Catch up on the Part 1 of this Musician Road Trip here.
Montana – Stephanie Quayle
Country singer-songwriter Stephanie Quayle grew up in Bozeman, Montana on a farm . Music was a part of her life from a young age. She learned piano at 4, bought a guitar at 15, and began singing at 16 eventually becoming the lead singer in a Swiss rock band. After graduating from high school, Stephanie packed her guitar and headed west to California where she worked day jobs while playing wherever she could. After the loss of her partner of 10 years, she felt distant from life for a long time but still played music and gained popularity.
Years later, she returned to Montana to write through all her complicated feelings of grief from the loss of her partner, creating the songs for On the Edge. “I’ve been writing and recording since I was sixteen, but there was a shift, writing in Montana. I created the space to write with no intention other than to write. I allowed the songs the space to just be songs and it was like a dam broke. There’s no more force, there's no more ‘we have to’s’. There’s a rawness to the story, and a pureness in its creation. It’s what it’s meant to be, and I am where I need to be.” She has performed at the Grand Ole Opry over ten times, CMT named her as part of its “Next Women of Country” franchise, and she’s appeared on popular programs like The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Nebraska – Bright Eyes
The 2000s indie sensation Bright Eyes came from Omaha, Nebraska. Each member grew up in Ohama and found themselves among other groups before settling together as Bright Eyes. Singer Conor Oberst was in a few bands in Omaha before Bright Eyes including Commander Venus, The Faint, and Park Ave. Bright Eyes’ records released between 1998 and 2011 were released through Saddle Creek Records, a Nebraska-based label founded by Justin Oberst (Conor's brother). Band member Mike Mogis currently runs ARC (Another Recording Company) in downtown Omaha. With their album Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground in 2002, Bright Eyes became one of the year's most celebrated "new" artists, despite the group being around for some years before this breakout album. The band had other accolades including winning Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "When the President Talks to God" at the 2006 PLUG Independent Music Awards. They also got a recognition award for the music video for "First Day of My Life."
Nevada – The Killers
The rock band known for hits such as “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by lead vocalist/keyboardist/bassist Brandon Flowers and guitarist Dave Keuning. Keuning has posted an advert in a Las Vegas newspaper which Flowers saw, and the two realized they had the same ideas for a band. They recorded their demo in Kill the Messenger Studio in Henderson, Nevada, in which one of the songs was “Mr. Brightside.” The band played their first live show together at an open mic night at the Cafe Espresso Roma in Las Vegas in January 2002 and continued to play in venues across Vegas. They caught the attention of Braden Merrick, an A&R rep for Warner Bros. Records who found their demo on a website featuring unsigned bands in the Las Vegas area then was dazzled by their live performance, offering to become their manager. They eventually signed with the record label Island Def Jam and grew in popularity from there.
New Hampshire – Our Last Night
Forming in 2004 in Hollis, New Hampshire, Our Last Night have been heralded in articles about artists from the state as having the “embodiment of the New Hampshire spirit, combining relentless work ethic with innovative post-hardcore soundscapes that reverberate through the Granite State's music scene” (Source). The band has a unique blend of melodic metalcore and catchy pop hooks. They were signed to Epitaph Records in 2007, but it was after they left the label in the 2010s and began posting metalcore covers of pop songs on YouTube that boosted their popularity. Their popularity drew national attention to the state of New Hampshire while also bringing attention to other local artists from the state.
New Jersey – Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston was born at Presbyterian Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. Houston began her singing career as a child at church, specifically New Hope Baptist Church in Newark then became a background vocalist while in high school. Her family stayed in Newark until deciding to relocate to the suburbs of East Orange three years after the Newark race riots of 1967. Houston was signed to the Arista Records label at 19 by the chairman Clive Davis. Her debut self-titled album wouldn’t come out until 1985, but it was a smash hit, going Diamond in the US and staying on the Billboard Hot 200 for three years with fourteen weeks at No. 1. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Houston second on their list of the greatest singers of all time. She has sold over 220 million records worldwide.
New Mexico – Al Hurricane
When it came to selecting one artist to represent New Mexico, how could we not select Al Hurricane who is dubbed “The Godfather” of New Mexico music? Al Hurricane was born in Dixon, New Mexico but mainly grew up in Silver City. Al helped get himself out there by working as a singing waiter at the La Casita Restaurant in Old Town and playing for tips in and around Old Town Plaza in his off hours, building up his audience. He eventually began touring outside of New Mexico and releasing singles with various record labels. He is best known for his contributions to New Mexico's unique style of Spanish music. With over 30 albums under his belt, it’s safe to say he made his mark on the state.
New York – Lady Gaga
Much like California, there are so many artists to choose from that hail from New York. So many legends. But one legend that deserves to be highlighted is Lady Gaga. Gaga grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, learning to play the piano when she was just 4. Gaga started performing as a teenager by acting in plays and going to open mic nights to sing. She studied at the professional musical theatre school Collaborative Arts Project 21, but she dropped out to pursue her music career. She got her break after signing with Interscope Records and KonLive Distribution which put out her debut studio album, The Fame, and its singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face." She’s racked up many accolades over her career including 13 Grammy Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, 18 MTV Video Music Awards, and recognition as Billboard's Artist of the Year (in 2010) and Woman of the Year (in 2015).
North Carolina – Luke Combs
Country singer/songwriter Luke Combs was born and raised in North Carolina, a fact in which he’s very proud of. He was born in Huntersville, but his family moved to Asheville at some point in his youth. He grew up participating in chorus and played his first country music show at the Parthenon Cafe in Boone, North Carolina. He attended Appalachian State University which he dropped out of just before completion to move to Nashville to pursue a career in music. After years of plugging away, he signed a deal with Sony Music Nashville in 2016, and released the debut single “Hurricane” which reached number one on the country radio airplay chart and helped him gain the popularity he has today.
North Dakota – Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee, known for her singing and acting career that spanned seven decades, came from Jamestown, North Dakota. Lee and her family lived in several towns along the Midland Continental Railroad (a few which included Jamestown, Nortonville and Wimbledon). In Wimbledon, Lee was part of a six-piece college dance band with leader Lyle "Doc" Haines. The quintet traveled all over the state on Fridays after school and on weekends. In her teen years, Lee would sing for small sums of money for local radio stations including KOVC radio in Valley City, North Dakota. She decided to go to Hollywood at 17 to pursue a career not long after radio personality Ken Kennedy, of WDAY in Fargo, (the most widely heard station in North Dakota), helped give her the Peggy Lee name and put her on the air the same day he auditioned her. Her career eventually took off once she was in California, leading to recordings such "Why Don't You Do Right?", which sold more than one million copies and made her famous. Over her career, Lee recorded more than 1,100 masters and co-wrote over 270 songs.
Ohio – Twenty One Pilots
Given that Savage Content is partly from Ohio, we have a lot of artists to choose from. But one special artist that totally took over that came from Ohio we wanted to highlight is Twenty One Pilots. The duo originated in Columbus, Ohio. Singer Tyler Joseph attended Ohio State University and broke into the Columbus scene by incorporating costumes and acrobatics in performances. Joseph's mother would stand outside of Ohio State University, giving away tickets to their shows. They participated in various "Battle of the Band" contests at known Columbus venues, The Alrosa Villa and The Basement.
After months of cultivating a fan base in the Columbus area via social media interaction and constant touring, the band played a sold-out concert at Columbus' Newport Music Hall. This caught the attention of several record labels interested in seeing if the band's appeal could stretch outside of Ohio. Given that their label debut Vessel became the second album in history on which every track received at least a gold certification, it’s safe to say their reach extended beyond Ohio. Twenty One Pilots is the first and only band to see every song on two of their albums that earned gold or platinum awards (the second being their sophomore album Blurryface) (Source).
Oklahoma – Carrie Underwood
Underwood is best known for winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Underwood knew she wanted to be a singer from a young age. She performed at Robbins Memorial Talent Show, and other local events in Checotah, including Old Settler's Day and the Lions Club. She almost got a record deal at 14 from Capitol Records, but it was cancelled when company management changed. She attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and performed in the university’s Downtown Country show. It was her placement and eventual win of the singing competition show American Idol that helped her find the success she is known for today.
Oregon – The Decemberists
Indie folk/rock band The Decemberists formed in Portland, Oregon. They’re a unique group that writes songs focusing on historical incidents and folklore. Their live performances include a lot of audience participation and often stage reenactments of regional and centuries-old events. The group formed after singer Colin Meloy moved to Portland and met the other members who all had the same vision for the band. They had their label debut via Capitol Records and their popularity soared from there including a mock feud with Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert who claimed the band “stole” his green screen idea. Their song "Down by the Water" from their album, The King Is Dead, was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 54th Grammy Awards.
Pennsylvania – Taylor Swift
There are many great artists from Pennsylvania, including Sabrina Carpenter, Joan Jett, and Hall & Oates, but would a road trip of artists really be complete without one of the biggest pop stars of today? Taylor Swift was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, and she spent her early years on a Christmas tree farm in Wyomissing. She attended Wyomissing Area Junior/Senior High School and performed in Berks Youth Theatre Academy productions on top of vocal and acting lessons in New York City. After watching a documentary about Faith Hill, she became determined to pursue a country-music career in Nashville with the family eventually relocating to Hendersonville, Tennessee as she worked toward that dream.
Given that seven of Swift's albums have opened with over one million pure sales in a week, it’s clear her move paid off. Some of Swift’s other accolades include 14 Grammy Awards (including Album of the Year), a Primetime Emmy Award, 40 American Music Awards, 39 Billboard Music Awards, and 23 MTV Video Music Awards, and being named the 2023 Time Person of the Year. While Swift only spent the first 14 years of her life in Pennsylvania, she has made returns to her home state for events held by close friends and family.
Rhode Island – Bobby Hackett
Dixieland jazz and swing musician Bobby Hackett grew up poor in Providence, Rhode Island. His desire to be a musician was so strong, he quit school at 14 to play guitar and violin in a band in a local Chinese restaurant. He switched to cornet and trumpet after being dazzled by a Louis Armstrong performance. In Providence, he played in a couple of other local bands, but eventually moved to New York in 1937. Despite his love of Armstrong, he made his name as a follower of Bix Beiderbecke. He played swing with the Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman bands in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and he played Dixieland style from the 1930s into the 1970s with many figures in the genre. His other major work was being a featured soloist on the first ten of the numerous Jackie Gleason mood music albums during the 1950s.
South Carolina – Hootie and the Blowfish
Hootie and the Blowfish are a rock band best known for hits such as “Only Wanna Be with You” and “Hold my Hand.” The band came together when members Darius Rucker and Mark Bryan met at the University of South Carolina when they were freshman. Bryan heard Rucker singing in the showers of the dorm they shared and was impressed by his vocal ability, and the band formed from there. After their big break in the 90s, the band created their own record label as a subsidiary of their label (Atlantic Records) called Breaking Records. The label intended to focus on signing local Carolina acts, and they did release a few albums from local artists, but the label disintegrated in 2000. The band have many accolades under their belt including two Grammy awards, sixteen of their tracks making it onto Billboard charts, and their debut album becoming the 19th-best-selling album of all time in the United States. The album was certified platinum 21 times.
South Dakota - Indigenous
This blues group rose to prominence in the 90s in South Dakota. Found by two brothers, Indigenous has band members part of the Nakota Nation, a heritage that they celebrate in their music. They grew up on South Dakota's Yankton Indian Reservation, where their father, Greg Zephier became a spokesperson for Native American rights. The group blends a blues-rock sound with traditional chants and lyrics about the state's rich cultural history that creates a unique and captivating sound that helped the group gain international recognition. Indigenous has shared the stage with many legendary artists including B.B. King, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, and Dave Matthews Band.
Tennessee – Dolly Parton
Does Dolly Parton really need an introduction? She’s a singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and absolute icon, and she hails from the state of Tennessee. She’s best known for her decades-long career in country music that spans over 50 years. Parton was born in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee, fourth of twelve children. Parton credits her musical abilities to her mother who would entertain her many children with Smoky Mountain folklore and ancient ballads. Many of Parton’s cherished childhood memories took place at Locust Ridge, the place they moved to after Pittman Center. One can see a replica of that cabin if they visit Parton's namesake theme park Dollywood. Parton’s performances began when she was still a kid. She’d sing on local radio and TV show in the East Tennessee area. She appeared on The Cas Walker Show on WIVK Radio and WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee when she was just 10 years old. After graduating high school, she left to pursue her career in Nashville. The rest is history.
Dolly Parton has 11 Grammy Awards (50 nominations overall), ten Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, and a place in both the Country Music and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Beyond music, she has used her wealth to give back through her various charitable and philanthropic organizations. Through her amusement parks, many dinner theatres, she boosts the Tennesse economy. Her Dollywood Foundation brings education and poverty relief to East Tennessee.
Texas - Michael Martin Murphey
Texas has many icons to come from its state, but do you know about Michael Martin Murphey, one of the founding artists of progressive country? Born and raised in in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Texas, Murphey spent a lot of time at his grandfather's and uncle's ranches, both of which helped him develop a special love for cowboy songs and stories. He was just 17 when he took his first "professional" music job, playing western songs around a campfire at a Texas ranch. graduating from W. H. Adamson High School in Oak Cliff, Murphey studied Greek at the University of North Texas. As a member of the institution's Folk Music Club. After some time in the California music scenes, Murphey returned to Texas in the 1970s and played a pivotal role in launching the progressive country genre. He was signed to A&M records after being discovered in a Dallas club, but he wouldn’t find mainstream success until he signed with Liberty Records and eventually Warner Bros. Records in the 80s. In 1983, Murphey was voted Best New Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. In 1985, his rerecorded version of "Carolina in the Pines" reached the Top 10. Beyond his legacy of reviving a genre, he has also contributed some of the best-loved songs of his generation including tracks by The Monkees.
Utah – The Used
Rock band The Used formed in 2000 in Orem, Utah. The group recorded a demo album in drummer Steineckert's bedroom titled Demos from the Basement. Steineckert sent their songs to producer John Feldmann from the ska group Goldfinger. On hearing the song "A Box Full of Sharp Objects", Feldman flew the band to Los Angeleson his own dime and helped them find a record label where they got signed to Reprise Records. They rose to fame with their debut album which was certified platinum. Some of their biggest hits include “Taste of Ink” and “All That I’ve Got.”
Vermont – Phish
Phish came together in Vermont in the city of Burlington. The members all came together at The University of Vermont in 1983, and they performed their first concert at the university’s Harris Millis Cafeteria. They played regularly at Nectar's bar and restaurant in downtown Burlington, and dozens of house-shows in the area during the 80s. During this time, they also made a connection with a Burlington luthier (a craftsman who repairs instruments) named Paul Languedoc who designed customs instruments for members of the band and eventually worked as their sound engineer. After selling out the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, the band knew they were onto something big. They signed to Elektra Records in the 90s and stayed with the label until 2005. After that, they formed their own independent label, JEMP Records, to release archival CD and DVD sets. Their music is classified as many genres including funk, psychedelic rock, bluegrass, and the blues.
Virginia – Missy Elliot
Missy Elliot comes from Portsmouth, Virginia. She was born at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and grew up in an active church choir family. She knew she wanted to be a performer when she was only 4. Her father was abusive and when Elliot was 14, she and her mother fled her father and started over together in Hodges Ferry neighborhood of Portsmouth. She began her musical career as a member of the R&B girl group Sista during the 1990s. She received her own mainstream success with her debut album Supa Dupa Fly in 1997. Her career has had many hits including, “Work It” and “Get Your Freak On.” She has four Grammy Awards, has sold 40 million records worldwide, is the best-selling female rapper in Nielsen Music history, and she’s the first woman rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Washington – Nirvana or Pearl Jam
The figurehead of Generation X, the band responsible for popularizing alternative rock, came from Washington. Nirvana formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987 years after singer Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic met while attending Aberdeen High School in Washington. It took Novoselic some convincing before he had interest in starting a band. They were a big part of the Seattle grunge scene. With a mix of quiet verses and loud, heavy choruses, they built up a following for their unique sound. They signed to the major label DGC Records in 1991, and their first album on the label saw mainstream success with their single "Smells Like Teen Spirit.” off their album Nevermind which was certified Diamond by the RIAA. Despite only being a mainstream act for 3 years, Nirvana is one of the best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
West Virginia – Brad Paisley
Country singer, songwriter, and guitarist Brad Paisley was born and raised in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He performed in public for the first time in third grade at his church where they were so impressed by his singing, he never had to look far for another local gig. He wrote his first song at 13 and was invited to perform it at the town’s local Rotary Club meeting where Tom Miller, the program director of a radio station in Wheeling, West Virginia asked him to be a guest on Jamboree USA. He opened for country artists like The Judds, Ricky Skaggs and George Jones. Paisley attended two years at West Liberty State College before transferring to Belmont University in Nashville. Within a week after graduating from Belmont, Paisley signed a songwriting contract with EMI Music Publishing. The rest is history. He has sold over 11 million albums, has won three Grammy Awards, and each of his albums are certified Gold or higher by the RIAA.
Wisconsin – Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes, a folk punk band, got their start in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To get their sound out there, the band would frequently play coffee houses and street corners. While busking on a a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre where the Pretenders were playing that night at the venue, James Honeyman-Scott and Chrissie Hynde (of the Pretenders) invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act. This sparked their break into the scene. Violent Femmes were influential to many music scenes including the then-underground folk punk and alternative rock scenes of the 1980s. They are still used as inspiration in the folk rock, indie rock, grunge, pop punk, emo scenes of the 1990s and today.
Wyoming – Teenage Bottlerocket
Formed in Laramie, Wyoming in 2000, the punk rock band Teenage Bottlerocket was formed by twin brothers Ray and Brandon Carlisle. The band members wrote and recorded their first full-length LP Another Way on the label One Legged Pup. The band continued to play and promote numerous local shows, even landing some opening spots in Laramie with All and The Ataris. As they played more, they built up their following, expanding further beyond Wyoming, even landing a spot on the Vans Warped Tour in 2005. With their influences being artists like The Ramones, The Lillingtons, and Green Day, it’s no surprise their music procured nicknames such as "Ramones-core", "Weasel-core" and "leather jacket punk." Punknews described the group as "the best punk band from the Cowboy State since The Lillingtons," (Source).
Now that you’ve driven through every state and listened to an artist from each one, what’s your state’s designated artist? Who would you select to represent your home state?
I hope you learned something new about these artists or found some new ones to check out. As summer winds down and fall is on the horizon, the time to drive with the windows down is getting shorter. Which of these artists is going on your playlist to close out summer? Let us know all that and more in the comments! Thanks for reading :)
Written by Kristen Petronio
Cover image: Creator: Donaldson Collection | Credit: Getty Images
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