Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in New Jersey or bands formed in New Jersey.
Here are the best artists and bands from New Jersey. Although it doesn't have an official state song, New Jersey has been the birthplace of many influential bands and singers. Surely one of them could have written a song by now that describes everything wonderful about the Garden State. When you see all of the notable musical artists from New Jersey, you will be so impressed at how one state could produce this kind of talent.
One of New Jersey's greatest exports is Bruce Springsteen. The Boss rose to fame with such albums as Born in the U.S.A. and Born to Run. Springsteen was born in Long Branch, and even today, he takes up a permanent residence in Colts Neck. The state is also responsible for giving us the Queen of Soul, Whitney Houston, whose hits include "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "Saving All My Love for You." Other popular New Jersey artists include Halsey, My Chemical Romance, Fugees, Bon Jovi, and the Jonas Brothers.
Plenty of other artists got their start in NJ. This list of the most famous New Jersey musical artists has people who were either born or raised in the state. Let other readers know who you think the best artists from the state are by voting for your favorites. You will find top acts all throughout the list, so make sure to read thorugh it carefully.
1
624188Whitney Houston
Pop music, Dance-popAlbums: The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album, Whitney Houston, My Love Is Your Love, I'm Your Baby Tonight, The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. She was cited as the most awarded female artist of all time by Guinness World Records and remains... more
2
469152Count Basie
Swing music, Big bandAlbums: Ella & Basie: On the Sunny Side of the Street, April in Paris, One O'Clock Jump, Basie, Satch & Josh... Again
William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, Basie formed his own jazz orchestra, the Count Basie... more- 3501187
Ricky Nelson
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Rick Sings Nelson, Rudy the Fifth, The Rock 'n' Roll Era: Ricky Nelson: 1957-1972, Best of Ricky Nelson, The Lost '60s Recordings
Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American pop star, musician, and singer-songwriter. From age eight he starred alongside his family in the radio and television series... more - 4342192
The Shirelles
Girl group, Doo-wopAlbums: Tonight's the Night, Soulfully Yours, The Shirelles, The Definitive Collection, Will You Love Me Tomorrow / Boys
The Shirelles were an American girl group notable for their rhythm and blues, doo-wop and soul music and gaining popularity in the early 1960s. They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens (later... more - 5457296
Bon Jovi
Glam metal, Blues-rockAlbums: Slippery When Wet, New Jersey, Cross Road, Bon Jovi, 7800° Fahrenheit
Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh... more - 6570416
Bruce Springsteen
Americana, Blues-rockAlbums: Born to Run, Born in the U.S.A., The Rising, Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949), nicknamed "The Boss", is an American singer-songwriter who is a solo artist and is the leader of the E Street Band. Springsteen received... more - 7203165
Dionne Warwick
Urban contemporary, Adult contemporary musicAlbums: Christmas in Vienna II, The Best of Christmas in Vienna, Make Way for Dionne Warwick, The Definitive Collection, Friends in Love
Marie Dionne Warwick (born December 12, 1940) is a six-time Grammy Award–winning singer, actress, television host, and former United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture... more - 8224195
Kool & the Gang
Disco, Dance-popAlbums: Kool and the Gang, Get Down On It, Forever, All-Time Greatest Hits, Kool Funk Essentials 1970-1977
Kool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B, soul, funk and disco group, originally formed in 1964 as the Jazziacs based in Jersey City, New Jersey. They went through several musical phases during the... more - 9253232
Lauryn Hill
Hip hop music, Alternative hip hopAlbums: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, MTV Unplugged 2.0, Ms. Hill, Greatest Singles Collection, MTV Unplugged
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter and rapper, known for being a member of Fugees, and for her solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which won many awards... more - 10144136
Eddie Rabbitt
Country pop, Pop musicAlbums: Horizon, Ten Years Of Greatest Hits, Beatin' the Odds, I Wanna Dance with You, Rabbitt Trax
Edward Thomas Rabbitt (November 27, 1941 – May 7, 1998) was an American singer and songwriter. His career began as a songwriter in the late 1960s, springboarding to a recording career after composing... more - 11160155
Gloria Gaynor
Urban contemporary, Adult contemporary musicAlbums: I Have a Right, Greatest Hits, I Will Survive: The 20th Anniversary Collection, Experience Gloria Gaynor, Best of Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor (born September 7, 1947) is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits "I Will Survive" (Hot 100 number 1, 1979), "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Hot 100 number 9, 1974), "Let Me... more - 12260273
Paul Simon
Rock music, Folk musicAlbums: Graceland, Still Crazy After All These Years, So Beautiful or So What, Paul Simon, The Rhythm of the Saints
Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Simon's musical career has spanned seven decades with his fame and commercial success beginning as half of the... more - 13383413
My Chemical Romance
Pop punk, Pop musicAlbums: The Black Parade, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, Watchmen: Music From the Motion Picture
My Chemical Romance was an American rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consisted of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, bassist Mikey Way and keyboardist... more - 1488110
Sarah Vaughan
Cool jazz, Traditional pop musicAlbums: Giants of Jazz, Basie-Vaughan, How Long Has This Been Going On?, Misty, Brazilian Romance
Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "The Divine One", she won four Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. She was... more - 1579101
Juice Newton
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Juice, Greatest Hits, Can't Wait All Night, Take Heart, Juice Newton & Silver Spur
Judy Kay "Juice" Newton (born February 18, 1952) is an American pop and country singer, songwriter, and musician. To date, Newton has received five Grammy Award nominations in the Pop and Country... more - 161818
The Early November
Pop punk, Rock musicAlbums: For All of This, The Room's Too Cold, The Early November / I Am the Avalanche, The Mother, The Mechanic
The Early November is an American rock band from New Jersey. The group formed in 1999 and signed with Drive-Thru Records in 2002. As of 2018, they have released two EPs: For All of This (2002) and... more - 17111148
Fugees
Hip hop music, Alternative hip hopAlbums: The Complete Score, Bootleg Versions, Blunted on Reality, Ready or Not, Greatest Hits
Fugees (; sometimes The Fugees) was an American hip hop group who rose to fame in the mid-1990s. Their repertoire included elements of hip hop, soul and Caribbean music, particularly reggae. The... more - 18158216
Frankie Valli
Doo-wop, Blue-eyed soulAlbums: Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Paul Simon and Friends, Closeup, Working My Way Back To You, Closeup / Valli
Frankie Valli (born May 3, 1934) is an American singer and actor, known as the frontman of The Four Seasons beginning in 1960. He is known for his unusually powerful tenor/lead. Valli scored 29 Top... more - 1976102
Donald Fagen
Rock music, Jazz fusionAlbums: The Nightfly, Kamakiriad, You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It, Ricky Lawson & Friends: First Things 1st, Morph the Cat
Donald Jay Fagen (born January 10, 1948) is an American musician best known as the co-founder, lead singer, co-songwriter, and keyboardist of the band Steely Dan, formed in the early ‘70s. He has... more - 201518
Man Overboard
Pop punk, EmoAlbums: Hung Up On Nothing, Real Talk, The Human Highlight Reel, Heart Attack, Before We Met: A Collection of Old Songs
Man Overboard is an American pop punk band from Mt. Laurel and Williamstown, New Jersey that began in 2008. Since then, they have released two EPs, an acoustic EP, a split with Boston pop punk band... more - 215576
Saves the Day
Pop punk, Rock musicAlbums: Through Being Cool, Stay What You Are, In Reverie, Can't Slow Down, Sound the Alarm
Saves the Day is an American rock band from Princeton, New Jersey, formed in 1997. The band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, bassist Rodrigo Palma,... more - 224258
Leathermouth
Screamo, Punk rockAlbums: Xo [Explicit]
Leathermouth was a hardcore band led by former My Chemical Romance rhythm guitarist Frank Iero. The band formed in 2007, and in January 2009 released their first album XO.... more - 23116166
The Gaslight Anthem
Americana, Heartland rockAlbums: American Slang, The '59 Sound, Handwritten, Sink or Swim, iTunes Session
The Gaslight Anthem is an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, formed in 2006. The band consists of Brian Fallon (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Alex Rosamilia (lead guitar, backing... more - 2493134
The Smithereens
Jangle pop, Rock musicAlbums: 2011, Green Thoughts, Blown to Smithereens, A Date With The Smithereens, Especially for You
The Smithereens are an American rock band from Carteret, New Jersey, United States. The group formed in 1980 with members Pat DiNizio (vocals & guitar), Jim Babjak (guitar & vocals), Mike Mesaros... more - 25912
Hidden in Plain View
Pop punk, Rock musicAlbums: Resolution, Life in Dreaming, Find, Hidden in Plain View, Operation: Cut-Throat
Hidden in Plain View is a five-piece post-hardcore band from northern New Jersey. They formed in 2000 and originally disbanded in 2007. During this 6 1⁄2-year run, the group released records with... more
