Carolina Music History

Legend • Hip-Hop

Petey Pablo

Greenville, North Carolina

Current artist • Hip-Hop

J. Cole

Raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina

Current artist • Hip-Hop

Rapsody

Snow Hill, North Carolina

Current artist • Hip-Hop

9th Wonder

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

LegendLittle BrotherPhotograph pending approval

Legend • Hip-Hop

Little Brother

Formed in Durham, North Carolina

Current artist • Hip-Hop

DaBaby

Raised in Charlotte, North Carolina

Next generation$hyfromdatrePhotograph pending approval

Next generation • Hip-Hop

$hyfromdatre

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

LegendMC Sha-RockPhotograph pending approval

Legend • Hip-Hop

MC Sha-Rock

Born in Wilmington, North Carolina

Current artistFantasiaPhotograph pending approval

Current artist • R&B / Soul / Gospel

Fantasia

High Point, North Carolina

Current artistAnthony HamiltonPhotograph pending approval

Current artist • R&B / Soul

Anthony Hamilton

Charlotte, North Carolina

LegendJodeciPhotograph pending approval

Legend • R&B / Soul

Jodeci

Formed in Charlotte, North Carolina

Legend • Soul / R&B / Jazz

Roberta Flack

Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina

Legend • Soul / R&B

Ben E. King

Born in Henderson, North Carolina

Legend • R&B / Soul

Clyde McPhatter

Born in Durham, North Carolina

Legend • R&B / Soul

Gerald Alston

Henderson, North Carolina

Legend • Soul / R&B

Chairmen of the Board

Long associated with the Carolinas beach music scene

LegendThe "5" RoyalesPhotograph pending approval

Legend • R&B / Soul / Blues

The "5" Royales

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Legend • Gospel

Shirley Caesar

Durham, North Carolina

Current artistJohn P. KeePhotograph pending approval

Current artist • Gospel

John P. Kee

Durham-born, Charlotte-based

Current artist • Gospel

Donald Lawrence

Gastonia, North Carolina

Current artistLuther BarnesPhotograph pending approval

Current artist • Gospel

Luther Barnes

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Legend • Jazz

John Coltrane

Born in Hamlet, raised in High Point, North Carolina

Legend • Jazz

Thelonious Monk

Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Legend • Jazz / Soul / Folk

Nina Simone

Tryon, North Carolina

Legend • Jazz

Max Roach

Born in Newland, North Carolina

Current artist • Funk / Jazz / Soul

Maceo Parker

Kinston, North Carolina

Current artist • Jazz

Nnenna Freelon

Based in Durham, North Carolina

Legend • Jazz

Billy Taylor

Born in Greenville, North Carolina

LegendGeorge ClintonPhotograph pending approval

Legend • Funk / Soul

George Clinton

Born in Kannapolis, North Carolina

Current artist • Rock / Pop

Ben Folds

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Current artist • Folk / Rock / Bluegrass

The Avett Brothers

Concord, North Carolina

Legend • Jazz / Rock

Squirrel Nut Zippers

Formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Current artist • Rock / Pop

Chris Daughtry

McLeansville, North Carolina

Legend • Rock / Blues

Link Wray

Born in Dunn, North Carolina

Current artist • Country

Luke Combs

Asheville, North Carolina

Current artist • Country / Rock

Eric Church

Granite Falls, North Carolina

Current artist • Country

Scotty McCreery

Garner, North Carolina

Legend • Country

Randy Travis

Marshville, North Carolina

Legend • Folk / Rock / Pop

James Taylor

Raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Legend • Folk / Bluegrass / Blues

Doc Watson

Deep Gap, North Carolina

Legend • Bluegrass / Folk / Country

Earl Scruggs

Flint Hill, North Carolina

LegendElizabeth CottenPhotograph pending approval

Legend • Folk / Blues

Elizabeth Cotten

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

LegendBlind Boy FullerPhotograph pending approval

Legend • Blues / Folk

Blind Boy Fuller

Based in Durham, North Carolina

Legend • Blues / Folk

Etta Baker

Caldwell County, North Carolina

Legend • Country / Rock

Charlie Daniels

Wilmington, North Carolina

Current artist • Pop

Clay Aiken

Raleigh, North Carolina

Current artist • Rock / Pop

Tori Amos

Born in Newton, North Carolina

Current artist • Hip-Hop / R&B

Jermaine Dupri

Born in Asheville, North Carolina

Current artist • Country

Kellie Pickler

Albemarle, North Carolina

Every artist in this archive has a documented North Carolina connection — born, raised, formed here, or a career substantially built in the state. Drake Magazine does not publish AI-generated artist photography; artists without an approved, legally usable photograph appear with a typographic card until one is supplied.