Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in Ohio or bands formed in Ohio.
Here are the best artists and bands from Ohio. Cleveland, Ohio is pretty much the rock capital of the United States as it is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame. Plenty of musicians who got their start in Ohio have been inducted into these prestigious organizations, including The Isley Brothers, The Moonglows, and Bobby Womack. However, these acts only scratch the surface of what Ohio has produced over the last century. Numerous famous musical artists from Ohio have gone on to dominate the music scene around the world.
Any country fans will already know that Dwight Yoakam is originally from Columbus. Rock fans also have a claim to fame in the state. Some huge acts in the genre, such as Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and Twenty One Pilots were born and raised around Ohio. This isn't even getting into all the blues, pop, hip hop, and electronic acts that grew up around the Buckeye State. Other popular Ohio artists and groups include John Legend, Dave Grohl, Kid Cudi, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
Vote up the best Ohio artists, and feel free to add any other musicians, rappers, singers, and bands with Ohio roots.
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2,124273Art Tatum
Stride, JazzAlbums: The Tatum Group Masterpieces, The Discovery of Jazz, The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces, Volume 3, Body and Soul
Arthur Tatum Jr. (, October 13, 1909 – November 5, 1956) was an American jazz pianist. Tatum... more2
365308Anita Baker
Adult contemporary music, Quiet stormAlbums: Rapture, Christmas Fantasy, Giving You the Best That I Got, Compositions, A Night of Rapture: Live
Anita Denise Baker (born January 26, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. Starting her... more3
1,000986Doris Day
Traditional pop music, Big bandAlbums: The Doris Day Christmas Album, Young Man With a Horn, Cuttin' Capers / Bright & Shiny, Sentimental Journey / Latin for Lovers, The Complete Standard Transcriptions
Doris Day (born April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and animal... more4
990992Dean Martin
Swing music, Traditional pop musicAlbums: Christmas With the Rat Pack, Dino / You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, A Winter Romance, Christmas With Dean Martin, Christmas With Dino
Dino Paul Crocetti (June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995), known famously as Dean Martin, was an... more5
9261,069Michael Feinstein
Traditional pop musicAlbums: The Power of Two, Hopeless Romantics, Pure Gershwin, Michael & George - Feinstein Sings Gershwin, Change of Heart: The Songs of Andre Previn
Michael Jay Feinstein (born September 7, 1956) is an American singer, pianist, and music... more6
208227Nancy Wilson
Pop music, CabaretAlbums: In Person, The Swingin's Mutual!, A Nancy Wilson Christmas, Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley, Today
Nancy Sue Wilson (February 20, 1937 – December 13, 2018) was an American singer whose career... more7
8651,168Jim Brickman
Adult contemporary music, New Age musicAlbums: Valentine, Simple Things, Picture This, Home, Destiny
Jim Brickman (born November 20, 1961) is an American songwriter and pianist of pop music, as... more8
2438The O'Jays
R&BAlbums: Back Stabbers, Family Reunion, Message in the Music
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1225Lakeside
Rhythm and blues, FunkAlbums: Shot of Love, Fantastic Voyage, Galactic Grooves, Greatest Hits, Rough Riders
Lakeside is a funk band, best known for their 1980 number one R&B hit, "Fantastic Voyage".... more10
1124Sun
Disco, Rock musicAlbums: Wanna Make Love / Sun-Power, Sun Power, Destination Sun, Eclipse, Wanna Make Love
Sun is an R&B, soul, disco, and funk band that was formed in the mid-1970s and recorded... more11
2038Wild Cherry
Disco, Pop musicAlbums: Wild Cherry, Super Hits, I Love My Music, Electrified Funk, Only the Wild Survive
Wild Cherry was an American funk rock band best known for their song "Play That Funky Music". ... more12
1227Zapp
Hip hop music, ElectroAlbums: The Many Facets of Roger, Unlimited!, Bridging the Gap, The Saga Continues..., The New Zapp IV U
Zapp is an American funk band that emerged from Hamilton, Ohio, in 1977. Particularly... more13
1227The Breeders
Alternative rock, Indie rockAlbums: Last Splash, Pod, Title TK, Mountain Battles, Climbing the Sun
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1990 by Kim Deal of the Pixies... more14
1024The Valentinos
Doo-wop, Rhythm and bluesAlbums: Looking for a Love, It's All Over Now / Tired of Living in the Country
The Valentinos was a Cleveland, Ohio-based family R&B group, mainly famous for launching the... more15
1024Brainiac
Synthpunk, Noise rockAlbums: Bonsai Superstar, Smack Bunny Baby, Electro-Shock for President, internationale, Hissing Prigs in Static Couture
Brainiac was an American Indie rock band formed in 1992, and disbanded after the sudden death... more16
1024Platypus
Jazz fusion, Progressive rockAlbums: Ice Cycles, When Pus Comes to Shove, Heise: iX PRESSed '95
Platypus was a progressive rock / jazz-fusion supergroup that consisted of members from Dream... more
171024Eric Jerardi
Blues RockAlbums: Occupied
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1127Aurra
Electronic dance music, Contemporary R&BAlbums: Anthology, Send Your Love, A Little Love, Like I Like It, You and Me Tonight
Aurra was an American 1980s soul group, which, at the time of its biggest success, was... more19
1127Ce Ce Peniston
Urban contemporary, Dance-popAlbums: Finally, I'm Movin' On, Thought 'Ya Knew, Music Is Our Way of Life, Colour of My Soul
Cecilia Veronica "CeCe" Peniston (; born September 6, 1969) is an American recording artist... more20
1127Roger Troutman
Hip hop music, ElectroAlbums: California Love, The Many Facets of Roger, Unlimited!, Bridging the Gap, The Saga Continues...
Roger Troutman (November 29, 1951 – April 25, 1999), also known mononymously as Roger, was an... more- 21822
Calloway
Pop music, Rhythm and bluesAlbums: All The Way, Let's Get Smooth
Calloway is an R&B duo of Cincinnati, Ohio brothers Reginald (born on January 23, 1955) and... more 22
Dottie Peoples is an American gospel singer. Born Dorothy Peoples on August 12, 1950 in... more23
822Faze-O
Rhythm and blues, FunkAlbums: Riding High, Good Thang, Breakin' the Funk
Faze-O was a late 1970s funk group based in Dayton, Ohio and produced by Clarence Satchell of... more24
1230Heatwave
Disco, Rhythm and bluesAlbums: Central Heating, Too Hot to Handle, Candles, Current, Hot Property
Heatwave is an international funk/disco band featuring Americans Johnnie Wilder, Jr. and Keith... more25
1025Eddie Levert
Rock music, Rhythm and bluesAlbums: I Still Have It, Already Missing You
Edward Willis "Eddie" Levert (born June 16, 1942) is an American singer–songwriter and actor.... more
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