Music of Ohio
Encyclopedia
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland, Ohio. This state is also the home of four major symphony orchestras which are located in Cleveland
, Akron, Cincinnati, and Dayton
as well as a "pops" orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops.
The 19th century composer Daniel Emmett, wrote many of the most popular songs in his era, including some that remain well-known to this day. Popular singers from Ohio include Dean Martin
, Doris Day
, The Isley Brothers
, Marilyn Manson
, and Chrissie Hynde
of The Pretenders
.
was born in Greenfield and lived in Ohio for much of his life, later being incarcerated in the Chillicothe Correctional Institution
. David Allan Coe
was born in Akron, and frequently makes tour stops multiple times a year in Ohio. Roy Rogers
was born in Cincinnati and his family moved and lived in Portsmouth
(Water Street and also rural County residence) and Lucasville
as well. Dwight Yoakam
, although born in Kentucky, grew up in Columbus
. Rascal Flatts
can also claim two members from Columbus. Country-rock band McGuffey Lane
began in Columbus and has been based there since 1972. In Dayton "The Gold River Band" rocked the area with top 40 and country music. Members included Dan & Bev Schultz (vocals), Vic Olekas (guitar), Bill Borton (bass) and Loren Patten (drums).
The Pure Prairie League are from Cincinnati. Singer Craig Fuller and steel guitar player John Call and drummers Tom McGrail and Jim Caughlan are from Waverly and George Powell lives in Mt. Orab. The Goshorn brothers, Larry and Timmy, are from Cincinnati.
The Music Explosion were from Mansfield and singer Jamie Lyons later formed the Capitol City Rockets ("Breakfast In Bed") in Columbus.
in particular, was known for its stable of funk bands, including Bootsy's Rubber Band, The Ohio Players, Lakeside
, Slave
, Heatwave
, Sun
, Dazz Band
, Faze O, and Zapp
featuring Roger Troutman
.
One of the hottest Dayton bands in the early 70's was "The Magnificent 7" Very little has been written about them and they performed for years at the "Diamond Club." Members who made up the band varied from year to year; Phil Mehaffey(organ), Vic Olekas(guitar), Dan Schultz(bass), Vince Disalvo and Ron Pauley(drums), Bill and Ron witherspoon (horns), Marvin Smith (vocals). Cleveland, Ohio
Dazz Band, O'Jays, Rude Boys and Men at Large.
Another popular band from the 70s and 80s was Asphalt Jungle, popular in the Cleveland, Ohio area. They were regulars at the Smiling Dog Saloon and other Cleveland night spots. The band consisted of Benny Curlutu (guitar), Bruce Grant (keyboards and vocals), Bobby Oyler (bass), Paul Bigby (keyboards and vocals), and a rotating cast of horn players and drummers. Bigby cowrote "Funky is the Drummer", recorded by Joe Walsh and Michael Stanley on the Friend and Legends album. Curlutu went on to work with the band Canada, and Grant with southern rock band Jasper Mills from Columbus, Ohio, and later Kevin Ball's Saints and Sinners of Nashville.
The Dazz Band is a former American funk music band that was most popular in the early 1980s. Emerging from Cleveland, Ohio, the group's biggest hit songs include the Grammy Award-winning "Let It Whip" (1982), "Joystick" (1983), and "Let It All Blow" (1984). The name of the band is a portmanteau of the description "danceable jazz".
LeVert is a dance group, formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1984, comprising Sean and Gerald Levert, the sons of O'Jays founder Eddie Levert, as well as Marc Gordon. The Deele is an American 80s R&B band from Cincinnati, Ohio
, originally consisting of Indianapolis native Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds along with Antonio "L.A." Reid, Carlos "Satin" Greene, Darnell "Dee" Bristol, Stanley Burke, and Kevin "Kayo" Roberson. They have currently reunited in an incarnation featuring Bristol, Greene, and Roberson. Burke has also rejoined this lineup.
Originally raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
, The Isley Brothers are an American R&B, soul music and funk group. They have had notably long-running success on the Billboard charts, and are the only act to chart in the Top 40 in six separate decades. In 2006, their most recent release became their ninth album to reach the Top Ten of the Billboard 200. Over the years, the act has performed in a variety of genres, including doo-wop, R&B, rock 'n' roll, soul, funk, disco, urban adult contemporary and hip-hop soul. The group has gone through several lineups, ranging from a quartet to a trio to a sextet; they are currently a duo. the original group consisted of the three elder sons of O'Kelly Isley, Sr. and Sally Bell Isley: O'Kelly Jr., Rudolph and Ronald, who formed in 1954 and recorded with small labels singing doo-wop and rock 'n' roll. After modest success with singles such as Shout, Twist and Shout and the Motown single This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You), and a brief tenure with Jimi Hendrix as a background guitar player, the group settled on a brand of gritty soul and funk defined by the Grammy-winning smash "It's Your Thing" in 1969. Canton, Ohio
.
The O'Jays are a Canton, Ohio based soul and R&B group, originally consisting of Walter Williams (born August 25, 1942), Bill Isles, Bobby Massey, William Powell (January 20, 1942–May 26, 1977) and Eddie Levert (b. June 16, 1942). The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. The O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles and Massey) had their first hit with "Lonely Drifter", in 1963. In spite of the record's success, the group was considering quitting the music business until Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters, took an interest in the group. With Gamble & Huff, the O'Jays emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with "Back Stabbers" (1972), a pop hit, and topped the U.S. singles charts the following year with "Love Train".
were home to a wide variety of garage
bands from the 1960s, including The Myrchents and The Outsiders
. The Choir
later added singer Eric Carmen
and became Raspberries
, pioneers of power pop
in the early 1970s. More recently, the Greater Cincinnati area has produced The Greenhornes
and Plastic Inevitables.
Sanctus Real
, a Christian Rock
band, was formed in Toledo, Ohio
.
Dave Windemuth- Guitar god, came from Louisville, Ohio
Joe Walsh and the James Gang started in Kent OH a suburb between Akron and Cleveland and thus could be claimed by both cities.
Rick Derringer from Fort Recovery, Ohio- when he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America.
Phil Keaggy and the Glass Harp are also from Ohio.
The band Jasper Mills was from Columbus, Ohio. Members were Darryl Smith (vocals), John Boerstler (guitar), Bruce Grant (keyboards and vocals), Chris Bell (keyboards), Bob Kocher (bass and vocals), and Greg Winter (drums). Boerstler and Smith have recorded with Artimus Pyle of Lynyrd Skynyrd and his Artimus Pyle Band. Grant has recorded with Tommy Spurlock and Byron House, and worked with the band Saints and Sinners.
The band Inhale Exhale
is from Cleveland, Ohio.
Members of the 80's rock band Warrant
, Jani Lane (Kent/Brimfield) and Steven Sweet (Wadsworth) are from the Akron area.
The band Material Rejection hailed from the Akron, Ohio area, and were known for their one-hit "Our Way Out".
Tom Scholz of the rock band Boston, was born in Toledo, Ohio and raised in the suburb of Ottawa Hills.
David Grohl of the Foo fighters, Nirvana, and Them crooked vultures is from Warren, Ohio.
Glen Buxton the guitarist for the original Alice Cooper band was born in Akron, Ohio.
Gilby Clarke of Guns N' Roses was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Maynard James Keenan (musician, lead singer for Tool (band), A Perfect Circle, etc.) (Ravenna, OH)
Marilyn Manson (musician) (Canton, OH)
Red Wanting Blue (rock band - Columbus, OH)
Boz Scaggs (singer, songwriter) (Canton)
Scott Shriner of Weezer (musician) (Toledo)
Michael Stanley (musician) (Cleveland)
The Gun Show (Band) (Mansfield) is a hardcore band that is vividly touring the United States.
The industrial metal band Mushroomhead hails from Cleveland.
"THEM" original name "The Torquays" and then "The Original Torquays" (Cincinnati)
Coffinberry- Rocknroll band from Cleveland.
Skeletonwitch of Athens, Ohio.
DISMEMBERMENT of Laurelville, Ohio
Tim "Ripper" Owens- Judas Priest hails from Akron
Devo was formed at Kent State University
The Forgotten Souls of Antiquity were formed in Cleveland
Motel Beds from Dayton
), releasing Theatre of The Vampires (1990), Grave Desires (1991) and Vision of Sorrows (1994). Lestat has also been featured on many compilations such as Jevan Records "One", and Cleopatra's "Goth Box", a 4 CD compilation.
Other signed Jevan artists included Fragment, who helped pioneer and lead the Industrial movement in Cleveland with their release of SURA in 1995, experimental electro act Bath, who released Fools (1996) and N-Graver (1998), and electro industrial band Graven Image and their release, Black Lung Cathedral (1998).
originate in Akron
. Karen O and Brian Chase of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
met at Oberlin College
. Bitch Magnet
formed while attending Oberlin College. Mark Eitzel
of American Music Club
fame founded his first bands, most prominently The Naked Skinnies
while living in Columbus, Ohio. Many critically acclaimed bands were stalwarts of the 80s/90s indie punk scene in Columbus, Ohio: Great Plains
, RC Mob, Scrawl
, New Bomb Turks
, and Gaunt
, to name a few. At the moment Columbus is seeing a renaissance in DIY/lo-fi bands, such as Times New Viking
. There was also an indie rock movement in Dayton in the early 90's with bands such as Guided by Voices
, The Breeders
, and Brainiac. Cincinnati's indie rock scene produced much-admired groups, such as the Ass Ponys
, Quiet Tree, Wolverton Brothers, and the Afghan Whigs, all active in the 80s/90s as well as current indie rock bands Heartless Bastards
and The National
. Why? was formed in Cincinnati by the Wolf brothers Jonathan 'Yoni' and Josiah Wolf along with Doug McDiarmid.The indie rock scene also produced Come Here Watson and the Bad Veins
of Cincinnati who are currently active in the area. New on the scene is The Ridges
from Athens, Ohio.
icons from Akron
, Cleveland
and Cincinnati, primarily; these include The Dead Boys
, Chrissie Hynde
of The Pretenders
, The Cramps
, Rocket From The Tombs
, Pere Ubu, Robert Quine
, Rachel Sweet
, Pagans, Devo
and the Rubber City Rebels
. Hardcore punk
had considerable beginnings in Ohio, most notably with Maumee
's Necros
and Dayton
's Toxic Reasons
. However, despite being an Ohio band, Necros
played the majority of their shows in Detroit
. New Bomb Turks
and Gaunt
hail from Columbus, Ohio
comes from Canton, Ohio
Hawthorne Heights
is from Dayton
, Ohio
Rad Company is a pop punk band from Dayton
, Ohio
.
As Day Ends is from Cincinnati, Ohio
.
Hit The Lights is a pop punk band hailing from Lima, Ohio.
Into The Crowd is a pop punk band from Cleveland, Ohio
Dead Poetic is from New Lebanon, Ohio
.
Life After Liftoff is a pop punk band from Dayton, Ohio
.
Dear Christie is a pop punk band from Westerville, Ohio
Wolves At The Gate - Cedarville, OH
My Ticket Home - Columbus, OH
Destructive Heart Records - Columbus, OH
Corpus Christi - Cincinnati, OH
Miss May I
- Troy, Ohio
The Devil Wears Prada
- Dayton, Ohio
Attack Attack!
- Columbus, Ohio
The Crimson Armada- Columbus, Ohio
Mushroomhead - Cleveland, Ohio (melodic/industrial metal)
Chimaira - Cleveland, Ohio
Salt the Wound - Cleveland, Ohio (deathcore)
Rose Funeral - Cincinnati, Ohio (death metal)
From A Second Story Window - OH/PA
The Plot In You - Findlay, OH
bands. Raspberries
("Go All the Way") from Cleveland and Youngstown
's Blue Ash
("Abracadabra Have You Seen Her?") are considered seminal artists in this genre. Color Me Gone of Akron
and Circus
from Cleveland were also major exporters of the classic Ohio power pop sound. The Bears (band)
aka Psychodots aka The Raisins are also considered a successful Cincinnati band.
are both from the Columbus
area. Columbus is also a prime location for underground hip hop artists, such as rappers Illogic
, Blueprint
, and producer RJD2
. The latter two formed the hip hop group Soul Position
under Rhymesayers Entertainment
.
Bone Thugs n Harmony, a popular midwest hip hop
act, hails from Cleveland.
Hip-hop trio MOOD hails from Cincinnati
, a label based out of Cincinnati that specialized in "Hillbilly Records" and "Race Records". Also prominent from Cincinnati were Jewel Records and Fraternity Records
. Quality classical music is amply served by Telarc Records of Cleveland. Free Age Music, llc of Columbus, Ohio. Tolmie Terrapin Press, an all cassette tape label is based in Cleveland.
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, Akron, Cincinnati, and Dayton
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra is a fully professional musical group in Dayton, Ohio, formed in 1933. It is a member of the League of American Orchestras and the Regional Orchestra Players' Association , and presents programs mainly of classical music, but also occasionally performs world...
as well as a "pops" orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops.
The 19th century composer Daniel Emmett, wrote many of the most popular songs in his era, including some that remain well-known to this day. Popular singers from Ohio include Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
, Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
, The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
, and Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
of The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
.
Country
Ohio can claim a number of country musicians as part of the state's legacy. Johnny PaycheckJohnny Paycheck
Johnny Paycheck was the legal name of Donald Eugene Lytle , a country music singer and Grand Ole Opry member most famous for recording the David Allan Coe song "Take This Job and Shove It"...
was born in Greenfield and lived in Ohio for much of his life, later being incarcerated in the Chillicothe Correctional Institution
Chillicothe Correctional Institution
Chillicothe Correction Institution, or CCI, is a state run medium security prison on the west bank of the Scioto River in Chillicothe, Ohio. It is located adjacent to Ross Correctional Institution and Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. The prison is a former military camp, named for Civil...
. David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
was born in Akron, and frequently makes tour stops multiple times a year in Ohio. Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
was born in Cincinnati and his family moved and lived in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
(Water Street and also rural County residence) and Lucasville
Lucasville, Ohio
Lucasville is a census-designated place in Scioto County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,588 at the 2000 census. The village of Lucasville was laid out by Captain John Lucas in June 1819 and recorded August 7, 1819. Captain Lucas built the first tavern in the village and kept it until...
as well. Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
, although born in Kentucky, grew up in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
can also claim two members from Columbus. Country-rock band McGuffey Lane
McGuffey Lane
McGuffey Lane is an American country rock band from Columbus, Ohio. McGuffey Lane was formed in 1972 by Terry Efaw and Steve Reis, who played together under the name Scotch & Soda...
began in Columbus and has been based there since 1972. In Dayton "The Gold River Band" rocked the area with top 40 and country music. Members included Dan & Bev Schultz (vocals), Vic Olekas (guitar), Bill Borton (bass) and Loren Patten (drums).
The Pure Prairie League are from Cincinnati. Singer Craig Fuller and steel guitar player John Call and drummers Tom McGrail and Jim Caughlan are from Waverly and George Powell lives in Mt. Orab. The Goshorn brothers, Larry and Timmy, are from Cincinnati.
The Music Explosion were from Mansfield and singer Jamie Lyons later formed the Capitol City Rockets ("Breakfast In Bed") in Columbus.
Funk
During the 70's, southwest Ohio, and DaytonDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
in particular, was known for its stable of funk bands, including Bootsy's Rubber Band, The Ohio Players, Lakeside
Lakeside (band)
Lakeside is a funk band, best known for their 1980 number one R&B hit, "Fantastic Voyage."-Formation and early years:In early 1969, The Nomads, a singing quartet consisting of lead singer Mark Wood; Tiemeyer McCain; Tony White; and Brian Marbury, met the Montereys, a band that featured Stephen...
, Slave
Slave (band)
Slave was an Ohio funk band popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Trumpeter Steve Washington and Mark Hicks formed the group in Dayton, Ohio in 1975.-Career:Trombonist Floyd Miller teamed with Tom Lockett Jr...
, Heatwave
Heatwave (band)
Heatwave was an international funk/disco musical band featuring Americans Johnnie Wilder, Jr. and Keith Wilder of Dayton, Ohio, Englishman Rod Temperton , Swiss Mario Mantese , Czechoslovak Ernest "Bilbo" Berger , Jamaican Eric Johns and Briton Roy Carter .They were known for their successful...
, Sun
Sun (R&B band)
Sun is an R&B, disco, and funk band that was active mainly during the late 1970s and the early 1980s. Originating from Dayton, Ohio, Sun recorded prolifically for Capitol Records from 1976 to 1984. Sun was a brainstorm of Byron Byrd, a young Ohioan given to stargazing and eventual pursuits of...
, Dazz Band
Dazz Band
The Dazz Band is an American funk music band that was most popular in the early 1980s. Emerging from Cleveland, Ohio, the group's biggest hit songs include the Grammy Award-winning "Let It Whip" , "Joystick" , and "Let It All Blow"...
, Faze O, and Zapp
Zapp (band)
Zapp is a soul and funk band formed in 1978 by brothers Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, Terry Troutman, Bobby Glover and Gregory Jackson [Cincinnati Ohio Funk Keyboardist]...
featuring Roger Troutman
Roger Troutman
Roger Troutman was the lead singer of the band Zapp who helped spearhead the Funk movement and heavily influenced West Coast hip hop due to the scene's heavy sampling of his music over the years...
.
One of the hottest Dayton bands in the early 70's was "The Magnificent 7" Very little has been written about them and they performed for years at the "Diamond Club." Members who made up the band varied from year to year; Phil Mehaffey(organ), Vic Olekas(guitar), Dan Schultz(bass), Vince Disalvo and Ron Pauley(drums), Bill and Ron witherspoon (horns), Marvin Smith (vocals). Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
Dazz Band, O'Jays, Rude Boys and Men at Large.
Another popular band from the 70s and 80s was Asphalt Jungle, popular in the Cleveland, Ohio area. They were regulars at the Smiling Dog Saloon and other Cleveland night spots. The band consisted of Benny Curlutu (guitar), Bruce Grant (keyboards and vocals), Bobby Oyler (bass), Paul Bigby (keyboards and vocals), and a rotating cast of horn players and drummers. Bigby cowrote "Funky is the Drummer", recorded by Joe Walsh and Michael Stanley on the Friend and Legends album. Curlutu went on to work with the band Canada, and Grant with southern rock band Jasper Mills from Columbus, Ohio, and later Kevin Ball's Saints and Sinners of Nashville.
The Dazz Band is a former American funk music band that was most popular in the early 1980s. Emerging from Cleveland, Ohio, the group's biggest hit songs include the Grammy Award-winning "Let It Whip" (1982), "Joystick" (1983), and "Let It All Blow" (1984). The name of the band is a portmanteau of the description "danceable jazz".
LeVert is a dance group, formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1984, comprising Sean and Gerald Levert, the sons of O'Jays founder Eddie Levert, as well as Marc Gordon. The Deele is an American 80s R&B band from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, originally consisting of Indianapolis native Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds along with Antonio "L.A." Reid, Carlos "Satin" Greene, Darnell "Dee" Bristol, Stanley Burke, and Kevin "Kayo" Roberson. They have currently reunited in an incarnation featuring Bristol, Greene, and Roberson. Burke has also rejoined this lineup.
Originally raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, The Isley Brothers are an American R&B, soul music and funk group. They have had notably long-running success on the Billboard charts, and are the only act to chart in the Top 40 in six separate decades. In 2006, their most recent release became their ninth album to reach the Top Ten of the Billboard 200. Over the years, the act has performed in a variety of genres, including doo-wop, R&B, rock 'n' roll, soul, funk, disco, urban adult contemporary and hip-hop soul. The group has gone through several lineups, ranging from a quartet to a trio to a sextet; they are currently a duo. the original group consisted of the three elder sons of O'Kelly Isley, Sr. and Sally Bell Isley: O'Kelly Jr., Rudolph and Ronald, who formed in 1954 and recorded with small labels singing doo-wop and rock 'n' roll. After modest success with singles such as Shout, Twist and Shout and the Motown single This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You), and a brief tenure with Jimi Hendrix as a background guitar player, the group settled on a brand of gritty soul and funk defined by the Grammy-winning smash "It's Your Thing" in 1969. Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
The O'Jays are a Canton, Ohio based soul and R&B group, originally consisting of Walter Williams (born August 25, 1942), Bill Isles, Bobby Massey, William Powell (January 20, 1942–May 26, 1977) and Eddie Levert (b. June 16, 1942). The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. The O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles and Massey) had their first hit with "Lonely Drifter", in 1963. In spite of the record's success, the group was considering quitting the music business until Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters, took an interest in the group. With Gamble & Huff, the O'Jays emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with "Back Stabbers" (1972), a pop hit, and topped the U.S. singles charts the following year with "Love Train".
Garage rock
Central Ohio and Greater ClevelandGreater Cleveland
Greater Cleveland is a nickname for the metropolitan area surrounding Cleveland, Ohio and is part of what used to be the Connecticut Western Reserve.Northeast Ohio refers to a similar but substantially larger area as described below...
were home to a wide variety of garage
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
bands from the 1960s, including The Myrchents and The Outsiders
The Outsiders (American band)
The Outsiders was an American rock and roll band from Cleveland, Ohio, that was founded and led by guitarist Tom King. The band is best known for its Top 5 hit "Time Won't Let Me" in early 1966, which peaked at #5 in the US, but the band had three other hit singles in 1966 and released a total of...
. The Choir
The Choir (garage rock)
The Choir was a garage rock band largely active in the greater Cleveland area from the mid 1960s into the early 1970s. Originally called The Mods, their largest commercial success came with the release of their first single "It's Cold Outside" in December 1966...
later added singer Eric Carmen
Eric Carmen
Eric Howard Carmen is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He scored numerous hit songs across the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Raspberries , and then with his solo career, including hits such as "All By Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It",...
and became Raspberries
Raspberries (band)
Raspberries is an American power pop/pop rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They had a run of success in the early 1970s music scene with their crisp pop sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring "exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies." The members were known for their...
, pioneers of power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
in the early 1970s. More recently, the Greater Cincinnati area has produced The Greenhornes
The Greenhornes
The Greenhornes are an American garage rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1996 by vocalist/guitarist Craig Fox, bass guitarist Jack Lawrence and drummer Patrick Keeler. They released their debut album Gun For You in 1999, followed by a self-titled album in 2001. A third studio album, Dual...
and Plastic Inevitables.
Rock 'n' Roll
Rock band Blessed Union of Souls from Morrow, OhioSanctus Real
Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Matt Hammitt , Chris Rohman , Dan Gartley , Pete Prevost , and Mark Graalman...
, a Christian Rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band, was formed in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
.
Dave Windemuth- Guitar god, came from Louisville, Ohio
Joe Walsh and the James Gang started in Kent OH a suburb between Akron and Cleveland and thus could be claimed by both cities.
Rick Derringer from Fort Recovery, Ohio- when he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America.
Phil Keaggy and the Glass Harp are also from Ohio.
The band Jasper Mills was from Columbus, Ohio. Members were Darryl Smith (vocals), John Boerstler (guitar), Bruce Grant (keyboards and vocals), Chris Bell (keyboards), Bob Kocher (bass and vocals), and Greg Winter (drums). Boerstler and Smith have recorded with Artimus Pyle of Lynyrd Skynyrd and his Artimus Pyle Band. Grant has recorded with Tommy Spurlock and Byron House, and worked with the band Saints and Sinners.
The band Inhale Exhale
Inhale Exhale
Inhale Exhale is a Christian metalcore band from Cleveland, Ohio.-Formation/The Lost. The Sick. The Sacred.:The band was formed in 2005 by Guitarist John LaRussa and bassist Brian Pittman...
is from Cleveland, Ohio.
Members of the 80's rock band Warrant
Warrant (American band)
Warrant is an American heavy metal band from Hollywood, California, that experienced success from 1989-1996 with five albums reaching international sales of over 10 million. The band first came into the national spotlight with their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, and one of its...
, Jani Lane (Kent/Brimfield) and Steven Sweet (Wadsworth) are from the Akron area.
The band Material Rejection hailed from the Akron, Ohio area, and were known for their one-hit "Our Way Out".
Tom Scholz of the rock band Boston, was born in Toledo, Ohio and raised in the suburb of Ottawa Hills.
David Grohl of the Foo fighters, Nirvana, and Them crooked vultures is from Warren, Ohio.
Glen Buxton the guitarist for the original Alice Cooper band was born in Akron, Ohio.
Gilby Clarke of Guns N' Roses was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Maynard James Keenan (musician, lead singer for Tool (band), A Perfect Circle, etc.) (Ravenna, OH)
Marilyn Manson (musician) (Canton, OH)
Red Wanting Blue (rock band - Columbus, OH)
Boz Scaggs (singer, songwriter) (Canton)
Scott Shriner of Weezer (musician) (Toledo)
Michael Stanley (musician) (Cleveland)
The Gun Show (Band) (Mansfield) is a hardcore band that is vividly touring the United States.
The industrial metal band Mushroomhead hails from Cleveland.
"THEM" original name "The Torquays" and then "The Original Torquays" (Cincinnati)
Coffinberry- Rocknroll band from Cleveland.
Skeletonwitch of Athens, Ohio.
DISMEMBERMENT of Laurelville, Ohio
Tim "Ripper" Owens- Judas Priest hails from Akron
Devo was formed at Kent State University
The Forgotten Souls of Antiquity were formed in Cleveland
Motel Beds from Dayton
Gothic rock
In Cleveland in the early 90's, Gothic label Jevan Records established its first signing with the band Lestat (named after fictional vampire Lestat de LioncourtLestat de Lioncourt
Lestat de Lioncourt is a fictional character appearing in several novels by Anne Rice, including The Vampire Lestat. He is a vampire and the main character in the majority of The Vampire Chronicles, narrated in first person.-Publication history:...
), releasing Theatre of The Vampires (1990), Grave Desires (1991) and Vision of Sorrows (1994). Lestat has also been featured on many compilations such as Jevan Records "One", and Cleopatra's "Goth Box", a 4 CD compilation.
Other signed Jevan artists included Fragment, who helped pioneer and lead the Industrial movement in Cleveland with their release of SURA in 1995, experimental electro act Bath, who released Fools (1996) and N-Graver (1998), and electro industrial band Graven Image and their release, Black Lung Cathedral (1998).
Indie Rock
The Black KeysThe Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
originate in Akron
Akron
-Settlements:Canada* Akron, OntarioSouth Africa* Akron, South AfricaUnited States* Akron, Alabama* Akron, Colorado* Akron, Indiana* Akron, Iowa* Akron, Michigan* Akron, New York* Akron, Pennsylvania* Akron, West Virginia* Akron Township, Illinois...
. Karen O and Brian Chase of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
met at Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
. Bitch Magnet
Bitch Magnet
Bitch Magnet was a post-hardcore band during the late 1980s and early 1990s who formed at Oberlin College in Ohio and later moved to North Carolina. They released their first record in 1988. All of the band's full-length albums were released on Communion Records in the US; they were also signed to...
formed while attending Oberlin College. Mark Eitzel
Mark Eitzel
Mark Eitzel is a musician, best known as a songwriter and lead singer of the San Francisco band American Music Club.-History:Eitzel spent his formative years in a military family living in Okinawa, Taiwan, Ohio and the United Kingdom. He moved to America in 1979.He started making music while he was...
of American Music Club
American Music Club
American Music Club is a San Francisco-based alternative rock band led by singer-songwriter Mark Eitzel.-History:Although born in California, Eitzel spent his formative years in Okinawa, Taiwan, Great Britain and Ohio before returning to the Bay Area in 1981...
fame founded his first bands, most prominently The Naked Skinnies
The Naked Skinnies
The Naked Skinnies were a new wave band from Ohio that featured Mark Eitzel, guitar and vocals, Nancy Kangas, organ; John Hricko, bass and Greg Bonnell, drums....
while living in Columbus, Ohio. Many critically acclaimed bands were stalwarts of the 80s/90s indie punk scene in Columbus, Ohio: Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
, RC Mob, Scrawl
Scrawl
Scrawl is a musical trio based in Columbus, Ohio. The founding members are Marcy Mays , Sue Harshe , and Carolyn O'Leary . Their first show, in the summer of 1985, was a 20-minute opening spot for the Meat Puppets...
, New Bomb Turks
New Bomb Turks
The New Bomb Turks are an American punk rock band formed at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio in 1990. The founding members are Jim Weber, Eric Davidson, Bill Randt, and Matt Reber. Sam Brown replaced Bill Randt on drums in 1999. Early on their inspiration came from the Devil Dogs, Lazy...
, and Gaunt
Gaunt (band)
Gaunt was a pop punk band formed in Columbus, Ohio, in 1991. The original lineup formed from the ashes of the short-lived and punkadelic Black Juju, and consisted of guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Jerry Wick, bassist Eric Barth and drummer Jeff Regensburger...
, to name a few. At the moment Columbus is seeing a renaissance in DIY/lo-fi bands, such as Times New Viking
Times New Viking
Times New Viking is a lo-fi indie rock band from Columbus, Ohio. The lineup consists of guitarist Jared Phillips, drummer Adam Elliott, and Beth Murphy on keyboards. Murphy and Elliott share vocal duties....
. There was also an indie rock movement in Dayton in the early 90's with bands such as Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
, The Breeders
The Breeders
The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
, and Brainiac. Cincinnati's indie rock scene produced much-admired groups, such as the Ass Ponys
Ass Ponys
Ass Ponys are an indie rock band based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The band combines rock and country into an off-kilter blend of Americana music. They have gone on national tours with bands such as Pavement, Throwing Muses, and Possum Dixon. Among other periodicals, they have been featured in Rolling...
, Quiet Tree, Wolverton Brothers, and the Afghan Whigs, all active in the 80s/90s as well as current indie rock bands Heartless Bastards
Heartless Bastards
Heartless Bastards is a garage rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2003. They are often compared to fellow Ohioans and Fat Possum labelmates The Black Keys.- History :...
and The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
. Why? was formed in Cincinnati by the Wolf brothers Jonathan 'Yoni' and Josiah Wolf along with Doug McDiarmid.The indie rock scene also produced Come Here Watson and the Bad Veins
Bad Veins
Bad Veins is an indie rock duo from Cincinnati, Ohio, composed of Benjamin Davis and Sebastien Schultz. Davis primarily writes the music, plays guitar and keyboard, and sings, while also recording backtracking music on a reel-to-reel tape player, nicknamed Irene. Schultz plays the drums...
of Cincinnati who are currently active in the area. New on the scene is The Ridges
The Ridges
The Ridges are an orchestral folk rock band from Athens, Ohio. The band is made up of vocalist and guitarist Victor Rasgaitis, percussionist and vocalist Johnny Barton, and cellist and vocalist Talor Smith, who are frequently joined by up to six auxiliary musicians.- History :Formed out of the...
from Athens, Ohio.
Punk rock
Ohio is known for a wide variety of punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
icons from Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
and Cincinnati, primarily; these include The Dead Boys
The Dead Boys
The Dead Boys were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Among the first wave of early punk bands, the Dead Boys were initially active from 1976 to 1979, briefly reuniting in 1987, 2004 and 2005.-Formation and 1970s punk rock era:...
, Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
of The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
, Rocket From The Tombs
Rocket From The Tombs
Rocket From the Tombs is an American rock music band originally active from mid-1974 to mid-1975 in Cleveland, Ohio.Heralded as an important protopunk group, they were little known during their lifetime, though various members later achieved renown in Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys...
, Pere Ubu, Robert Quine
Robert Quine
Robert Wolfe Quine was an American guitarist, known for his innovative guitar solos.A native of Akron, Ohio, Quine worked with a wide range of musicians, though he himself remained relatively unknown in comparison...
, Rachel Sweet
Rachel Sweet
Rachel Sweet is an American singer, television writer and actress.-Biography:After beginning her singing career at the age of three, when she won an electric garage door opener in a singing contest, she began recording commercials at the age of six, toured with Mickey Rooney, and performed in Las...
, Pagans, Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
and the Rubber City Rebels
Rubber City Rebels
The Rubber City Rebels are an American protopunk band from Akron, Ohio, that formed in 1976.-Early years:The original line-up of the band consisted of Rod Firestone , Buzz Clic , Donny Damage , Stix Pelton and Pete Sake .In their early years, the Rebels were fans of fellow Greater Cleveland-area...
. Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
had considerable beginnings in Ohio, most notably with Maumee
Maumee, Ohio
Maumee is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Toledo along the Maumee River. The population was 14,286 at the 2010 census. Maumee was also declared an All-America City by the National Civic League in June 2006.-Geography:...
's Necros
Necros
Necros were an early American hardcore punk band from Maumee, Ohio, although they are usually identified with the Detroit music scene. They are the first band to record for Touch and Go Records.-History:...
and Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
's Toxic Reasons
Toxic Reasons
Toxic Reasons are an American hardcore punk / punk rock band.-History:Toxic Reasons formed in Dayton, Ohio in 1979. The founding members were Bruce Stuckey , Joel Agne , Ed Pittman , and Mark Patterson . In 1980, Joel Agne left the band and was replaced by Greg Stout on bass, and Bruce Stuckey...
. However, despite being an Ohio band, Necros
Necros
Necros were an early American hardcore punk band from Maumee, Ohio, although they are usually identified with the Detroit music scene. They are the first band to record for Touch and Go Records.-History:...
played the majority of their shows in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. New Bomb Turks
New Bomb Turks
The New Bomb Turks are an American punk rock band formed at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio in 1990. The founding members are Jim Weber, Eric Davidson, Bill Randt, and Matt Reber. Sam Brown replaced Bill Randt on drums in 1999. Early on their inspiration came from the Devil Dogs, Lazy...
and Gaunt
Gaunt
- People with the name Gaunt :* Elizabeth Gaunt , convicted traitor* John of Gaunt , English prince* Jon Gaunt , British radio presenter and newspaper columnist, late 20th and early 21st century* Maurice de Gaunt - People with the name Gaunt :* Elizabeth Gaunt (d. 1685), convicted traitor* John of...
hail from Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
Pop Punk
Christian crossover band Relient KRelient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
comes from Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
Hawthorne Heights
Hawthorne Heights
Hawthorne Heights is an American rock band from Dayton, Ohio, formed in 2001. Their line-up currently consists of lead-singer and rhythm guitarist JT Woodruff, lead-guitarist and vocalist Micah Carli, bassist and backing vocalist Matt Ridenour, and drummer Eron Bucciarelli...
is from Dayton
Dayton
Dayton is a city in Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.Dayton may also refer to:-United States:*Dayton, Alabama*Dayton, California, in Butte County*Dayton, Lassen County, California*Dayton, Idaho*Dayton, Indiana...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Rad Company is a pop punk band from Dayton
Dayton
Dayton is a city in Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, Ohio, United States.Dayton may also refer to:-United States:*Dayton, Alabama*Dayton, California, in Butte County*Dayton, Lassen County, California*Dayton, Idaho*Dayton, Indiana...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
As Day Ends is from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
.
Hit The Lights is a pop punk band hailing from Lima, Ohio.
Into The Crowd is a pop punk band from Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
Dead Poetic is from New Lebanon, Ohio
New Lebanon, Ohio
New Lebanon is a village in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,995 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:New Lebanon is located at ....
.
Life After Liftoff is a pop punk band from Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
.
Dear Christie is a pop punk band from Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, once known as "The Dry Capital of the World", is a city in Franklin and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census.-Early history:...
Post-Hardcore
Before Their Eyes - Findlay, OHWolves At The Gate - Cedarville, OH
My Ticket Home - Columbus, OH
Destructive Heart Records - Columbus, OH
Metalcore
Death of An Era - Columbus OhioCorpus Christi - Cincinnati, OH
Miss May I
Miss May I
Miss May I is an American metalcore band from Troy, Ohio. On December 6, 2008, Miss May I announced that they had been signed to Rise Records. The band's debut album, Apologies Are for the Weak, reached #29 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers, and #66 on Top Independent Albums. Their song, "Forgive and...
- Troy, Ohio
The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada (band)
The Devil Wears Prada is an American metalcore band from Dayton, Ohio. Formed in 2005, they are currently signed to Warner Music Group...
- Dayton, Ohio
Attack Attack!
Attack Attack!
Attack Attack! is an American metalcore band from Westerville, Ohio, formed in 2005. Attack Attack!'s first release, an independent EP titled If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords?, was released in 2008, which lead to the signing of the band to Rise Records the same year...
- Columbus, Ohio
The Crimson Armada- Columbus, Ohio
Mushroomhead - Cleveland, Ohio (melodic/industrial metal)
Chimaira - Cleveland, Ohio
Salt the Wound - Cleveland, Ohio (deathcore)
Rose Funeral - Cincinnati, Ohio (death metal)
From A Second Story Window - OH/PA
The Plot In You - Findlay, OH
Power pop
Ohio has produced a number of famous power popPower pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
bands. Raspberries
Raspberries (band)
Raspberries is an American power pop/pop rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They had a run of success in the early 1970s music scene with their crisp pop sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring "exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies." The members were known for their...
("Go All the Way") from Cleveland and Youngstown
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
's Blue Ash
Blue Ash (band)
Blue Ash is a United States band, formed in Ohio in the summer of 1969 by bassist Frank Secich & vocalist Jim Kendzor. Guitarist Bill Yendrek and drummer David Evans were recruited later that summer....
("Abracadabra Have You Seen Her?") are considered seminal artists in this genre. Color Me Gone of Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
and Circus
Circus (band)
Circus was Ohio-based area Power Pop band active in the early and mid 70s. Their single "Stop Wait & Listen" debuted at #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts on March 17, 1973....
from Cleveland were also major exporters of the classic Ohio power pop sound. The Bears (band)
The Bears (band)
The Bears is an American power pop band formed in 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It features the distinctive avant-garde guitar playing of Adrian Belew, the band's most prominent member....
aka Psychodots aka The Raisins are also considered a successful Cincinnati band.
Hip Hop
Bow Wow and Fatty KooFatty Koo
Fatty Koo is a R&B and Hip-Hop sextet from Columbus, Ohio that made its way into the music industry in 2005. The group consists of members Eddie B, Gabrielle, Josh, Marya, Ron, Valure, Their fame mostly came from their television show on BET, Blowin Up: Fatty Koo...
are both from the Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
area. Columbus is also a prime location for underground hip hop artists, such as rappers Illogic
Illogic
Jawhar Glass , better known as Illogic, is an American underground hip-hop artist from Columbus, Ohio. He has releases on both Weightless Recordings and Dove Ink Records...
, Blueprint
Blueprint
A blueprint is a type of paper-based reproduction usually of a technical drawing, documenting an architecture or an engineering design. More generally, the term "blueprint" has come to be used to refer to any detailed plan....
, and producer RJD2
RJD2
RJD2 is an American music producer, singer and musician. RJD2 was born in Eugene, Oregon, and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was signed to the Definitive Jux label where he released two largely instrumental hip hop albums and has produced tracks...
. The latter two formed the hip hop group Soul Position
Soul Position
Soul Position is an American hip hop duo hailing from Columbus, Ohio, consisting of DJ/producer RJD2 and rapper Blueprint. They have released two albums and one EP on Rhymesayers Entertainment.- Albums :* Unlimited EP...
under Rhymesayers Entertainment
Rhymesayers Entertainment
Rhymesayers Entertainment is an independent hip hop record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, co-founded in 1995 by Sean Daley, Anthony Davis, Brent Sayers and Musab Saad....
.
Bone Thugs n Harmony, a popular midwest hip hop
Midwest hip hop
Midwest hip hop is hip hop music performed by artists from the Midwestern United States. In contrast with its East Coast, West Coast and Southern counterparts, Midwest hip hop has very few constants...
act, hails from Cleveland.
Hip-hop trio MOOD hails from Cincinnati
Record Labels
There have been a number of record labels based in Ohio. Most prominent was King Records (USA)King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
, a label based out of Cincinnati that specialized in "Hillbilly Records" and "Race Records". Also prominent from Cincinnati were Jewel Records and Fraternity Records
Fraternity Records
Fraternity Records was a small record label based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was started by Harry Carlson and silent partner Dr. Ashton Welsh in 1954.The first hit was local girl Cathy Carr's rendition of a Tin Pan Alley song, "Ivory Tower" in 1956...
. Quality classical music is amply served by Telarc Records of Cleveland. Free Age Music, llc of Columbus, Ohio. Tolmie Terrapin Press, an all cassette tape label is based in Cleveland.