Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in Kansas or bands formed in Kansas.
Here are the best artists and bands from Kansas. Often regarded as the heartland of America, it is easy to see why so many homegrown country and blues artists got their start in the state. Kansas has a vibrant music scene, including the Country Stampede Music Festival, which is one of the biggest festivals in the entire country. It is also home to the Walnut Valley Festival where people from all over the United States gather to enjoy some of the finest bluegrass groups playing today. They get to see some of the best musical artists from Kansas and around the Midwest.
Country acts, like Martina McBride, define the area so well. However, there are still plenty of rock acts that have come out of the area. The band Kansas naturally got their start in the Sunflower State, along with bands, like The Midnight Ghost Train, Youngblood Supercult, and Split Lip Rayfield. Other popular Kansas artists include Janelle Monaé, Jennifer Knapp, Banshee, and Melissa Etheridge.
Are any of these acts your favorite? Perhaps you will find something you jam out to all the time in the list below. Either way, make sure you vote for your favorites so that everyone knows who the most famous Kansas musical artists are.
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7413Kansas
Heartland rock, Rock musicAlbums: Point of Know Return, Leftoverture, Kansas, The Best of Kansas, Freaks of Nature
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on album-oriented... more2
384Joe Walsh
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: "But Seriously, Folks...", The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get / You Can't Argue With a Sick Mind, Rocky Mountain Way
Joseph Fidler Walsh (born November 20, 1947) is an American rock singer, guitarist, and... more3
4318Martina McBride
Adult contemporary music, Country popAlbums: White Christmas, Wild Angels, The Way That I Am, Martina, Evolution
Martina Mariea McBride (née Schiff, born July 29, 1966) is an American country music... more4
3513Split Lip Rayfield
Bluegrass, Alternative countryAlbums: In the Mud, Split Lip Rayfield, Should Have Seen It Coming, Never Make It Home, I'll Be Around
Split Lip Rayfield is a vocal and acoustic instrumental group from Wichita, Kansas. Though... more5
3412Charlie Parker
Jazz, BebopAlbums: Portrait, Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve, The Complete Savoy and Dial Studio Recordings 1944-1948, Bluebird, Jazz at Massey Hall
Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), also known as Yardbird and Bird, was an... more6
4223Janelle Monáe
Contemporary R&B, Hip hopAlbums: The ArchAndroid, The Electric Lady, Metropolis, Suite I: The Chase, The Audition
Janelle Monáe Robinson (; born December 1, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper,... more7
222Bobby Watson
Robert Michael Watson Jr. (born August 23, 1953), known professionally as Bobby Watson, is an... more8
266The Midnight Ghost Train
Stoner rockAlbums: The Midnight Ghost Train, Buffalo
The Midnight Ghost Train is an American rock band from Topeka, Kansas. The band’s line-up... more9
3922Melissa Etheridge
Blues-rock, Heartland rockAlbums: Melissa Etheridge, Brave and Crazy, I'm the Only One, Lucky, Brother Bear 2
Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and... more10
268The Appleseed Cast
Shoegazing, Rock musicAlbums: Mare Vitalis, The End of the Ring Wars, Lost Songs, Two Conversations, Peregrine
The Appleseed Cast is an American indie rock band based in Lawrence, Kansas, composed of... more11
245Coleman Hawkins
Swing music, BebopAlbums: Coleman Hawkins in the 50's - Body and Soul Revisited, Wrapped Tight, Desafinado, Today and Now, Saxes Inc. / Trombone Scene
Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes... more12
Kendall Francis Schmidt (born November 2, 1990) is an American singer, songwriter, music... more13
257Eden Ahbez
ExoticaAlbums: Eden's Island
George Alexander Aberle, known as eden ahbez (April 15, 1908 – March 4, 1995), was an American... more14
Joyce DiDonato (née Flaherty; born February 13, 1969) is an American operatic lyric-coloratura... more15
224Stan Kenton
Swing music, JazzAlbums: City of Glass, Cuban Fire!, Standards in Silhouette, A Merry Christmas!, Stan Kenton Plays Chicago
Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and... more16
2710Vivian Vance (born Vivian Roberta Jones; July 26, 1909 – August 17, 1979) was an American... more17
3114Diane Joyce Bish (born May 25, 1941) is an American organist, composer, conductor, as well as... more18
269Vitreous Humor
Emo, Indie rockAlbums: Posthumous, Vitreous Humor EP, Vitreous Humor, Boys Life / Vitreous Humor
Vitreous Humor was a Midwest emo band, formed in the late 1980s by Danny Pound, Brad Allen,... more19
269Get Smart!
New Wave, Alternative rockAlbums: Action Reaction, Swimming with Sharks
Get Smart! was a three piece band formed in Lawrence, Kansas in 1980 consisting of Marc Koch,... more20
225The Anniversary
Emo, Alternative rockAlbums: Your Majesty, Designing a Nervous Breakdown, Devil on Our Side: B-Sides and Rarities, The Get Up Kids / The Anniversary, With Finch
The Anniversary was an American band formed in Lawrence, Kansas in 1997 by Josh Berwanger,... more21
2812The Esoteric
Rock music, MathcoreAlbums: Subverter, With the Sureness of Sleepwalking, A Reason to Breathe, Live at CBGB's NYC
The Esoteric is a hardcore/rock band founded in 1996 from Lawrence, Kansas. They are currently... more22
236Mates of State
Indie pop, Progressive rockAlbums: Bring It Back, Re-Arrange Us, Mountaintops, My Solo Project, Team Boo
Mates of State are an American indie pop duo, active since 1997. The group consists of the... more23
269Ultimate Fakebook
Emo, Power popAlbums: This Will Be Laughing Week, Open Up and Say Awesome, Electric Kissing Parties, Before We Spark
Ultimate Fakebook is a 3-piece power pop band from Manhattan, KS. They released three... more24
Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1893 – October 26, 1952) was an American stage actress, professional... more25
205Abandon Kansas
Contemporary Christian music, Christian rockAlbums: You Build a Wall, I'll Build a Ladder, Ad Astra per Aspera, We're All Going Somewhere, Abandon Kansas
Abandon Kansas is an American alternative rock band originating from Wichita, Kansas.... more
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