Many famous musicians are from Pennsylvania – GO PA! From rockers to rappers, composers to country singers, Pennsylvania gives places like Seattle and SoCal a run for their money. Some of these are rather obvious, while other will make you say “They’re from PA?”

The Dorsey Brothers

Kings of the big band era of the early 20th century, brothers Jimmy Dorsey (1904) and Tommy Dorsey (1905) were some of the first jazz musicians ever broadcast. The Dorsey boys were born in Shenandoah, PA – also the home of Mrs. T’s Pierogies.

Henry Mancini / Perry Como

Henry Mancini was born Enrico Nicola Mancini in 1924 and was raised in West Aliquippa near Pittsburgh. As a composer of such works as the Pink Panther theme he has won 4 Acadamy Awards, a Golden Globe, 20 Grammys and the Grammy Lifetime Achievment Award. Perry Como was born in Canonsburg as Pierino Como in 1912. He has won 5 Emmys, a Peabody, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bobby Vinton / Jim Croce

Like Perry Como, Bobby Vinton (1935) was born in Canonsburg, PA as Stanley Robert Vinton. Vinton learned to play nearly every type of instrument at Duquesne University and even has a theater in Branson, MO named after him. Jim Croce was born in South Philadelphia in 1943 and grew up in Upper Darby. His songs have reached #1 on the Billboard charts. Croce was killed in a plane crash in 1973.

Chubby Checker / Frankie Avalon

Let’s do the twist! Chubby Checker (1941) was born Ernest Evans and raised in South Philadelphia. Francis Avallone, aka Frankie Avalon (1941) was born in Philadelphia. A musician and actor, Avalon was a teen idol in the 1960’s. He’s so cool that even System of a Down mentions him in the lyrics for their song Old School Hollywood.

Todd Rundgren / Daryl Hall

Musical virtuoso Todd Rundgren was born in Philadelphia in 1948 and like many other famous people – grew up in Upper Darby. He is such a rock star that he raised Steven Tyler’s daughter Liv as his own. Daryl Hall (1946) was born Daryl Hohl in Pottstown, PA (not Yuengling’s Pottsville). He is the vocal half of Hall & Oates, went to Temple University, and has been inducted to the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

Cinderella

The multi-platinum glam-rock band Cinderella was founded in 1982 by Tom Keifer. Keifer was born Carl Thomas Keifer in 1961 in Springfield, right next to Upper Darby in Philadelphia. Cinderella got their start with interest from Gene Simmons of KISS and Jon Bon Jovi, who is from right across the river in New Jersey.

Poison

80’s mega band Poison was founded in Mechanicsburg in 1983 by a bunch of PA boys. Bret Michaels (Bret Sychak, 1963) was born in Butler – Rikki Rockett (Richard Ream, 1961) and Bobby Dall (Robert Kuykendall, 1963) were both born in Mechanicsburg. Poison has sold over 45 million records worldwide.

Joan Jett / Trent Reznor

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joan Jett (Joan Larkin, 1958) was born in Wynnewood, PA – which is in the Philadelphia  area near Upper Darby (what a surprise). She is known as the Queen of Rock and Roll and the Godmother of Punk. Trent Reznor was born in 1965 as Michael Trent Reznor in Newcastle, PA. He is best known for his band Nine Inch Nails. He has won both Grammy and Acadamy awards.

DJ Jazzy Jeff / DJ AM

DJ Jazzy Jeff (1965) was born Jeffrey Allen Townes in Philadelphia. He is known for his work with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince for which they have won Grammys. DJ AM (1973) was also born in Philadelphia as Adam Michael Goldstein. Famous as a DJ, a member of the band Crazy Town, his cameo in Iron Man 2, and collaboration with Blink-182’s Travis Barker.

Kevin Eubanks / Chris Kirkpatrick

Leader of Jay Leno’s band for 15 years, Kevin Eubanks was born in Philadelphia in 1957. Eubanks has appeared on dozens of albums and many TV shows. Chris Kirkpatrick (1971) was born in Clarion, PA and is a founding member of the terrible boy band N’SYNC. He was also the voice of Chip Skylark on the show Fairly Oddparents.

Fuel

Multi-platinum rock band Fuel confuses the heck out of me. All of the founding members are from Tennessee, but CHOSE to move to Harrisburg in 1994 to start their music career (who does that?) Their plan worked, because it was in PA that they decided on the name Fuel and got signed by Sony records thanks to radio exposure and an active bar scene.

Live

Another multi-platinum PA band, LIVE and all of its members are from York, PA. LIVE was founded in 1984 by Ed Kowalczyk (1971), Chad Taylor (1970), Patrick Dahlheimer (1971), and Chad Gracey (1971). Kowalczyk had a cameo on Fight Club with Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.

CKY / Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes

West Chester band CKY was founded in 1998 by Deron Miller, Chad Ginsburg, and Jesse Margera (all from the Chester area). CKY has toured worldwide and enjoys success due in part to the fame of Bam Margera. Remember TLC from the 90’s? Lisa Lopes was the ‘L’ part. She was born in Philadelphia in 1971.

Eve / Christina Aguilera

Grammy award winning hip-hop/rapper Eve (1978) was born Eve Jihan Jeffers in Philadelphia. Eve has appeared in movies with Vin Diesel and Ice Cube and became a co-host on The Talk. Christina Aguilera (1980) started off on the Mickey Mouse Club and eventually sold over 50 million records worldwide. She grew up in Rochester, just outside of Pittsburgh.

Ween

WEEN was formed in 1984 in New Hope, PA – a town north of Philadelphia and dangerously close to New Jersey. Founding members Gene Ween (Aaron Freeman, 1970) and Dean Ween (Michael Melchiondo, 1970) have been friends since junior high. Ween has produced nine studio albums and has a cult following.

Pink / Taylor Swift

Hello ladies. Grammy winning Pink was born Alecia Beth Moore in Doylestown, PA in 1979. She has sold over 40 million albums and 50 million singles worldwide. Sorry country fans, Taylor Swift isn’t from the South. She was born in Reading, PA in 1989. In fact, T-Swift and I went to high school less than an hour apart. Unlike me, however, she is worth nearly $300 million.

Breaking Benjamin

Breaking Benjamin was formed in Wilkes-Barre in 1999 by Benjamin Burnley and Jeremy Hummel. I got to hang out with Jeremy at a golf tournament back in the day, he is awesome. Ben must not be quite as awesome, because he is the only consistent member of the band. Breaking Benjamin has three platinum albums and many multi-platinum singles.

Ray Luzier / Halestorm

Ray Luzier (1970) was born in Pittsburgh and was the drummer for both David Lee Roth and Steel Panther. So when KoRn (I am a huge fan of 90’s KoRn) needed a new drummer, they hired Luzier in 2009 and he has been with KoRn ever since. Born Elizabeth Mae Hale in Red Lion (just south of York), Lzzy Hale founded Grammy-winning band Halestorm with her brother in 1997.

Meek Mill / Mac Miller

PA does rappers too! Meek Mill was born Robert Rihmeek Williams in South Philadelphia in 1987. He has 3 studio albums and is famous for fighting with other rappers. Malcolm McCormick, aka Mac Miller (1992) is a rapper born in Pittsburgh. He has 4 studio albums and is famous for getting sued for sampling other artists without permission.

Will Smith / Lil Dicky

Will Smith is no stranger to PA lists. Starting as The Fresh Prince out of West Philadelphia in 1985 and later as himself, Smith has sold like a zillion records and won Grammys and stuff. One of PA’s newest artists, Lil Dicky (1988) was born David Andrew Burd in North Philadelphia. Lil Dicky has worked with Fetty Wap, Rich Homie Quan, Snoop Dogg and Chris Brown so far in his career.