Billboard: Top Artists By State
Jul 6, 2011 12:03:29 GMT -5
Post by HolidayGuy on Jul 6, 2011 12:03:29 GMT -5
This was posted to mark Independence Day.
www.billboard.com/#/column/chartbeat/born-in-the-u-s-a-top-artists-by-state-1005262172.story?page=1
Born in the U.S.A.: Top Artists by State
A clever entry last year on the website "Thinking Pseudogeographically," entitled "50 States, 50 Television Shows," considered which TV shows are most synonymous with each state.
"Cheers," for instance represented Massachusetts; "Seinfeld," New York; and, "The Dukes of Hazzard," Georgia.
The feature itself borrowed from an earlier Huffington Post spotlight on movies associated with each state, entitled "The United States of Movies."
"The Wizard of Oz" embodied Kansas; "My Cousin Vinny," Alabama; and, of course, "Fargo," North Dakota.
For July 4th, Chart Beat again spins off the fun premise by assigning 50 musical artists to 50 states. (In most cases, the representative artist was born in his or her chosen state. In a few others, or in the case of groups, states were picked based on the states in which acts spent their formative years).
Please note that all selections are not based on strict Billboard chart methodology, but merely opinion, although chart history was strongly considered.
Thus, please feel free to agree or disagree with choices in the comments section below. Or, e-mail askbb@billboard.com. (Better, though, to save your real arguments for who gets the last hot dog, hamburger or steak at the barbecue this weekend).
Have a happy and safe Fourth and enjoy our appreciation of musical acts born in the U.S.A., state by state.
Northeast
Maine: Stephen Hague. To start, a producer, not a known performer. Hague, born in Portland, has, perhaps surprisingly, produced hits most notably recorded by British bands, including Pet Shop Boys ("West End Girls"), New Order ("True Faith") and Erasure ("A Little Respect").
New Hampshire: Ray Lamontagne. The Nashua folk/rocker has reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 2008's "Gossip in the Grain" and last year's "God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise."
Vermont: Who else but Phish? The jam band formed at the University of Vermont in Burlington in 1983. Ben & Jerry's, headquartered in nearby Waterbury, famously concocted its "Phish Food" ice cream flavor as a tasty tribute.
Massachusetts: Aerosmith - the "Bad Boys from Boston" - bests such worthy fellow Bay Staters as James Taylor, New Kids on the Block, the Cars, Boston, Dropkick Murphys and Mighty Mighty Bosstones. (Points to Taylor for praising the state's beauty "from Stockbridge to Boston," but points also removed for traitorous tales that revealed Mexico and Carolina to be on his mind).
Rhode Island: Jeffrey Osborne. The Providence-born R&B singer fronted L.T.D. before launching a solo career that yielded such hits as 1984's "Stay With Me Tonight" (a Rhody radio favorite).
Connecticut: John Mayer. A slight edge over New Haven native Michael Bolton, if only since "No Such Thing" so clearly evokes images of Mayer's alma mater, Fairfield High School.
New York: Some states were almost impossible to symbolize via only one act. Such New York-born superstars include Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Debbie Harry (central to New York City's '70s punk insurgence), Lady Gaga and, of course, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys (while "New York, New York"-er Frank Sinatra was born in New Jersey). Before "Empire State of Mind," however, the Bronx's Billy Joel was often in a New York state of mind, from 52nd Street to his Uptown girl.
New Jersey: If from almost any other state, Bon Jovi would surely (shore-ly?) make this list in bold print. Bruce Springsteen, however, makes New Jersey perhaps the easiest decision of all, with an honorary nod to the late, great Clarence Clemons (even if he was born in Virginia). (Not as easy a choice for my mother, who implored, "How can you not pick Connie Francis?!")
Pennsylvania: Wyomissing's Taylor Swift, the best-selling digital track artist in Nielsen SoundScan history, proves that you don't need to hail from the South to make great country music. She is also the only woman to pull five Country Songs top 10s from each of her first two albums. Runners-up: with their blue-eyed Philly soul, Daryl Hall & John Oates.
Delaware: George Thorogood. The Wilmington-born guitar hero's "Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock" has spent the most weeks (57) of all entries on Billboard's Blues Albums chart.
Maryland: From Severn, Toni Braxton has enjoyed four No. 1s on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and 11 top 10s, including two No. 1s, on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs between 1992 and 2010. After wrapping the first season of the WE's "Braxton Family Values" last month, Braxton returns the series next year. "We all hoped people could relate to our family dynamic and are thrilled with the positive response we have received," she said. "We are all very much looking forward to bringing you another eventful season."
Southeast
Virginia: Bruce Hornsby. Not only has the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist serenaded his home state in such descriptive songs as "The Red Plains," "The Valley Road" and "The Road Not Taken" (in which he sings of falling in love "with an Appalachian girl"), but he also has ownership stake in Williamsburg radio station WTYD (which just happens to play his music).
West Virginia: Brad Paisley. Since his arrival, by way of Glen Dale, Paisley has tallied 17 No. 1s - including a streak of 10 in-a-row - on Billboard's Country Songs chart and six No. 1s on Country Albums.
Kentucky: Coal miner's daughter and country icon Loretta Lynn was born in Butcher Holler. Runners-up in the state's musical derby: the Judds, as Naomi and Wynonna each hail from Ashland.
Tennessee: As with Springsteen in New Jersey, it's hard to imagine anyone other than Dolly Parton representing Tennessee, especially since her "Dollywood" theme park welcomes approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. The Nashville queen, born in Sevierville, boasts the most No. 1s (25) of any female artist in the 67-year history of Country Songs.
North Carolina: Bucking the trend of country/rock artists best representing Southern states, Jermaine Dupri has produced 11 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s for such R&B acts as Nelly, Usher and Monica. All 11 leaders have spent multiple weeks at No. 1, led by Mariah Carey's 14-week topper "We Belong Together" in 2005.
South Carolina: The late, legendary "Living in America" singer himself, James Brown. The Godfather of Soul sent 91 songs onto the Hot 100, the second-best sum among solo acts after Elvis Presley's 108.
Georgia: Home to famed alternative acts including R.E.M., the B-52's and Indigo Girls. Still, an easy choice to bestow the honor on the late Ray Charles. "Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind," the R&B titan sang on his 1960 Hot 100 No. 1. Since 1979, "Georgia on My Mind" has served as the state's official song.
Alabama: Alabama. As if its name isn't enough, the band has banked 33 Country Songs No. 1s, the most among groups, including its first since 1993 last month, courtesy of its guest turn on Paisley's "Old Alabama."
Mississippi: Elvis Presley. Without question, this feature's easiest choice.
Arkansas: With all due respect to occasional saxman Bill Clinton, Johnny Cash wins this musical election. The Man in Black, born in aptly named Kingsland, won new audiences with new music in even his final years (i.e., his haunting cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt") and topped the Billboard 200 as recently as 2006, three years after his passing.
Louisiana: As New Orleans = jazz, who else but Louis Armstrong? Satchmo not only crossed over to mainstream audiences as early as the 1920s, but stands as a pioneer in breaking racial barriers, as well, through the power of his beloved music. (Although she grew up in Kentwood, Louisiana, Britney Spears was born in McComb, Mississippi).
Florida: We could pick Flo Rida, but with 29 charted titles on the Hot 100 and 28, including 14 No. 1s, on Latin Songs, Gloria Estefan (born in Havana, Cuba) has gotten fans on their feet and in conga lines, moving to her Miami sounds, for more than a quarter century.
Midwest
Ohio: While the Pretenders formed in England in 1978, frontwoman Chrissie Hynde hails from Akron. In 2005, the band joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in Cleveland). Fictitious runners-up: the "Glee" cast. Lima's McKinley High School singers own the record for most Hot 100 hits (156) in the chart's history.
Indiana: John Mellencamp has incomparably made his home state a central theme in his music. The "Small Town" singer was even born in just that: Seymour, whose population is, as of last year, 17,503. It's hard to beat a King, however, and Michael Jackson was born in Gary. (Coincidentally, Seymour is located in Jackson County).
Michigan: Heartland rock perhaps best defines the Midwest, but both the King of Pop and its queen hail from neighboring states. Madonna was born in Bay City, graduated from Rochester Adams High School and attended the University of Michigan before dropping out to move to New York City and create the material that would make her musical royalty.
Wisconsin: Les Paul, whom the Rock and Roll of Fame has deemed an "architect" of the genre. Paul originated the solid-body electric guitar, essentially granting rock its essence, and perfected multi-track recording technology. "I've never let anybody know exactly how I get my sound," said Paul, who passed away at 94 in 2009. "That big, fat, round, ballsy sound with the bright high end is the Les Paul sound - nobody else has it."
Illinois: Originally named Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago has sent 46 songs onto the Hot 100, 20 of which reached the top 10. Even after the defection of lead singer Peter Cetera, the band topped the tally, with "Look Away," sung by Bill Champlin (who departed Chicago in 2009), ranking as Billboard's top single of 1989.
Minnesota: As with Jackson and Mellencamp in Indiana, you couldn't go wrong with either a pop/R&B cornerstone - Prince - or rock icon - Bob Dylan - representing Minnesota. We'll give the nod to Prince, as "Purple Rain" vividly transported '80s music fans to Minneapolis, where the movie was filmed almost exclusively.
North Dakota: Lawrence Welk and Wiz Khalifa are the only artists born in the state to top the Hot 100. Based on longevity - and, despite "Black and Yellow" having served as the postseason theme to two teams this year, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Boston Bruins - acting/singing favorite Welk takes the title.
South Dakota: While not a hotbed of Hot 100 activity, the state gave us author L. Frank Baum, who wrote the children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Adapted for the silver screen, Kansas/Oz-based "The Wizard of Oz" helped popularize such timeless songs as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
Nebraska: Another band that epitomizes the heartland rock sound, the Eagles, was co-founded by Randy Meisner, who also helped form Poco. Meisner sings lead on the Eagles' No. 4 1976 smash "Take It to the Limit."
Iowa: The Everly Brothers' harmonies influenced countless acts, including the Beatles and Beach Boys. Don was born in Kentucky and Phil, Illinois, but their family soon embraced the Shenandoah, Iowa, music scene, with their father Ike often bringing them on to sing on his radio shows on KMA and KFNF. (Fun fact: the siblings are cousins of actor James Best, "Rosco P. Coltrane" of "The Dukes of Hazzard").
Kansas: Sharon-born Martina McBride has placed 51 songs on Country Songs and just completed her first set of back-to-back top 20 hits since 2005. Still, Kansas is right there in the name of the band, formed in Topeka, that enjoyed such hits as "Carry on Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind."
Missouri: Eminem was born (Marshall Bruce Mathers III) in Saint Joseph, not moving to Michigan until age 12. Eminem is the best-selling rap album artist of all-time, with U.S. sales of 40.6 million, according to SoundScan. Among males, he trails only the next two artists on our tour of American music.
Southwest
Texas: Even if all his exes reportedly live there, George Strait can't hide from the fact that he's sent more songs to No. 1 on Country Songs (44) than any act on any Billboard chart. With top 10s annually on Country Songs since 1981, Strait, born in Poteet, is the only artist to score a top 10 on the same survey for as many as 31 "Strait" years. Honorable mention to the state's other iconic musical George: George Jones.
Oklahoma: Garth Brooks, who counts Strait and Jones among his biggest influences. With U.S. sales of 68.5 million, the Tulsa native and Oklahoma State University grad (advertising major, FYI) is the best-selling album artist in SoundScan's 20-year history. Among solo males, Strait is second (42.6 million), followed by Eminem (see: Missouri).
New Mexico: "You gotta hear this one song. It'll change your life, I promise you," Zach Braff memorably predicted about the Shins' "New Slang" in the 2004 film "Garden State." Despite the endorsement, the song's chart life consisted solely of a week at No. 100 on the (now-defunct) Pop 100 chart. The Albuquerque band, however, roared to a No. 1 peak on Rock Albums and a No. 2 rank on the Billboard 200 with 2007's "Wincing the Night Away."
Arizona: Peter Green founded Fleetwood Mac in London, but the 1974 addition of Americans Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, the latter from Phoenix, ushered in the band's commercial era that led to its enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As a soloist, Nicks has released seven studio albums, including her new "In Your Dreams," while greatly influencing a subsequent era of Lilith Fair singer/songwriters.
West
Colorado: John Denver was born (as Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.) not in Colorado but in Roswell, New Mexico. (He also spent time in the Muppet Theater). Still, his name and such smashes as "Rocky Mountain High" have made him as much a part of Colorado as Coors beer and the breathtaking scenery of which he sang. On March 12, 2007, 34 years after it reached No. 9 on the Hot 100, "Rocky" joined the 1915 composition "Where the Columbines Grow" as the state's official songs.
Utah: Stars of songs and stage the Osmonds are synonymous with the Salt Lake region, having collected 13 Hot 100 hits, while Donny has scored 16 as a soloist. He and sister Marie debuted at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 in May with "Donny & Marie," the pair's highest-peak duets set.
Nevada: While Las Vegas has long been the performing home of Wayne Newton and, more recently, Celine Dion and Garth Brooks, the Killers formed there in 2001. The alternative/dance band, with a stylistic flare in line with that of Sin City, has earned three Billboard 200 top 10s, including its triple-Platinum debut, "Hot Fuss" (No. 7).
Wyoming: Although born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Chris LeDoux became a Wyoming rodeo legend. After Garth Brooks sang of listening to a "worn-out tape of Chris LeDoux" in his debut single "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)," the singer tallied 21 appearances on Country Songs until his death in 2005.
Montana: For such a big state, relatively few mainstream recording acts hail from Montana. Helena's Nicolette Larson reached the Hot 100's top 10 on her first try with 1979's No. 8-peaking "Lotta Love."
Idaho: Paul Revere and the Raiders, formed in Boise, notched 21 Hot 100 hits between 1961 and 1973, including the 1971 No. 1 "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)," an ode to Native Americans forced to relocate in the 1830s. (On a completely divergent bent, personal favorite music-associated Idaho memory: a former female radio co-worker proudly wearing a T-shirt reading "Idaho? No, U-da-ho!")
Washington: As such states as Tennessee and Texas symbolize country music, Seattle is likewise the birthplace of grunge, with no act perhaps better representing the genre than Nirvana, who defeats Pearl Jam in a tight race if only because "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (No. 6, 1992) marked the sound's first crossover to the Hot 100's top 10.
Oregon: Recent best new artist Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding was born in Portland. The acclaimed jazz instrumentalist/singer famously won the honor over presumed favorite (and Canada native) Justin Bieber.
California: Like New York, California is home to several superstars, from Paula Abdul to Frank Zappa. While Santa Barbara-born Katy Perry self-congratulated "California Gurls" last year, American institution the Beach Boys wished they all could be California girls 45 years earlier. "California" has, in fact, appeared in the titles of a Golden State-sized 28 Hot 100 hits, including Rihanna's current "California King Bed."
Alaska: Jewel Kilcher was born in Utah, but her family soon moved to Homer (and a home without indoor plumbing). When asked by Larry King last year her opinion of Sarah Palin, Jewel responded, "I can't say we agree on everything (politically). But, Alaska women are can-do women. I love the state I'm from. The people up there are really grounded, really down-to-earth. The women feel like they can do everything. I love it. I like that about Sarah, as well."
Hawaii: The honor for the 50th state both chronologically and in this feature goes to Bruno Mars, born in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu. With "Just the Way You Are" having recently wrapped 20 weeks atop Adult Contemporary, the song stands as the longest-reigning debut format hit in the chart's almost 50-year history.
www.billboard.com/#/column/chartbeat/born-in-the-u-s-a-top-artists-by-state-1005262172.story?page=1
Born in the U.S.A.: Top Artists by State
A clever entry last year on the website "Thinking Pseudogeographically," entitled "50 States, 50 Television Shows," considered which TV shows are most synonymous with each state.
"Cheers," for instance represented Massachusetts; "Seinfeld," New York; and, "The Dukes of Hazzard," Georgia.
The feature itself borrowed from an earlier Huffington Post spotlight on movies associated with each state, entitled "The United States of Movies."
"The Wizard of Oz" embodied Kansas; "My Cousin Vinny," Alabama; and, of course, "Fargo," North Dakota.
For July 4th, Chart Beat again spins off the fun premise by assigning 50 musical artists to 50 states. (In most cases, the representative artist was born in his or her chosen state. In a few others, or in the case of groups, states were picked based on the states in which acts spent their formative years).
Please note that all selections are not based on strict Billboard chart methodology, but merely opinion, although chart history was strongly considered.
Thus, please feel free to agree or disagree with choices in the comments section below. Or, e-mail askbb@billboard.com. (Better, though, to save your real arguments for who gets the last hot dog, hamburger or steak at the barbecue this weekend).
Have a happy and safe Fourth and enjoy our appreciation of musical acts born in the U.S.A., state by state.
Northeast
Maine: Stephen Hague. To start, a producer, not a known performer. Hague, born in Portland, has, perhaps surprisingly, produced hits most notably recorded by British bands, including Pet Shop Boys ("West End Girls"), New Order ("True Faith") and Erasure ("A Little Respect").
New Hampshire: Ray Lamontagne. The Nashua folk/rocker has reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 2008's "Gossip in the Grain" and last year's "God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise."
Vermont: Who else but Phish? The jam band formed at the University of Vermont in Burlington in 1983. Ben & Jerry's, headquartered in nearby Waterbury, famously concocted its "Phish Food" ice cream flavor as a tasty tribute.
Massachusetts: Aerosmith - the "Bad Boys from Boston" - bests such worthy fellow Bay Staters as James Taylor, New Kids on the Block, the Cars, Boston, Dropkick Murphys and Mighty Mighty Bosstones. (Points to Taylor for praising the state's beauty "from Stockbridge to Boston," but points also removed for traitorous tales that revealed Mexico and Carolina to be on his mind).
Rhode Island: Jeffrey Osborne. The Providence-born R&B singer fronted L.T.D. before launching a solo career that yielded such hits as 1984's "Stay With Me Tonight" (a Rhody radio favorite).
Connecticut: John Mayer. A slight edge over New Haven native Michael Bolton, if only since "No Such Thing" so clearly evokes images of Mayer's alma mater, Fairfield High School.
New York: Some states were almost impossible to symbolize via only one act. Such New York-born superstars include Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Debbie Harry (central to New York City's '70s punk insurgence), Lady Gaga and, of course, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys (while "New York, New York"-er Frank Sinatra was born in New Jersey). Before "Empire State of Mind," however, the Bronx's Billy Joel was often in a New York state of mind, from 52nd Street to his Uptown girl.
New Jersey: If from almost any other state, Bon Jovi would surely (shore-ly?) make this list in bold print. Bruce Springsteen, however, makes New Jersey perhaps the easiest decision of all, with an honorary nod to the late, great Clarence Clemons (even if he was born in Virginia). (Not as easy a choice for my mother, who implored, "How can you not pick Connie Francis?!")
Pennsylvania: Wyomissing's Taylor Swift, the best-selling digital track artist in Nielsen SoundScan history, proves that you don't need to hail from the South to make great country music. She is also the only woman to pull five Country Songs top 10s from each of her first two albums. Runners-up: with their blue-eyed Philly soul, Daryl Hall & John Oates.
Delaware: George Thorogood. The Wilmington-born guitar hero's "Greatest Hits: 30 Years of Rock" has spent the most weeks (57) of all entries on Billboard's Blues Albums chart.
Maryland: From Severn, Toni Braxton has enjoyed four No. 1s on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and 11 top 10s, including two No. 1s, on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs between 1992 and 2010. After wrapping the first season of the WE's "Braxton Family Values" last month, Braxton returns the series next year. "We all hoped people could relate to our family dynamic and are thrilled with the positive response we have received," she said. "We are all very much looking forward to bringing you another eventful season."
Southeast
Virginia: Bruce Hornsby. Not only has the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist serenaded his home state in such descriptive songs as "The Red Plains," "The Valley Road" and "The Road Not Taken" (in which he sings of falling in love "with an Appalachian girl"), but he also has ownership stake in Williamsburg radio station WTYD (which just happens to play his music).
West Virginia: Brad Paisley. Since his arrival, by way of Glen Dale, Paisley has tallied 17 No. 1s - including a streak of 10 in-a-row - on Billboard's Country Songs chart and six No. 1s on Country Albums.
Kentucky: Coal miner's daughter and country icon Loretta Lynn was born in Butcher Holler. Runners-up in the state's musical derby: the Judds, as Naomi and Wynonna each hail from Ashland.
Tennessee: As with Springsteen in New Jersey, it's hard to imagine anyone other than Dolly Parton representing Tennessee, especially since her "Dollywood" theme park welcomes approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. The Nashville queen, born in Sevierville, boasts the most No. 1s (25) of any female artist in the 67-year history of Country Songs.
North Carolina: Bucking the trend of country/rock artists best representing Southern states, Jermaine Dupri has produced 11 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s for such R&B acts as Nelly, Usher and Monica. All 11 leaders have spent multiple weeks at No. 1, led by Mariah Carey's 14-week topper "We Belong Together" in 2005.
South Carolina: The late, legendary "Living in America" singer himself, James Brown. The Godfather of Soul sent 91 songs onto the Hot 100, the second-best sum among solo acts after Elvis Presley's 108.
Georgia: Home to famed alternative acts including R.E.M., the B-52's and Indigo Girls. Still, an easy choice to bestow the honor on the late Ray Charles. "Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind," the R&B titan sang on his 1960 Hot 100 No. 1. Since 1979, "Georgia on My Mind" has served as the state's official song.
Alabama: Alabama. As if its name isn't enough, the band has banked 33 Country Songs No. 1s, the most among groups, including its first since 1993 last month, courtesy of its guest turn on Paisley's "Old Alabama."
Mississippi: Elvis Presley. Without question, this feature's easiest choice.
Arkansas: With all due respect to occasional saxman Bill Clinton, Johnny Cash wins this musical election. The Man in Black, born in aptly named Kingsland, won new audiences with new music in even his final years (i.e., his haunting cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt") and topped the Billboard 200 as recently as 2006, three years after his passing.
Louisiana: As New Orleans = jazz, who else but Louis Armstrong? Satchmo not only crossed over to mainstream audiences as early as the 1920s, but stands as a pioneer in breaking racial barriers, as well, through the power of his beloved music. (Although she grew up in Kentwood, Louisiana, Britney Spears was born in McComb, Mississippi).
Florida: We could pick Flo Rida, but with 29 charted titles on the Hot 100 and 28, including 14 No. 1s, on Latin Songs, Gloria Estefan (born in Havana, Cuba) has gotten fans on their feet and in conga lines, moving to her Miami sounds, for more than a quarter century.
Midwest
Ohio: While the Pretenders formed in England in 1978, frontwoman Chrissie Hynde hails from Akron. In 2005, the band joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in Cleveland). Fictitious runners-up: the "Glee" cast. Lima's McKinley High School singers own the record for most Hot 100 hits (156) in the chart's history.
Indiana: John Mellencamp has incomparably made his home state a central theme in his music. The "Small Town" singer was even born in just that: Seymour, whose population is, as of last year, 17,503. It's hard to beat a King, however, and Michael Jackson was born in Gary. (Coincidentally, Seymour is located in Jackson County).
Michigan: Heartland rock perhaps best defines the Midwest, but both the King of Pop and its queen hail from neighboring states. Madonna was born in Bay City, graduated from Rochester Adams High School and attended the University of Michigan before dropping out to move to New York City and create the material that would make her musical royalty.
Wisconsin: Les Paul, whom the Rock and Roll of Fame has deemed an "architect" of the genre. Paul originated the solid-body electric guitar, essentially granting rock its essence, and perfected multi-track recording technology. "I've never let anybody know exactly how I get my sound," said Paul, who passed away at 94 in 2009. "That big, fat, round, ballsy sound with the bright high end is the Les Paul sound - nobody else has it."
Illinois: Originally named Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago has sent 46 songs onto the Hot 100, 20 of which reached the top 10. Even after the defection of lead singer Peter Cetera, the band topped the tally, with "Look Away," sung by Bill Champlin (who departed Chicago in 2009), ranking as Billboard's top single of 1989.
Minnesota: As with Jackson and Mellencamp in Indiana, you couldn't go wrong with either a pop/R&B cornerstone - Prince - or rock icon - Bob Dylan - representing Minnesota. We'll give the nod to Prince, as "Purple Rain" vividly transported '80s music fans to Minneapolis, where the movie was filmed almost exclusively.
North Dakota: Lawrence Welk and Wiz Khalifa are the only artists born in the state to top the Hot 100. Based on longevity - and, despite "Black and Yellow" having served as the postseason theme to two teams this year, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Boston Bruins - acting/singing favorite Welk takes the title.
South Dakota: While not a hotbed of Hot 100 activity, the state gave us author L. Frank Baum, who wrote the children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Adapted for the silver screen, Kansas/Oz-based "The Wizard of Oz" helped popularize such timeless songs as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
Nebraska: Another band that epitomizes the heartland rock sound, the Eagles, was co-founded by Randy Meisner, who also helped form Poco. Meisner sings lead on the Eagles' No. 4 1976 smash "Take It to the Limit."
Iowa: The Everly Brothers' harmonies influenced countless acts, including the Beatles and Beach Boys. Don was born in Kentucky and Phil, Illinois, but their family soon embraced the Shenandoah, Iowa, music scene, with their father Ike often bringing them on to sing on his radio shows on KMA and KFNF. (Fun fact: the siblings are cousins of actor James Best, "Rosco P. Coltrane" of "The Dukes of Hazzard").
Kansas: Sharon-born Martina McBride has placed 51 songs on Country Songs and just completed her first set of back-to-back top 20 hits since 2005. Still, Kansas is right there in the name of the band, formed in Topeka, that enjoyed such hits as "Carry on Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind."
Missouri: Eminem was born (Marshall Bruce Mathers III) in Saint Joseph, not moving to Michigan until age 12. Eminem is the best-selling rap album artist of all-time, with U.S. sales of 40.6 million, according to SoundScan. Among males, he trails only the next two artists on our tour of American music.
Southwest
Texas: Even if all his exes reportedly live there, George Strait can't hide from the fact that he's sent more songs to No. 1 on Country Songs (44) than any act on any Billboard chart. With top 10s annually on Country Songs since 1981, Strait, born in Poteet, is the only artist to score a top 10 on the same survey for as many as 31 "Strait" years. Honorable mention to the state's other iconic musical George: George Jones.
Oklahoma: Garth Brooks, who counts Strait and Jones among his biggest influences. With U.S. sales of 68.5 million, the Tulsa native and Oklahoma State University grad (advertising major, FYI) is the best-selling album artist in SoundScan's 20-year history. Among solo males, Strait is second (42.6 million), followed by Eminem (see: Missouri).
New Mexico: "You gotta hear this one song. It'll change your life, I promise you," Zach Braff memorably predicted about the Shins' "New Slang" in the 2004 film "Garden State." Despite the endorsement, the song's chart life consisted solely of a week at No. 100 on the (now-defunct) Pop 100 chart. The Albuquerque band, however, roared to a No. 1 peak on Rock Albums and a No. 2 rank on the Billboard 200 with 2007's "Wincing the Night Away."
Arizona: Peter Green founded Fleetwood Mac in London, but the 1974 addition of Americans Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, the latter from Phoenix, ushered in the band's commercial era that led to its enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As a soloist, Nicks has released seven studio albums, including her new "In Your Dreams," while greatly influencing a subsequent era of Lilith Fair singer/songwriters.
West
Colorado: John Denver was born (as Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.) not in Colorado but in Roswell, New Mexico. (He also spent time in the Muppet Theater). Still, his name and such smashes as "Rocky Mountain High" have made him as much a part of Colorado as Coors beer and the breathtaking scenery of which he sang. On March 12, 2007, 34 years after it reached No. 9 on the Hot 100, "Rocky" joined the 1915 composition "Where the Columbines Grow" as the state's official songs.
Utah: Stars of songs and stage the Osmonds are synonymous with the Salt Lake region, having collected 13 Hot 100 hits, while Donny has scored 16 as a soloist. He and sister Marie debuted at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 in May with "Donny & Marie," the pair's highest-peak duets set.
Nevada: While Las Vegas has long been the performing home of Wayne Newton and, more recently, Celine Dion and Garth Brooks, the Killers formed there in 2001. The alternative/dance band, with a stylistic flare in line with that of Sin City, has earned three Billboard 200 top 10s, including its triple-Platinum debut, "Hot Fuss" (No. 7).
Wyoming: Although born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Chris LeDoux became a Wyoming rodeo legend. After Garth Brooks sang of listening to a "worn-out tape of Chris LeDoux" in his debut single "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)," the singer tallied 21 appearances on Country Songs until his death in 2005.
Montana: For such a big state, relatively few mainstream recording acts hail from Montana. Helena's Nicolette Larson reached the Hot 100's top 10 on her first try with 1979's No. 8-peaking "Lotta Love."
Idaho: Paul Revere and the Raiders, formed in Boise, notched 21 Hot 100 hits between 1961 and 1973, including the 1971 No. 1 "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)," an ode to Native Americans forced to relocate in the 1830s. (On a completely divergent bent, personal favorite music-associated Idaho memory: a former female radio co-worker proudly wearing a T-shirt reading "Idaho? No, U-da-ho!")
Washington: As such states as Tennessee and Texas symbolize country music, Seattle is likewise the birthplace of grunge, with no act perhaps better representing the genre than Nirvana, who defeats Pearl Jam in a tight race if only because "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (No. 6, 1992) marked the sound's first crossover to the Hot 100's top 10.
Oregon: Recent best new artist Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding was born in Portland. The acclaimed jazz instrumentalist/singer famously won the honor over presumed favorite (and Canada native) Justin Bieber.
California: Like New York, California is home to several superstars, from Paula Abdul to Frank Zappa. While Santa Barbara-born Katy Perry self-congratulated "California Gurls" last year, American institution the Beach Boys wished they all could be California girls 45 years earlier. "California" has, in fact, appeared in the titles of a Golden State-sized 28 Hot 100 hits, including Rihanna's current "California King Bed."
Alaska: Jewel Kilcher was born in Utah, but her family soon moved to Homer (and a home without indoor plumbing). When asked by Larry King last year her opinion of Sarah Palin, Jewel responded, "I can't say we agree on everything (politically). But, Alaska women are can-do women. I love the state I'm from. The people up there are really grounded, really down-to-earth. The women feel like they can do everything. I love it. I like that about Sarah, as well."
Hawaii: The honor for the 50th state both chronologically and in this feature goes to Bruno Mars, born in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu. With "Just the Way You Are" having recently wrapped 20 weeks atop Adult Contemporary, the song stands as the longest-reigning debut format hit in the chart's almost 50-year history.
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