... more23
10579Grateful Dead
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: American Beauty, Europe '72 (disc 1), Aoxomoxoa, Workingman's Dead, Terrapin Station
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band... more24
10077The Offspring
Pop punk, Ska punkAlbums: Smash, Americana, The Offspring, Hit That, Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
The Offspring is an American rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984.... more25
7652Sly & the Family Stone
Psychedelic soul, Rock musicAlbums: There's a Riot Goin' On, Stand!, Greatest Hits, Fresh, Anthology
Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, it... more
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