Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in Illinois or bands formed in Illinois.
Here are the best artists and bands from Illinois. Illinois has a vast musical heritage, and much of it centers around Chicago. The most important contribution the city has made to the music industry is the development of electric blues music. This is affectionately referred to as Chicago-style blues. The city also played a vital role in the formation of jazz and house music. Modern R&B and hip hop would not be where they are today if it wasn't for the artists who came out of the state. It can be tough narrowing down the best musical artists from Illinois because there are so many to choose from.
Hip hop fans know Chicago is where Kanye West grew up. It is the home of classic rock acts, such as REO Speedwagon, Styx, and Cheap Trick. It is also home to more modern rock. Fall Out Boy and Disturbed both came out of the Prairie State. From heavy metal to sunshine pop, there are plenty of venues around Illinois where acts can hone their craft and develop the skills necessary to tour around the globe. Which singers and bands are from Illinois? Other popular Illinois artists include Juice WRLD, Chance the Rapper, The Smashing Pumpkins, and of course, the rock band Chicago.
Vote for your favorites on this list of famous Illinois musicians. It will not be difficult to find an artist you listen to all the time.
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22865Styx
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: The Grand Illusion, Paradise Theatre, Pieces of Eight, Kilroy Was Here, Cyclorama
Styx is an American rock band from Chicago that formed in 1972 and became famous for its... more2
16588The Squids
Comedy, Punk rockThe Squids were a Chicago-based punk band that was created by Chicago born singer/songwriter... more3
154130Cheap Trick
Pop punk, Glam metalAlbums: Cheap Trick at Budokan, In Color, Dream Police, Cheap Trick, The Doctor
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band's... more4
130105Plain White T's
Pop punk, Anti-folkAlbums: Stop, All That We Needed, Every Second Counts, Come On Over, Hey There Delilah
Plain White T's is an American pop punk band from Lombard, Illinois formed in 1997 by high... more5
140117Veruca Salt
Grunge, Power popAlbums: Eight Arms to Hold You, American Thighs, Blow It out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt, Tonight and the Rest of My Life, Resolver
Veruca Salt is an American alternative rock band founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1993 by... more6
129106Didjits
Punk rockAlbums: Hey Judester, Fizzjob, Full Nelson Reilly, Que Sirhan Sirhan, Hornet Pinata
The Didjits were an American punk rock band formed in Mattoon, Illinois in 1983, comprised... more7
12298The Jesus Lizard
Noise rock, Rock musicAlbums: Liar, Goat, Pure, Puss/Oh, the Guilt
The Jesus Lizard was an American rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas, United States.... more8
12197Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (June 14, 1909 – April 14, 1995) was an American singer and actor of... more9
136113Naked Raygun
Punk rock, Post-hardcoreAlbums: Jettison, All Rise, Throb Throb, Basement Screams, Last of the Demohicans
Naked Raygun is an American punk rock/post-punk band formed in Chicago in 1980. Initially... more10
128105Local H
Experimental rock, GrungeAlbums: Pack Up the Cats, The '92 Demos, Half-Life EP, Twelve Angry Months, As Good as Dead
Local H is an American rock band originally formed by guitarist and vocalist Scott Lucas,... more11
154132REO Speedwagon
Rock music, Pop rockAlbums: Live: You Get What You Play For, Good Trouble, Can't Fight This Feeling, The Earth, a Small Man
REO Speedwagon (originally styled as R.E.O. Speedwagon) is an American rock band from... more12
149127Disturbed
Nu metal, Rock musicAlbums: Ten Thousand Fists, Believe, The Sickness, Indestructible, Music as a Weapon II
Disturbed is an American heavy metal band from Chicago, formed in 1994. The band includes... more13
128106Urge Overkill
Alternative rockAlbums: Saturation, Exit the Dragon, The Supersonic Storybook, Americruiser, Rock & Roll Submarine
Urge Overkill is an alternative rock band, formed in Chicago, United States, consisting of... more14
128110Survivor
Melodic Rock, Rock musicAlbums: Eye of the Tiger, Reach, Survivor, Vital Signs, When Seconds Count
Survivor is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1978 by Jim Peterik and Frankie... more15
161148The Smashing Pumpkins
Shoegazing, Gothic rockAlbums: Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Oceania, Gish, Adore
The Smashing Pumpkins (or Smashing Pumpkins) are an American alternative rock band from... more16
148134Chicago
Ballad, SkaAlbums: Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago II, Chicago Christmas: What's It Gonna Be, Santa?, Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, calling themselves the... more17
124109Ministry
Doom metal, New WaveAlbums: Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs, The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste, The Land of Rape and Honey, Animositisomina, Houses of the Molé
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981.... more18
10892The Emotions
Disco, Rhythm and bluesAlbums: So I Can Love You, Flowers, Rejoice, Best of My Love: The Best of the Emotions, Untouched
The Emotions are an American female Soul/R&B singing group from Chicago, Illinois, originally... more19
10996Ray Manzarek
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: The Golden Scarab, Carmina Burana (Ray Manzarek), The Whole Thing Started With Rock & Roll Now It's Out of Control, The Doors Myth And Reality, Bleeding Paradise
Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr. (né Manczarek; February 12, 1939 – May 20, 2013) was an American... more20
10599Minnie Riperton
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Adventures in Paradise, Come to My Garden, Her Chess Years (feat. The Gems & Rotary Connection), Stay in Love, Minnie
Minnie Julia Riperton-Rudolph (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979), was an American... more21
103100Buddy Guy
Chicago blues, Electric bluesAlbums: Damn Right, I've Got the Blues, A Man & the Blues, Sweet Tea, Bring 'Em In
George "Buddy" Guy (born July 30, 1936) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He is an... more22
8377Coven
Rock music, Shock rockAlbums: Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls, Coven, Blood on the Snow, Metal Goth Queen - Out of the Vault
Coven is an American metal band formed in the late 1960s, composed of vocalist Jinx Dawson,... more23
8481James Young
Progressive rock, Hard rockAlbums: City Slicker, Out on a Day Pass, Raised by Wolves
James Vincent Young (born November 14, 1949) is a guitarist, singer and songwriter who is best... more24
9194Miles Davis
Jazz rap, Avant-garde jazzAlbums: Bitches Brew, Kind of Blue, Agharta, Birth of the Cool, Sketches of Spain
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter,... more25
9296Sam Cooke
Pop music, Rhythm and bluesAlbums: Night Beat, Shake, Touch the Hem of His Garment: 23 Gospel Gems, Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963
Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an... more
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