List of musicians from Mississippi

This is a list of musical groups as well as musicians from the U.S. state of Mississippi.

Musical groups or organizations

Musicians

A–C

  • John Luther Adams (born 1953) – composer of music inspired by nature (Meridian)
  • Afroman (born 1974) – comedy rapper (Hattiesburg)
  • Tommy Aldridge (born 1950) – drummer for Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake (Pearl)
  • Mose Allison (1927–2016) – jazz musician (Tallahatchie County)
  • Charlie Allen (1908–1972) – (Jackson)
  • Robert Anderson (1919–1995) – gospel singer-composer and pianist (Anguilla)
  • Steve Azar (born 1964) – country singer (Greenville)
  • Milton Babbitt (1916–2011) – composer, electronic music pioneer (Jackson)
  • Glen Ballard (born 1953) – songwriter and record producer (Natchez)
  • David Banner (born 1973) – rapper and producer (Brookhaven)
  • Matt Barlow (born 1970) – lead singer of the metal band Iced Earth (Biloxi)
  • Prentiss Barnes (1925–2006) – rhythm and blues singer (Magnolia)
  • Lance Bass (born 1979) – member of pop group 'N Sync (Laurel)
  • Jeff Bates (born 1963) – country music singer-songwriter (Bunker Hill)
  • Robert Belfour (1940–2015) – blues musician (Holly Springs)
  • Carey Bell (1936–2007) – Chicago blues harmonica player (Macon)
  • Big Time Sarah (1953-2015) – blues singer (Coldwater)
  • James Blackwood (1919–2002) – one of The Blackwood Brothers (Choctaw County)
  • Blind Mississippi Morris (born 1955) – blues artist (Clarksdale)
  • Lucille Bogan (1897–1948) – blues singer (Amory)
  • Charley Booker (1925–1989) – blues singer and guitarist (Moorhead)
  • Eddie Boyd (1914–1994) – blues musician (Clarksdale)
  • Bobby Bradford (born 1934) – jazz musician and composer (Cleveland)
  • Jan Bradley (born 1943) – soul singer (Byhalia)
  • Delaney Bramlett (1939–2008) – singer-songwriter (Pontotoc)
  • Cory Branan (born 1975) – singer-songwriter (Southaven)
  • Jackie Brenston (1930–1979) – American R&B singer and saxophonist (Clarksdale)
  • Big Bill Broonzy (1898–1958) – blues singer-songwriter and guitarist (Scott)
  • Eddie "Bongo" Brown (1932–1984) – percussionist (Clarksdale)
  • Willie Brown (1900–1952) – delta blues guitarist and singer (Clarksdale)
  • Jimmy Buffett (born 1946) – multi-genre singer-songwriter (Pascagoula)
  • R. L. Burnside (1926–2005) – blues singer-songwriter (Harmontown)
  • Jerry Butler (born 1939) – soul singer-songwriter (Sunflower)
  • G. C. Cameron (born 1945) – soul and R&B singer (Jackson)
  • Ace Cannon (1934–2018) – tenor and alto saxophonist (Grenada)
  • Gus Cannon (1883–1979) – jug band musician (Red Banks)
  • James Carr (1942–2001) - soul singer (Coahoma)
  • Bo Carter (1893–1964) – blues singer (Bolton)
  • Johnny Carver (born 1940) – country singer (Jackson)
  • Sam Chatmon (1897–1983) – blues singer; brother of Bo Carter (Bolton)
  • Otis Clay (1942–2016) – R&B and soul musician (Waxhaw)
  • Chalmers Clifton (1889–1966) – conductor and composer (Jackson)
  • Odia Coates (1942–1991) – singer (Vicksburg)
  • Hank Cochran (1935–2010) – country music singer-songwriter (Isola)
  • Bill Coday (1942–2008) – singer (Coldwater)
  • Phil Cohran (1927–2017) – jazz musician (Oxford)
  • Mike Compton (born 1956) – bluegrass mandolin player (Meridian)
  • David L. Cook (born 1968) – multi-genre singer-songwriter-comedian (Pascagoula)
  • Sam Cooke (1931–1964) – gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer (Clarksdale)
  • James Cotton (1935–2017) – blues harmonica player and singer-songwriter (Tunica)
  • Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (1905–1974) – Delta blues singer and guitarist (Forest)
  • George Cummings (born 1938) – guitarist and songwriter (Meridian)

D–G

  • Olu Dara (born 1941) – jazz musician (Natchez)
  • Lester Davenport (1932–2009) – American blues harmonica player and singer (Tchula)
  • Paul Davis (1948–2008) – singer-songwriter (Meridian)
  • Jimmy Dawkins (1936–2013) – blues guitarist and singer (Tchula)
  • Al Denson (born 1960) – contemporary Christian artist (Starkville)
  • Bo Diddley (1928–2008) – rock & roll/R&B singer-songwriter (McComb)
  • Diplo (born 1978) – electronic dance music DJ and producer (Tupelo)
  • Willie Dixon (1915–1992) – blues bassist, singer-songwriter record producer (Vicksburg)
  • Nate Dogg (1969–2011) – West Coast hip hop and R&B artist (Clarksdale)
  • Marshall Drew (born 1984) – folk rock singer-songwriter (Clarksdale)
  • Kevin Dukes (born 1956) – guitarist (Brookhaven)
  • Judy Dunaway (born 1964) – avant-garde composer, free improvisor, conceptual sound artist
  • Omar Kent Dykes (born 1950) – blues guitarist and singer (McComb)
  • Meredith Edwards (born 1984) – country singer (Clinton)
  • Ruby Elzy (1908–1943) – opera singer (Pontotoc)
  • Bobby T. Enlow (1936-2019) - guitarist singer songwriter (Foxworth, Mississippi)
  • Lehman Engel (1910–1982) – composer and conductor (Jackson)
  • Chris Ethridge (1947–2012) – country rock musician, songwriter (Meridian)
  • Shelly Fairchild (born 1977) – country music artist (Clinton)
  • Nancy Plummer Faxon (1914-2005) – organist and composer (Jackson)
  • Charlie Feathers (1932–1998) – (Holly Springs)
  • Steve Forbert (born 1954) – pop music singer-songwriter (Meridian)
  • Barbara Siggers Franklin (1917–1952) – gospel singer; mother of Aretha Franklin (Shelby)
  • Lee Garrett – R&B singer-songwriter
  • Eric "Red Mouth" Gebhardt – multi-genre singer-songwriter (Biloxi)
  • Bobbie Gentry (born 1944) – singer-songwriter (Greenwood)
  • Mickey Gilley (born 1936) – country singer and musician (Natchez)
  • Mark Gray (1952–2016) – country music singer and keyboardist (Vicksburg)
  • Garland Green (born 1942) – soul singer and pianist (Dunleith)
  • Lloyd Green (born 1937) – country music steel guitarist (Leaf)
  • Elizabeth Greenfield (c. 1820–1876) – concert singer; known as "The Black Swan"; born in slavery in Natchez
  • Al Goodman (1943–2010) – R&B/soul singer (Jackson)

H–K

  • Owen Hale (born 1948) - drummer (Hattiesburg)
  • Ted Hawkins 1936–1995) – singer-songwriter (Biloxi)
  • Jessie Mae Hemphill (1923–2006) – blues musician (Como)
  • Michael Henderson (born 1951) – bass guitarist, R&B singer (Yazoo City)
  • Caroline Herring – bluegrass musician (Canton)
  • Faith Hill (born 1967) – country/pop singer (Star)
  • Kim Hill (born 1963) – Christian singer-songwriter (Starkville)
  • King Solomon Hill (1897-1949) – blues musician (McComb)
  • Ernie Hines (born 1938) – soul musician
  • Milt Hinton (1910–2000) – jazz double bassist (Vicksburg)
  • Eddie Hodges (born 1947) – actor, singer, producer (Hattiesburg)
  • John Lee Hooker (1917–2001) – singer-songwriter and blues guitarist (Clarksdale)
  • Big Walter Horton (1917–1981) – blues harmonica player (Horn Lake)
  • Son House (1902–1988) – blues singer and guitarist (Riverton)
  • Randy Houser (born 1975) – country music artist (Lake)
  • Thelma Houston (born 1943) – R&B singer-songwriter (Leland)
  • Guy Hovis (born 1941) – big band singer (Tupelo)
  • Howlin' Wolf (1910–1976) – blues singer, guitarist, harmonica player (West Point)
  • Cary Hudson – lead singer and guitarist for alternative country band Blue Mountain (Sumrall)
  • Mississippi John Hurt (c. 1893–1966) – country blues singer and guitarist (Teoc)
  • Clifton Hyde (born 1976) – multi-instrumentalist and producer (Hattiesburg)
  • Carl Jackson (born 1953) – country and bluegrass musician (Louisville)
  • Cordell Jackson (1923–2004) – rockabilly guitarist, producer (Pontotoc)
  • George Jackson (1945–2013) – blues and soul singer (Indianola)
  • Elmore James (1918–1963) – blues guitarist and singer-songwriter (Richland)
  • Skip James (1902–1969) – Delta blues guitarist, pianist, singer-songwriter (Bentonia)
  • Jimi Jamison (1951–2014) – singer-songwriter (Durant, Mississippi)
  • Roosevelt Jamison (1936–2013) – songwriter, publicist (Olive Branch)
  • Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson (born 1944) – drummer in The Allman Brothers Band (Ocean Springs)
  • Big Jack Johnson (1940–2011) – blues musician (Clarksdale)
  • Jimmy Johnson (born 1928) – blues guitarist and singer (Holly Springs)
  • Robert Johnson (1911–1938) – blues and Delta blues musician (Hazlehurst)
  • Syl Johnson (1936–2022) – blues and soul singer (Holly Springs)
  • Margie Joseph (born 1950) – R&B and soul singer (Pascagoula)
  • Junior Kimbrough (1930–1998) – blues musician (Hudsonville)
  • Albert King (1923–1992) – blues guitarist and singer (Indianola)
  • B. B. King (1925–2015) – blues guitarist and singer-songwriter (Indianola)
  • Little Freddie King (born 1940, aka Fread Eugene Martin) – Delta blues guitarist (McComb)
  • Fern Kinney – rhythm & blues/disco music entertainer (Jackson)
  • J. Fred Knobloch (born 1953, aka Fred Knoblock) – country singer-songwriter (Jackson)
  • Big K.R.I.T. (born 1986) – hip-hop musician (Meridian)

L–M

  • Skylar Laine (born 1994) – country music singer; finalist American Idol (Brandon)
  • Sonny Landreth (born 1951) – blues musician and slide guitar player (Canton)
  • Denise LaSalle (1934–2018) – blues and contemporary R&B singer-songwriter, record producer (Belzoni)
  • Rick Lawson (born 1973) – soul and R&B singer (Raymond)
  • Chris LeDoux (1948–2005) – country music singer-songwriter (Biloxi)
  • Floyd Lee (1933–2020) – blues musician and founding member of Music Under New York (Lamar)[4]
  • Swae Lee (born 1993) – hip hop singer and rapper
  • Mylon LeFevre (born 1944) – gospel and Christian rock singer (Gulfport)
  • J. B. Lenoir (1929–1967) – guitarist and singer-songwriter (Monticello)
  • Robert "Squirrel" Lester (1942–2010) – second tenor of The Chi-Lites (McComb)
  • Bobby Lounge (born 1950) – singer-songwriter (McComb)
  • Dent May – musician (Jackson)
  • La'Porsha Renae Mays – musician (McComb)
  • Tommy McClennan (1908–c. 1962) – Delta blues singer and guitarist (Yazoo City)
  • George McConnell – guitarist (Vicksburg)
  • Kansas Joe McCoy (1905–1950) – blues musician and songwriter (Raymond)
  • Papa Charlie McCoy (1909–1950) – Delta blues musician and songwriter (Jackson)
  • Mississippi Fred McDowell (1904–1972) – Delta blues musician and songwriter (Born in Rossville, Tennessee, resided in Como)
  • Scott McQuaig (1959) – country music singer and songwriter (Meridian)
  • Mulgrew Miller (1955–2013) – jazz pianist (Greenwood)
  • Little Milton (1934–2005) – blues and soul vocalist and guitarist (Inverness)
  • Mississippi Slim (1923–1973) – country singer and guitarist (Smithville)
  • Monkey Joe – blues musician (Jackson)
  • Dorothy Moore (born 1947) – pop, R&B, gospel singer (Jackson)
  • Johnny B. Moore (born 1950) – blues singer and guitarist (Clarksdale)
  • Jasmine Murray (born 1992) – singer and beauty pageant titleholder; finalist, 8th season, American Idol (2009) television singing-competition series (Columbus/Starkville)
  • Charlie Musselwhite (born 1944) – blues-harp player and bandleader (Kosciusko)
  • Sam Myers (1936–2006) - blues musician, harmonica player, and songwriter (Laurel)
  • Bill Myrick (1926–2011) – country singer-songwriter, musician, producer, disc jockey (Simpson County)

N–S

  • Brandy Norwood (born 1979) – R&B singer-songwriter/record producer (McComb)
  • Willie Norwood (born 1955) – gospel singer (McComb)
  • Maty Noyes (born 1997) – pop singer (Corinth)
  • Alexander O'Neal (born 1953) – soul singer (Natchez)
  • Paul Overstreet (born 1955) – country music singer-songwriter (Vancleave)
  • Ginny Owens – contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter (Jackson)
  • Junior Parker (1932–1971) – Memphis blues singer and musician (Clarksdale)
  • Michael Passons (born 1965) – founding member of the Christian band Avalon (Yazoo City)
  • Charlie Patton (1891–1934) – Delta-/Country-/Gospel blues musician (Edwards)
  • Dion Payton (1950–2021) – blues guitarist and singer (Greenwood)
  • Robert Powell (born 1932) – composer, organist, choir director (Benoit)
  • Elvis Presley (1935–1977) – multi-genre musician (Tupelo)
  • Leontyne Price (born 1927) – opera singer (Laurel)
  • Charley Pride (1934–2020) – country music singer (Sledge)
  • John Primer (born 1945) – blues singer and guitarist (Camden)
  • Ray J (born 1981) – contemporary R&B singer/record producer (McComb)
  • Jimmy Reed (1925–1976) – blues singer and musician (Dunleith)
  • Del Rendon (1965–2005) – singer/songwriter (Starkville)
  • Mack Rice (1933–2016) – songwriter (Clarksdale)
  • LeAnn Rimes (born 1982) – country and pop singer (Pearl)
  • Fenton Robinson (1935–1997) – blues musician (Greenwood)
  • Jimmie Rodgers (1897–1933) – country singer (Meridian)
  • Jimmy Rogers (1924–1997) – blues singer and guitarist (Ruleville)
  • David Ruffin (1941–1991) – former lead singer of The Temptations (Whynot)
  • Jimmy Ruffin (1939–2014) – soul and R&B singer (Collinsville)
  • Bobby Rush (born 1940) – blues and R&B musician, composer, singer,(Jackson)
  • Otis Rush (1935–2018) – blues musician (Philadelphia)
  • Oliver Sain (1932–2003) – saxophonist, drummer, songwriter, record producer (Dundee)
  • Magic Sam (1937–1969) – Chicago blues and soul blues musician (Grenada)
  • Johnny Sea (1940–2016) – country singer (Gulfport)
  • Toni Seawright (born 1964) – singer-songwriter (Pascagoula)
  • Jumpin' Gene Simmons (1933–2006) – rockabilly singer (Tupelo)
  • Byther Smith (born 1933) – blues musician (Monticello)
  • Garren Isaac Smith (born 1977) - singer, songwriter, actor, music publisher (Bassfield)
  • Soulja Boy (born 1990) – rapper, record producer (Batesville)
  • Otis Spann (1930–1970) – blues musician (Jackson)
  • Britney Spears (born 1981) – pop singer (McComb)
  • Judson Spence (born 1965) – songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (Pascagoula)
  • Roebuck "Pop" Staples (1914–2000) – founder of The Staple Singers (Winona)
  • Rogers Stevens (born 1970) – guitarist for the band Blind Melon (West Point)
  • Lisa Stewart (born 1968) – country musician (Louisville)
  • William Grant Still (1895–1978) – classical composer (Woodville)
  • Barrett Strong (born 1941) – singer-songwriter (West Point)
  • Marty Stuart (born 1958) – country music singer (Philadelphia)
  • Hubert Sumlin (1931–2011) – blues musician (Greenwood)
  • Deanna Summers – songwriter

T–Z

  • Ty Tabor (born 1961) – guitarist, singer-songwriter for rock band King's X (Pearl)
  • Eddie Taylor (1923–1985) – blues guitarist and singer (Benoit)
  • Hound Dog Taylor (1915–1975) – blues guitarist and singer (Natchez)
  • Melvin Taylor (born 1959) – blues musician (Jackson)
  • Ernie Terrell (1939–2014) – singer and record producer (Belzoni)
  • Jean Terrell (born 1944) – R&B and jazz singer (Belzoni)
  • James "Son" Thomas (1926–1993) – blues musician (Leland)
  • Rufus Thomas (1917–2001) – R&B, funk, soul singer (Cayce)
  • Lil' Dave Thompson (1969–2010) – blues singer and guitarist (Jackson)
  • Paul Thorn (born 1964) – Southern rock, country, Americana, and blues singer-songwriter (Tupelo)
  • Todd Tilghman (born 1978) gospel singer (Meridian)
  • Ike Turner (1931–2007) – multi-genre musician, record producer (Clarksdale)
  • Monteco (born 1978) R&B Singer
  • Conway Twitty (1933–1993) – country singer-songwriter (Friars Point)
  • L. C. Ulmer (1928-2016) – delta blues (Stringer)
  • Bobby V (born 1980) – singer-songwriter
  • Freddie Waits (1943–1989) – hard bop and post-bop drummer (Jackson)
  • Travis Wammack (born 1944) – rock and roll guitarist (Walnut)
  • Walter Ward (1940–2006) – R&B singer; lead vocalist of The Olympics (Jackson)
  • Muddy Waters (1913–1983) – electric blues and Chicago blues musician (Rolling Fork)
  • Jim Weatherly (1943–2021) – country and pop singer-songwriter (Pontotoc)
  • Carl Weathersby (born 1953) – blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter (Jackson)
  • Boogie Bill Webb (1924–1990) – blues guitarist and singer (Jackson)
  • Bukka White (1909–1977) – Delta blues guitarist and singer (Houston)
  • Carson Whitsett (1945–2007) – keyboardist, arranger, and songwriter (Jackson)
  • Tim Whitsett (born 1943) – band leader, songwriter, producer, publisher (Jackson)
  • Webb Wilder (born 1954) – country/surf music/rock & roll musician (Hattiesburg)
  • Big Joe Williams (1903–1982) – Delta blues musician and songwriter (Crawford)
  • Hayley Williams (born 1988) – pop punk and alternative rock singer-songwriter (Meridian)
  • Sonny Boy Williamson II (1912–1965) – blues harmonica player and singer-songwriter (Glendora)
  • Eddie Willis (1936–2018) – electric guitarist (Grenada)
  • Robert Wilkins (1896-1987) – blues guitarist and vocalist (Hernando)
  • Al Wilson (1939–2008) – singer and drummer (Meridian)
  • Cassandra Wilson (born 1955) – jazz singer-songwriter (Jackson)
  • Mary Wilson (1944–2021) – singer and founding member of The Supremes (Greenville)
  • Elder Roma Wilson (1910–2018) – harmonica player (Blue Springs)[5]
  • Nanette Workman (born 1945) – singer-songwriter, actress and author (Jackson)
  • Charlie Worsham (born 1985) – country singer-songwriter (Grenada)[6]
  • Tammy Wynette (1942–1998) – country music singer-songwriter (Tremont)
  • Lester Young (1909–1959) – jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist (Woodville)
  • Zora Young (born 1948) – blues singer (West Point)

References

  1. "David and the Giants". Christian Music Archive. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  2. "Kudzu Kings Bio". Kudzukings.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  3. "Wavorly's Biography". Last.fm. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  4. "FLOYD LEE 1933 - 2020 - Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  5. [1]. NEA National Heritage Fellows at the Wayback Machine (archived March 30, 2012)
  6. "Charlie Worsham on Mountain Stage". NPR. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2014.