Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in Washington or bands formed in Washington.
Here are the best artists and bands from Washington. Seattle, the largest city in the state, is known as the birthplace of grunge, which dominated the music industry in the 1990s. Numerous artists in a variety of genres, including hip-hop, folk, punk, and indie music have also come out of the Evergreen State. Although Seattle gets most of the love, plenty of noteworthy acts have also come out of Tacoma and Olympia. You will find the best musical artists from Washington on this list, ranging across decades.
All your favorite grunge artists come from this state. Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and more got their start performing in local clubs before dominating radio stations around the globe. However, the state has much more to offer than grunge. Before Sir Mix-a-Lot sang about how much he loved big butts, he was just your average kid in Auburn who loved hip-hop. These artists barely scratch the surface of all the great Washington musical artists.
Do you like wearing flannel, or do you prefer listening to sick beats over the biggest boombox possible? This list has all of the most popular musical artists who have come out of Washington. Vote up the best Washington artists, and feel free to add any other famous musicians, rappers, singers, and bands with Pacific Northwest roots.
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15944Jimi Hendrix
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: First Rays of the New Rising Sun, Band of Gypsys, Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection, Live at the Fillmore East, Live at Woodstock
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18,... more on Wikipedia2
12545Soundgarden
Rock music, GrungeAlbums: Superunknown, Badmotorfinger, Down on the Upside, Louder Than Love, Black Hole Sun
Soundgarden was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and... more on Wikipedia3
13251Alice in Chains
Rock music, GrungeAlbums: Dirt, Alice in Chains, Facelift, Jar of Flies, Black Gives Way to Blue
Alice in Chains (often abbreviated as AIC) is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington,... more on Wikipedia4
15272Nirvana
Rock music, GrungeAlbums: Nevermind, In Utero, MTV Unplugged in New York, Bleach, Heart‐Shaped Box
Nirvana was an American grunge band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and... more on Wikipedia5
11246Heart
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Dreamboat Annie, Little Queen, Heart, These Dreams: Greatest Hits, Bebe Le Strange
Heart is a rock band that first found success in Canada and later in the United States and... more on Wikipedia6
12555Pearl Jam
Rock music, GrungeAlbums: Ten, Vs., Vitalogy, Binaural, No Code
Pearl Jam is an American rock band, formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its... more on Wikipedia7
11550Foo Fighters
Alternative rock, Post-grungeAlbums: Wasting Light, The Colour and the Shape, Foo Fighters, One by One, There Is Nothing Left to Lose
Foo Fighters is an American rock band, formed in Seattle in 1994. It was founded by Nirvana... more on Wikipedia8
7732Temple of the Dog
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Temple of the Dog, Hunger Strike, Say Hello 2 Heaven
Temple of the Dog was an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. It was... more on Wikipedia9
5515Mad Season
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Above, River of Deceit, Live, I Don't Know Anything, Long Gone Day
Mad Season can refer to: Mad Season (band) Mad Season (album), an album by the band Matchbox... more on Wikipedia10
6627Screaming Trees
Grunge, Neo-psychedeliaAlbums: Dust, Uncle Anesthesia, Other Worlds, Sweet Oblivion, Buzz Factory
Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist... more on Wikipedia11
7841Bing Crosby
Traditional pop music, Easy listeningAlbums: Merry Christmas, Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics, White Christmas, Christmas, Christmas With Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (; May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and... more on Wikipedia12
5526Queensrÿche
Progressive metal, Rock musicAlbums: Operation: Mindcrime, Empire, Promised Land, American Soldier, Operation: Mindcrime II
Queensrÿche is an American heavy metal band. It formed in 1980 in Bellevue, Washington, out... more on Wikipedia13
4920Candlebox
Rock music, GrungeAlbums: Candlebox, Lucy, Love Stories & Other Musings, Into the Sun, Happy Pills
Candlebox is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. Since its formation in 1990, the... more on Wikipedia14
5627Melvins
Doom metal, Noise rockAlbums: Prick, Houdini, Stag, Stoner Witch, Bullhead
Melvins are an American rock band whose early work was key to the development of both grunge... more on Wikipedia15
4821Mother Love Bone
Glam metal, Rock musicAlbums: Apple, Mother Love Bone, Shine, Hallucinogenic Recipe, Shine On
Mother Love Bone was an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1988. The... more on Wikipedia16
7246Modest Mouse
Indie pop, Garage rockAlbums: The Moon & Antarctica, Good News for People Who Love Bad News, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, The Lonesome Crowded West, Ocean Breathes Salty
Modest Mouse is an American rock band formed in 1992 in Issaquah, Washington and currently... more on Wikipedia17
6037The Presidents of the United States of America
Pop punk, Noise rockAlbums: The Presidents of the United States of America, These Are the Good Times People, Freaked Out and Small, Froggystyle, Love Everybody
The Presidents of the United States of America (occasionally referred to as PUSA, The... more on Wikipedia18
6037Kenny Loggins
Blue-eyed soul, Pop musicAlbums: December, Footloose, Celebrate Me Home, Whenever I Call You Friend, Keep the Fire
Kenneth Clark Loggins (born January 7, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.... more on Wikipedia19
5128Mudhoney
Punk blues, Garage punkAlbums: Superfuzz Bigmuff, Since We've Become Translucent, Piece of Cake, Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge, Mudhoney
Mudhoney are an American alternative rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1988.... more on Wikipedia20
4727Band of Horses
Rock music, Alternative countryAlbums: Everything All the Time, Cease to Begin, Mirage Rock, Tour EP, Infinite Arms
Band of Horses is an American rock band formed in 2004 in Seattle by Ben Bridwell. The band... more on Wikipedia21
7962Macklemore
Alternative hip hop, PopAlbums: The Heist, The VS. Redux, The Language of My World, Open Your Eyes, Same Love
Benjamin Hammond Haggerty (born June 19, 1983), known by his stage name Macklemore (... more on Wikipedia22
6144Death Cab for Cutie
Indie pop, EmoAlbums: Plans, Narrow Stairs, Transatlanticism, We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes, iTunes Originals – Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band, formed in Bellingham, WA, in 1997.... more on Wikipedia23
5339Fleet Foxes
Indie pop, Folk musicAlbums: Helplessness Blues, Fleet Foxes (EP), Fleet Foxes, Sun Giant, Helplessness Blues / Grown Ocean
Fleet Foxes is a Grammy-nominated American indie folk band that was formed in Seattle,... more on Wikipedia24
3013The Ventures
Rock music, Instrumental rockAlbums: Walk Don't Run, (The) Ventures in Space, The Ventures’ Christmas Album, Walk - Don’t Run: The Best of The Ventures, Greatest Hits [1980]
The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington.... more on Wikipedia25
248Green River
Noise rock, Rock musicAlbums: Dry as a Bone/Rehab Doll, Come on Down, Rehab Doll, Dry As a Bone, Together We'll Never
Green River was an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. Although the band had little... more on Wikipedia
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