Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in Virginia or bands formed in Virginia..
Here are the best artists and bands from Virginia. The Old Dominion has made numerous contributions to the music industry for the past century. The acts that have come out of the state have utilized every genre imaginable, including rock, hip hop, brass, and folk. Virginia is also a major contributor to the Piedmont blues style of music that was popularized on the East Coast during the 1920s. From Richmond to Charlottesville, the best musical artists from Virginia have come out of every walk of life from the state.
Ella Fitzgerald is one of the most famous jazz singers of all time. She grew up in Newport News, Virginia and went on to collaborate with some of the biggest names in music at the time. In more recent years, artists like Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams have made their marks in the industry after breaking out of Virginia music scene. Plenty of other artists were either born or raised in the state, and this list counts them all down. Other popular Virginia artists include Chris Brown, Jason Mraz, Dave Grohl, and Dave Matthews Band.
You will find numerous artists you listen to regularly on this list. It is a true testament to everything Virginia has given the world in terms of entertainment. The most famous Virginia musical artists are here, so start voting for the ones you like most.
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8737Ella Fitzgerald
Ballad, Swing musicAlbums: Côte d'Azur Concerts on Verve, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas, Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas, The Stockholm Concert, Porgy & Bess
Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was an African-American jazz singer... more2
8238Dave Grohl
Doom metal, Rock musicAlbums: Foo Fighters, Probot, Pocketwatch, Touch, Sign of Love
David Eric Grohl (born January 14, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and... more3
6423Patsy Cline
Rock music, Swing musicAlbums: Patsy Cline, Walkin' After Midnight, Patsy Cline Showcase, Sweet Dreams With Patsy Cline, Lonely Street
Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley; September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an... more4
8447Pharrell Williams
Pop, FunkAlbums: In My Mind, In My Mind: The Prequel, ADD SUV, G I R L, Frontin'
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter... more5
8143Missy Elliott
Hip hop music, Pop musicAlbums: Under Construction, Supa Dupa Fly, Miss E ...So Addictive, Da Real World, This Is Not a Test!
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter,... more6
6534Dave Matthews Band
Rock music, World musicAlbums: Under the Table and Dreaming, Crash, Before These Crowded Streets, Everyday, Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King
Dave Matthews Band is an American rock band that was formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in... more7
5934D'Angelo
R&B8
5832Timbaland
Hip hop music, Rap musicAlbums: Shock Value, Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment, Shock Value II, Here We Come, Morning After Dark
Timothy Zachary Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an... more9
4319Carter Family
CountryAlbums: In the Shadow of Clinch Mountain, Give Me the Roses While I Live, Wildwood Flower, Sunshine in the Shadows: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1931–1932), Sunshine in the Shadows
The Carter Family is a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and... more10
3612Bruce Hornsby
Blues-rock, Musical improvisationAlbums: The Way It Is, Scenes From the Southside, A Night on the Town, Hot House, Spirit Trail
Bruce Randall Hornsby (born November 23, 1954) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist.... more11
4926Trey Songz
Hip hop music, Contemporary R&BAlbums: Trey Day, Ready, Passion, Pain & Pleasure, I Gotta Make It
Tremaine Aldon Neverson (born November 28, 1984), known professionally as Trey Songz, is an... more12
8261Chris Brown
Contemporary R&B, Hip hopAlbums: Exclusive, F.A.M.E., Run It!, In My Zone, Graffiti
Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actor... more13
4624Jason Mraz
Adult contemporary music, Blue-eyed soulAlbums: Mr. A-Z, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., Live at Java Joe's, Love Is A Four Letter Word, Waiting for My Rocket to Come
Jason Thomas Mraz (; born June 23, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and actor who first... more14
3210The Stanley Brothers
BluegrassAlbums: The Essential Masters, 20 Bluegrass Originals, Long Journey Home, The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Brothers
The Stanley Brothers were an American bluegrass duo of singer-songwriters and musicians made... more15
319Old Crow Medicine Show
Americana, Folk musicAlbums: Old Crow Medicine Show, Big Iron World, Greetings From Wawa, Eutaw, Tennessee Pusher
Old Crow Medicine Show is an Americana string band based in Nashville, Tennessee. Its music... more16
309The Statler Brothers
Vocal harmony, CountryAlbums: Christmas Card, Christmas Wishes, Holy Bible: The Old Testament, Sons of the Motherland, The Definitive Collection
The Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to The Statlers) were an American country... more17
309Robert Cray
Blues-rock, Soul bluesAlbums: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Sweet Potato Pie, The Blues Collection 25: Who's Been Talkin', False Accusations, Some Rainy Morning
Robert William Cray (born August 1, 1953) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He has... more18
4426Pusha T
Hip hopAlbums: My Name Is My Name, Fear of God, Fear of God II: Let Us Pray, Wrath of Caine, Burial
Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an... more19
3113The Neptunes
Hip hop music, Jazz rapAlbums: Fast & Furious, The Neptunes Present... Clones
The Neptunes are an American production duo, composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. The... more20
268Old Dominion is an American five-member country music band formed in Nashville, Tennessee. The... more21
3620Lamb of God
Thrash metal, Groove metalAlbums: Sacrament, Ashes of the Wake, As the Palaces Burn, Burn the Priest, New American Gospel
Lamb of God (sometimes abbreviated as LoG) is an American heavy metal band from Richmond,... more22
3216Kali Uchis
Soul, R&BKarly-Marina Loaiza (born July 17, 1994), better known as her stage name Kali Uchis, is a... more23
2916N*E*R*D
Hip hop music, Alternative hip hopAlbums: Fly or Die, In Search Of..., She Wants to Move, Maybe, Rock Star
N.E.R.D (stylized as N*E*R*D, an acronym of No-one Ever Really Dies) is an American hip hop... more24
140Pat Benatar
New Wave, Rock musicAlbums: Crimes of Passion, Greatest Hits, Best Shots, Ultimate Collection, Precious Time
Patricia Mae Giraldo (née Andrzejewski; born January 10, 1953), who goes by the stage name Pat... more25
2717Gwar
Horror punk, Crossover thrashAlbums: Scumdogs of the Universe, Beyond Hell, Lust in Space, RagNaRok, Blood Drive 2002
Gwar, often stylized as GWAR, is an American heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia in... more
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