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Top 10 Iconic Singers from Kansas City

Kansas is a state in the Midwestern United States with Topeka as its capital. It is the largest city is Wichita. Moreover, Kansas is a landlocked state that is bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. It is literally in the middle of the country.

Being in the middle of the country, Kansas is not the first state you may think of when the words 鈥渇amous musician鈥� come to mind.

With a very rich and particular history of its own, however, it is only fair to say that Kansas has not only produced some of the most famous musicians in America but played a very huge role in the development of the most popular genres as well. For example, the infamous jazz.

Let’s look at some of the phenomenal singers whom we’re pretty familiar with, and that have come from Kansas City.

1. Stan Kenton

Stan Kenton, Circa 1942- Source; Ad on page 23 of October 24, 1942 Billboard magazine-

Born, Stanley Newcomb Kenton, he was an American popular music and jazz artist. He had it all. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades straight.

Although Kenton had several pop hits from the early 1940s into the 1960s, his music was always forward-looking. He dared to have his own sound in jazz which managed to set him apart as a jazz musician.

Before he made a name for himself with hits like 鈥�Artistry in Rhythm,鈥� he played with names such as Vido Musso and Gus Arnheim. It was however when he started his orchestra, at a time when having big bands was pretty uncommon, that he found his greatest success with tunes such as 鈥�Elegy for Alto.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Before dying in 1979, Stan had formed several experimental bands and mentored many young players. He indeed left quite a mark behind.

2. Hattie McDaniel

Hattie McDaniel- Author; Unknown-

Hattie McDaniel began singing at a very young age. Having grown up in her parent鈥檚 Baptist tent show in Wichita, she later went on to join 鈥淧rofessor鈥� George Morrison鈥檚 travelling show, which was popularly known as Melody Hounds at the time.

She toured with them and worked odd jobs until packing up for LA, where she was cast in a radio show called ‘The Optimistic Do-Nuts.’

Her career as we know it today, as a phenomenal singer and actress, started from there as she was cast in nearly 70 films, such as ‘Gone With the Wind.’  She transitioned to television acting and died of cancer shortly thereafter in 1952.

3. Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae- Author; Myles Kalus Anak Jihem-

By being able to mashup all sorts of sounds from  funk, soul, R&B, to even hip hop, Janelle Mon谩e has become one of the most unique artists of our time. She is such a big brand in the music scene and we can honestly understand why given how huge her talent is.

Monae grew up in Kansas City and then later on relocated to New York so as to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy before moving on to Atlanta.

While in Atlanta, she connected with experimental artists and refined her sound on songs such as 鈥�Tightrope.鈥� A sound that still defines her music to date.

Mon谩e also acts and has been in successful films such as Moonlight and Hidden Figures. She continues to record and act simultaneously.

4. Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge- Author; Craig ONeal-

From learning guitar from a young age in Leavenworth, Kansas to attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Melissa Etheridge has been a fundamentalist of rock music from a very tender age

She has released several albums that managed to capture the attention of rock legends such as Rod Stewart but found mainstream success with hits such as 鈥�Bring Me Some Water,鈥� 鈥�Similar Features,鈥� and 鈥�No Souvenirs.鈥�

Since her tremendous success in the music scene, Melissa has actually managed to win an Oscar, and two Grammys, has written an autobiography, has beaten breast cancer, sold over 25 million records, and she still continues making and releasing records.

What other word can you use to describe such a woman and artist other than just phenomenal and outstanding?

5. Martina McBride

Martina McBride performing in 2010- Author; salva1745-

The 1990s music scene was interesting just pure bliss. The nostalgia that hits you when you’re listening to the 90s songs, especially, country songs, is just on another level.

During this era, there was no shortage of legendary country musicians to pick from, and of that list, we can’t fail to mention and recognize Martina McBride from Sharon, Kansas. 

Having grown up singing in a family band at the tender age of 10, music is something that McBride was exposed to for quite a long time. She religiously followed her passion for it and thanks to that, she’s an iconic singer the world celebrates today.

With the success of her third album known as, ‘Wild Angels,’ McBride launched to stardom, following it with hits such as 鈥�I Love You鈥� and 鈥�Love鈥檚 the Only House.鈥�

Since then, McBride has managed to stay in the country spotlight by continuously making records, hosting a successful cooking show on television, and even hosting a podcast.

6. Andy McKee

Andy McKee in 2008- Author; Piedmontstyle-

Andy McKee in most of our books is the most phenomenal guitarist there ever was if not the greatest of his time.

McKee began playing the guitar at the young age of 13 in Topeka before going on to innovate the instrument with his technical and unique fingerstyle guitar playing.

What’s remarkable about McKee is that he didn’t go to any school to learn the skill. He virtually self-taught himself and achieved this success through online videos, with songs like 鈥�Drifting,鈥� from his solo debut, Nocturne.

He even managed to be placed in many national guitar competitions along the way as well. Have you ever seen such determination? That you can technically teach yourself a particular skill and be good enough to compete in highly placed and equally competitive competitions?

Since then, he has released music on major labels and collaborated with Josh Groban. He continues to make music. 

7. Diane Bish

Diane Bish- Author; Atenglund-

Before her work as an organist, composer, and conductor, Diane Bish hailed from Wichita where she was playing the piano from age 6. Diane studied organ at Ashbury College before playing many church jobs and even teaching. 

She was featured on many television programs from early on, starting with the Coral Ridge Hour, and began recording her music around that time in which she ultimately became successful.

Since finding success, she began hosting ‘The Joy of Music show,’  performed all over the world, authored books, and composed her works.

8. Danny Carey

Danny Carey performing at the 2005 Modern Drummer Festival with the band Volto- Author; Holomorph-

Danny Carey, like many of the singers we have talked about so far, also started his journey at a tender age. He was 10 years old when he began drumming in Lawrence, Kansas then later on joining his high school jazz band.

To show his commitment to the skill, Danny studied percussion at the University of Missouri, where he developed interests in geometric patterns and the occult.

He then relocated to Los Angeles, where he session drummed for Carole King and recorded solo music. With the exposure and platform he was gaining, he eventually met his Tool bandmates and they started making some serious music.

Tool released their debut, titled ‘Undertow,’ in 1993 and became a rock legend shortly thereafter. He still drums with Tool today and has also a number of side gigs where he continues to work as a drummer.

9. Katrina Leskanich

Katrina Leskanich in 2019- Author; Finsent-

Katrina Leskanich was in Topeka to a military family. In high school, she took to music and started a band which was popularly known as Katrina and The Waves.

The band managed to debut in 1982 with the song, 鈥淣颈驳丑迟尘补谤别鈥� from the album, ‘The Bible of Bop.’  It wasn’t until their next effort, however, by the release of the song, ‘Walking on sunshine,’ did they hit it big internationally.

The band, unfortunately, faded in popularity but reemerged in 1997 when they won the Eurovision Song Contest.

Though the band has disassembled, the song, ‘Walking on Sunshine’ continues to stay in pop culture to this day. It remains to be a popular one and is still catchy no matter how many times you listen to it.

Katrina continues writing, singing, and recording solo work to this day. 

10. Kerry Livgren

Kerry Livgren in Memphis Tennessee with Kansas Monolith tour- Author; Keenanrocks-

Kerry is the founder of the popular band, ‘Kansas.’ Before founding this supergroup,  Kerry Livgren lived in Topeka and was a big fan of romantic classical music, which ultimately leaned toward his future recording style.

When Kansas released their debut album, titled Leftoverture, they found great success with hits such as 鈥�Carry on Wayward Son.鈥� If you’ve watched Supernatural you cannot have missed this very catchy and melodious song. That’s just how great the song is.

He then followed it up with 鈥�Dust in the Wind,鈥� making Kansas one of the biggest bands of the 70s. 

Livgren recorded solo songs as well as forming AD, which was a new group with several other Kansas members.

Since his many years in the music scene and spotlight, Livgren is now doing farming full-time but still records and performs as Kansas from time to time.