Music of Washington (state)
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Music of the United States | ||
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The U.S. state of
have also been centers of influence on popular music.Several world-famous musicians have come from Washington.
Classical
The
The
Jazz
Washington State has had a jazz scene since the early 20th century, primarily centered in Seattle. In the early years, there was an African-American jazz scene on Seattle's Jackson Street, led by the Whangdoodle Entertainers, featuring, amongst others, Frank D. Waldron (trumpet/alto saxophone). Waldron later joined the Odean Jazz Orchestra, one of the rare African-American bands in that era to play in downtown Seattle. He remained active in Seattle jazz as a musician and teacher until his death in 1955. On the other side of the tracks, Vic Meyers (saxophone) led jazz bands playing in Seattle's Pioneer Square and Belltown districts. Meyers left music for politics in the early 1930s and served as Lieutenant Governor of Washington from 1933 to 1953 and then Secretary of State of Washington from 1957 to 1965. Another notable jazz figure in the early days was Harold Weeks, a ragtime composer/lyricist known as the co-writer (with Oliver Wallace) of the 1918 song "Hindustan," considered a jazz standard. Joe Darensbourg (clarinet/saxophone) was active in Seattle from 1929 until 1944, and Dick Wilson (tenor saxophone) played in his band from 1930 until 1936.
The early 1940s saw
The 1950s–1960s saw
The 1970s saw the emergence of
The 1980s were the career beginnings of native Washingtonians Diane "Deedles" Schuur (vocals/piano) from Auburn, who has won two Grammy Awards, Bill Anschell (piano), Jeff Kashiwa (saxophone) and Skerik (tenor & baritone saxophone/electronics), a pioneer of saxophonics. Anschell, Kashiwa and Skerik remain active in the Seattle scene, with Skerik playing in a number of diverse local bands. The 80s also saw Julian Priester (trombone/euphonium), Amy Denio (saxophone/accordion/vocals) and Bill Frisell (guitar) relocate to Seattle. Frisell had previously been active in New York City's Downtown Scene.
The 1990s saw the emergence from Seattle of
The new millennium has produced Roxy Coss (saxophone), Aaron Parks (piano), Emi Meyer (piano/vocals) and The Bergevin Brothers band, all from Seattle. Meyer and the Bergevins remain active in the Seattle scene. In the early 2000s husband and wife Wayne Horvitz (keyboards) and Robin Holcomb (piano/vocals) relocated to Seattle. Both had previously been involved in New York City's Downtown Scene. In 2015, Dmitri Matheny (flugelhorn) relocated from his long-time base in San Francisco to Centralia. In 2022, he released the album CASCADIA, celebrating the Pacific Northwest. The album also features the aforementioned Bill Anschell.
Country/Alt-country
Washington state has a limited tradition in country music, but has produced some notable artists.[1] In the 1920s, Paul Tutmarc established himself as a fine tenor and lap steel guitarist in Seattle. He was also known for inventing the first electric bass guitar in 1936. Tutmarc continued to perform and teach guitar in Seattle into the 1960s. Fiddler Bus Boyk came out of Everett in the 1930s and had a long career, eventually being inducted into the Western Swing Society's Pioneers of Western Swing Hall of Fame.
The late 1950s saw three
The late 1950s also saw the emergence of native Washingtonian
, where she continued to perform on weekends until the age of 92. Guitar died in 2019, at the age of 95.Seattle-based
The new millennium has seen the emergence of mainstream country artists
Garage rock
In the mid-1950s, the Washington rock scene was kick-started by a Seattle group,
An influential garage rock band called The Regents became local icons in the Tacoma area, but the original incarnation never signed to a record label. They are known for pioneering a distinct sound technology when they fed the rhythm guitar through a
Another Tacoma band, The Sonics, also proved to be influential, and are still a cult favorite. Their name was inspired by one of Seattle's most important employers, Boeing, an aircraft manufacturer, and The Sonics' brand of aggressive guitar rock made them icons in the later development of music in and around Seattle.
Record producer Jerry Dennon of Jerden Records was responsible for bringing The Kingsmen (of Portland, Oregon), best known for their national hit "Louie Louie". The Kingsmen found themselves in a rivalry with local favorite Paul Revere & the Raiders (of Boise, Idaho), who also released a version of "Louie, Louie". The Kingsmen's version eventually caught on nationally after a Boston radio station picked up the song and Dennon negotiated distributing rights with Wand Records out of New York City. The song's supposedly suggestive lyrics led to it being banned in some localities, including Indiana.
Heavy metal
Notable
Also of particular note are Seattle's Slaughter Haus 5, Tacoma bands Sword of Judgement, Hammer Head, Diamond Lie (featuring
More recent underground metal bands include
Punk rock
In the 1970s, Ze Whiz Kidz helped launch a
In the early 2000s, the
Grunge
Pearl Jam has recorded five No. 1 albums featured on the Billboard Top 200 between 1993 and 2013, including Vs. (1993), and also had a No. 2 Hot 100 hit with their cover of "Last Kiss" in 1999. Nirvana had four No. 1 albums, Alice in Chains had two, Jar of Flies (1994) and their self-titled album (1995), and Soundgarden had one, Superunknown (1994). Later successful grunge acts include Foo Fighters, which had a No. 1 album with Wasting Light (2011). Seattle is also home to newer alt-grunge-rock acts such as SixTwoSeven.
Riot grrrl
Riot grrrl is a form of punk rock that arose in Olympia in the 1990s with all-female and woman-led acts like Bikini Kill, known for their militant feminism and raw sound. The genre never achieved mainstream success due to an on-going media blackout, along with their harsh criticism of society and often grating musical style, and eventually faded. However, stalwarts Sleater-Kinney stayed together and found themselves approaching mainstream audiences after the turn of the millennium. The movement generated many notable bands, concentrated in the Olympia area and including Bratmobile, Heavens to Betsy, and Excuse 17.
A new wave of the riot grrrl movement continued in the 21st century with bands like NighTrain,
Twee pop
In the late 1980s, a form of alternative rock called twee pop was popular in the United Kingdom. A small cult following around bands like The Orchids and Heavenly formed in the U.S., centered on Olympia's K Records and the band Beat Happening.
Hip-hop
Arguably the most famous
Origins of notable artists
Aberdeen
- Fecal Matter, punk rock/heavy metal/sludge metal (1985–1986)
- Chris Freeman, queercore (1980s-present)
- Metal Church, heavy/thrash/speed/power metal (1980–1996, 1998–2009, 2012–present)
- Nirvana, grunge (1987–1994)
- prog rock(2005–present)
Anacortes
- Karl Blau, indie rock/country (1996–present)
- D+, indie rock (1996–present)
- R&B/rock (1963–2012)
- Mount Eerie, experimental lo-fi indie rock/folk (2003–present)
- The Lonely Forest, alternative rock (2005–2014)
- Katherine Paul, Coast Salish traditional/post-rock/alternative rock (2000s-present)
Arlington
- Kenneth Boulton, classical (1980s-present)
Auburn
- Bonnie Guitar, country & western/pop (1956–1996)
- Diane Schuur, vocal jazz (1979–present)
Bainbridge Island
- Jherek Bischoff, indie rock/experimental/alternative rock/neo-classical/indie pop/synth-pop (2000–present)
- Dove Cameron, pop (2007–present)
- Pete Droge, alternative/folk rock (1994–present)
- Andrew Joslyn, neo-classical/experimental music/orchestral pop/hip hop/folk rock/indie rock (2002–present)
- Malfunkshun, glam metal/grunge (1980–1988, 2006–present)
Battle Ground
- Ceremonial Castings, symphonic black metal (1996–present)
- Zia McCabe, alternative rock/country (1995–present)
- Ruth, Christian/indie rock (2005–present)
Bellevue
- The Catheters, hard/garage rock (1995–2004, 2013)
- Fifth Angel, heavy/power metal (1983–1990, 2010, 2017–present)
- Queensrÿche, heavy/progressive metal (1980–present)
- Rail, hard rock (1970–present)
- new wave revival(1996–2002)
Bellingham
- ¡All-Time Quarterback!, alternative rock/lo-fi/indie rock (1997–2002)
- Black Eyes & Neckties, horror/hardcore punk (2002–2009)
- cuddlecore(1990–1994)
- Death Cab for Cutie, indie rock/folk/emo (1997–present)
- Eureka Farm, alternative rock/post-grunge (1996-2000s)
- Glowbug, electronic/dance (2010–present)
- pop(1998–present)
- The Ghost and the Grace, indie folk/rock (2009–2010)
- Idiot Pilot, alternative rock/electronic rock/post-hardcore (2003–2011, 2019–present)
- ODESZA, electropop/chillwave(2012–present)
- surf rock(1987–1998, 2006, 2013)
- The Posies, alternative rock/power pop (1986–2021)
- The Trucks, electronic rock (2003–2008)
- X-15, rock/punk (1979–1987, 1995)
- Your Heart Breaks, indie rock/folk (1998–present)
Bremerton
- Kane Hodder, melodic hardcore/post-hardcore (2002–2009, 2015)
- Mike Herrera's Tumbledown, cowpunk/alt-country (2007–2014)
- MxPx, Christian/skate punk (1992–present)
- R&B(2010–present)
- The Sonics, garage rock/proto-punk (1960–present)
Camas
Carrolls
- Brian O'Connor, hard rock/garage rock/blues rock/rockabilly/desert rock/boogie rock/alternative rock(2003–present)
Centralia
- Charlie Albright, classical (2000–present)
- Ann Boleyn, heavy metal/hard rock (1972–present)
- Noah Gundersen and The Courage, acoustic indie folk (2005–present)
- Angela Meade, operatic soprano (2007–present)
Chehalis
- Ralph Towner, jazz/classical/world/folk (1960s-present)
Chelan
- Alice Stuart, blues/folk (1960s-present)
Chewelah
- Allen Stone, blue-eyed soul (2010–present)
Colville Indian Reservation
- Jim Boyd, Interior Salish traditional music/folk/country/rock/blues (1968–2016)
Covington
- Tamara Gee, pop (1984–present)
Custer
- (1960–present)
Edmonds
- Danger Radio, indie/pop rock (2003–2011)
- Magnog, post-rock/space rock (1990s, 2011)
- R&B/breakdancing(2003–present)
Ellensburg
- Screaming Trees, grunge/neo-psychedelia (1984–2000)
- Solomon Grundy, psychedelic rock (1989–1991)
- Star Anna, Americana/alt-country (2000s-present)
Everett
- Stan Boreson, "Scandahoovian" parody music (1949–2007)
- Bus Boyk, western swing (1930s–1990s)
- R&B/folk/pop/spoken word(2011–present)
- kids' music(1968–present)
- The Moondoggies, alt country-rock (2005–present)
- Parenthetical Girls, experimental/chamber pop (2002–2013)
- Jason Webley, folk/experimental/Gypsy punk/folk punk (1990s-present)
Federal Way
- Amber Pacific, pop-punk/emo (2002–present)
- (2013–present)
- Sanjaya Malakar, pop (2006–present)
- Vince Mira, country/rock and roll (2007–present)
- Spluii Numa, punk rock/grunge (1983–1984)
Gig Harbor
- SixTwoSeven, alternative rock (2016–present)
Issaquah
- Modest Mouse, indie rock (1992–present)
- SYML, alternative rock/indie pop (2016–present)
- Ugly Casanova, indie rock (1997–2002, 2010)
Kelso
- Rock n Roll Worship Circus, contemporary Christian (1999–2004)
Kenmore
- Blake Lewis, electropop/beatboxing/soul (2007–present)
- Telekinesis, indie rock/shoegaze/power pop (2008–present))
Kent
- Daphne Loves Derby, indie/alternative rock (2001–2015)
Kirkland
- Neon Blonde, experimental rock/post-hardcore/alternative hip hop (2004–present)
Lacey
- DJ Dan, funky/electro/tech house (1991–present)
Lakewood
- Robert Cray, blues/blues rock/soul blues (1974–present)
Longview
- The Listening, Christian alternative rock (2004–present)
- The Wilde Knights, garage rock (1965–1967)
Mercer Island
- Bill Anschell, jazz (1982–present)
Montesano
- Melvins, sludge/doom/alternative metal (1983–present)
Morton
- Brandy Clark, country (2005–present)
Mount Vernon
- Cheryl Bentyne, vocal jazz/pop (1975–present)
Mountlake Terrace
- Lil Mosey, hip hop/trap (2016–present)
- Mark O'Connor, country/bluegrass/jazz/classical (1974–present)
Mukilteo
- prog rock/screamo(2002–2010, 2013–present)
Naselle
Olympia
- Anna Oxygen, electropop/psychedelic folk (late 1990s-present)
- Bangs, riot grrrl/punk rock (1997–2004, 2010)
- Beat Happening, indie/twee/noise pop/lo-fi (1982–1992)
- Bikini Kill, riot grrrl (1990–1997, 2017, 2019–present)
- The Blow, indie pop/electro/lo-fi (2001–present)
- Bratmobile, riot grrrl/punk rock (1991–1994, 1998–2003)
- Cool Rays, punk rock (1990–1991)
- Dead Air Fresheners, experimental rock/post-punk (1996–present)
- Dub Narcotic Sound System, indie rock (1995–2003)
- Earth, drone metal/psychedelic rock/post-rock (1989–1997, 2003–present)
- Enemymine, noise rock (1998–2000)
- Excuse 17, punk rock/queercore (1993–1995)
- Fitz of Depression, punk rock (1987–1997, 2000, 2002–2019)
- doo wop(1958–1983)
- The Frumpies, lo-fi punk/garage rock (1992–2000)
- G.L.O.S.S., hardcore punk/queercore/D-beat (2014–2016)
- The Go Team, indie rock (1985–1989)
- godheadSilo, noise rock/stoner rock/sludge metal (1991–1998, 2015–present)
- Gun Outfit, indie rock/post-punk/psychedelia (2007–present)
- Heavens to Betsy, riot grrrl/indie rock/punk rock (1991–1994)
- Irving Klaw Trio, experimental rock (1990s)
- LAKE, indie pop (2005–present)
- Love as Laughter, indie rock (1994–2020)
- Lync, post-hardcore/indie rock/emo/lo-fi (1992–1994)
- The Microphones, neofolk/indie rock (1996–2003, 2007, 2019–present)
- (2008–present)
- Mirah indie rock/chamber pop/indie pop/experimental pop(1997–present)
- Mocket, alternative rock/post-punk/indie rock (1995–1999)
- The Need, queercore/post-punk/art rock/garage rock/experimental rock (1996–2001, 2010, 2013)
- The Old Haunts, garage/swamp rock (2001–2009)
- Old Time Relijun, noise rock/no wave/art punk/punk blues (1995–present)
- Don Rich, country & western/Bakersfield sound (1959–1974)
- pop punk(2008–present)
- Tracy + the Plastics, electropop (2004–present)
- Travis Shook, hard bop/jazz fusion/modal jazz/mainstream jazz/post-bop (1990s-present)
- Sleater-Kinney, riot grrrl/indie rock (1994–2006, 2014–present)
- Team Dresch, queercore/riot grrrl/punk rock (1993–1998, 2004–present)
- Viva Knievel, punk rock (1989–1990)
- Wolves in the Throne Room, atmospheric black metal (2002–present)
Port Angeles
- Ninety Pound Wuss, Christian punk/hardcore punk/post-punk/post-hardcore/avant-garde/gothic rock/experimental rock (1994–2000)
Pullman
- Tyson Motsenbocker, Christian alternative rock/indie folk/folk rock (2010–present)
Ravensdale
- Brandi Carlile, Americana/alt-country/folk rock (2004–present)
Redmond
- The Blood Brothers, post-hardcore/ screamo/art punk (1997–2007, 2014)
- Cody Votolato, folk/alt-country/indie rock (1995–present)
Sammamish
- Surf Mesa, electronic pop (2019–present)
Seattle
- 10 Minute Warning, hardcore punk (1982–1984, 1997–1998)
- 3rd Secret, alternative rock/folk rock/grunge (2022–present)
- 7 Horns 7 Eyes, Christian melodic death metal (2006–present)
- 7 Year Bitch, riot grrrl (1990–1997)
- 764-HERO, indie rock/emo (1995–2002, 2012, 2016)
- A Frames, post-punk/noise rock (1999–2010)
- industrial dance/dark wave(1997–present)
- Northwest hip hop(2001–present)
- Acceptance, pop-punk (1998–2006, 2015–present)
- The Accüsed, crossover thrash/hardcore punk (1981–1992, 2003–present)
- Clarence Acox Jr., jazz (1971–present)
- Aiden, horror punk/post-hardcore/emo (2003–2012, 2015–2016)
- Akimbo, hardcore punk (1998–2012)
- Alice in Chains, grunge/hard rock (1987–2002, 2005–present)
- Alice N' Chains, glam/heavy/speed metal (1986–1987)
- Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, country & western (2005–present)
- Aqueduct, indie pop (2003–2015)
- b-boycrew (2002–present)
- busker
- Arthur & Yu, indie folk (2006–present)
- Assemblage 23, futurepop/electro-industrial/synth-pop (1988–present)
- Asva, drone/doom metal (2003–present)
- "Awesome", cabaret (2003–present)
- Baby Gramps, folk/country/Americana/blues (1964–present)
- kids' music(2009–present)
- Band of Horses, indie rock/Southern rock/power pop/folk rock (2004–present)
- Barcelona, indie rock (2005–present)
- The Beakers, art punk/post-punk/new wave (1980–1981)
- Tina Bell, grunge/punk rock (1983–1990)
- Bell Witch, funeral doom metal (2010–present)
- Anomie Belle, avant-garde (2008–present)
- The Bergevin Brothers, political jazz (2008–present)
- Big Band Garage Orchestra, punk jazz (2001–2006)
- Big Business, heavy metal/sludge metal/stoner rock (2004–present)
- folk pop(2007–present)
- Black Cat Orchestra, classical/world/film score (1991–2004)
- Nissim Black (D.Black), conscious/hardcore/Jewish hip hop (1999–present)
- The Blackouts, punk rock/post-punk/hard rock (1979–1985)
- R&B/Funk(1947–1981)
- The Blakes, indie rock (2001–present)
- Blenderhead, punk rock (1992–2001, 2016–present)
- Blood Circus, sludge metal/grunge (1988–1989, 2992. 2007)
- Erik Blood, hip hop/rock 2000s-present)
- Bloodgood, Christian/glam metal (1984–1994, 2006–present)
- northwest hip hop/alternative hip hop(2002–present)
- BOAT, indie rock (2004–present)
- William Bolcom, contemporary classical/traditional pop/parlour/cabaret/ragtime (1950s-present)
- Patti Bown, jazz (1940s–2000s)
- Brad, alternative rock/grunge/neo-psychedelia (1992–present)
- Gerald Brashear, jazz (1940s–1970s)
- The Briefs, punk rock (2000–present)
- Brite Futures, indie rock/electronica (2005–2013)
- folk pop(1957–present)
- Budo, hip hop (2004–present)
- Burning Witch, doom/sludge/drone metal (1995–1998)
- Calm Down Juanita, alternative/psychedelic rock (1998–2002)
- Candlebox, grunge/post-grunge (1990–2000, 2006–present)
- Cardiknox, indie pop/dance (2013–2018)
- Cat Butt, alternative rock/grunge (1987–1990)
- alternative pop(2000s)
- Buddy Catlett, jazz (1940s–2000s)
- The Cave Singers, indie rock/folk (2007–present)
- Champion, straight edge hardcore punk/melodic hardcore (1999–2006)
- Childbirth, garage/alternative/punk rock (2013–present)
- Chinas Comidas, art punk/post-punk/no wave (1977–1980)
- choral/a cappella/classical/contemporary classical(1993–present)
- Christ Analogue, electronic/industrial rock (1995–1998, 2003–2004)
- Circus Contraption, dark cabaret/vaudeville (1998–2009)
- Class of '99, alternative rock (1998)
- pop punk(2004–present)
- Climax Golden Twins, experimental music (1993–present)
- Coffin Break, hardcore punk/grunge (1987–1994, 2007–present)
- Tom Collier, jazz/classical/pop (1950s-present)
- Northwest hip hop(2005–2009, 2019–present)
- Roxy Coss, jazz (2000s-present]
- (1993–present)
- Culprit, heavy metal (1982–1985, 2010–present)
- Cuong Vu, jazz (1994–present)
- The Daily Flash, folk/psychedelic rock (1965–1968, 2002–present)
- R&B/pop (2011–present)
- The Dark Fantastic, hard/desert/psychedelic/indie rock (1997–2001)
- indie hip hop(2009–present)
- Dead Low Tide, garage rock (2001–2003)
- The Dead Science, experimental pop (1999–present)
- Dear John Letters, alternative rock/indie rock/emo (2000–present)
- Deep Sea Diver, pop rock (2009–present)
- Demon Hunter, Christian/metalcore/nu/alternative/groove metal (2000–present)
- (1960s-present)
- Devilhead, alternative rock/post-grunge (1993–1998)
- Diagram of Suburban Chaos, electronic music (1997–present)
- funk punk(1989–1998)
- The Divorce, indie rock (2002–2007, 2011)
- Dolour, pop/power/baroque|/chamber pop (1997–2007, 2020–present)
- Doll Squad, alternative rock/power pop (1987–1989, 2008–present)
- Taime Downe, hard rock/glam metal/industrial rock/gothic rock (1985–present)
- R&B(1960s–2016)
- Dude York, alternative rock (2012–present)
- Dust Moth, metalgaze (2013–present)
- The Dutchess and the Duke, indie folk (2008–2010, 2014–2015)
- Shelby Earl, indie rock (2005–present)
- Jack Endino, grunge/alternative rock/hardcore punk/heavy metal/doom metal (1985–present)
- Fair, alternative rock/emo pop (2005–2012)
- Faith & Disease, ethereal wave/dark wave/slowcore/shoegaze/dream pop/new-age (1994–2006)
- The Fartz, hardcore punk (1981–1983, 1999–2003)
- Fastbacks, punk rock (1979–2002, 2011, 2018)
- Fences, pop/alternative/indie rock (2010–present)
- (2001–2004)
- Fleet Foxes, folk rock/chamber pop (2006–2013, 2016–present)
- Flop, grunge/power pop/punk rock (1990–1995)
- Foo Fighters, post-grunge/hard rock (1994–present)
- Forced Entry, thrash/progressive metal (1983–1995, 2002, 2020–present)
- Forgive Durden indie rock/post-hardcore/emo (2003–2010, 2013)
- The Frantics, rock and roll (1950s–1960s)
- David Friesen, jazz (1960s-present)
- doo wop(1952–1962)
- Gas Huffer, garage rock/punk blues/garage punk/grunge (1989–2006)
- Gatsbys American Dream, indie rock (2001–2006, 2010–2012, 2020–present)
- Tim Gemmill, jazz/post-bop/avant-garde jazz/jazz fusion/techno (1967–present)
- The Gentlemen, pop rock (1998–1999. 2000–2001)
- Elmer Gill, jazz (1940s–2004)
- Girl On Fire, hard rock (2007–2015)
- (early-2000s-present)
- The Gits, punk rock (1986–1993)
- Goodness, alternative rock (1994–2005)
- Grand Archives, indie rock (2006–2012)
- Grammatrain, alternative rock/post-grunge/grunge/Christian rock (1994–1998, 2009–present)
- Grand Hallway, indie folk/chamber pop/art rock (2007–present)
- Natalie Grant, contemporary Christian (1999–present)
- Grave Babies, Gothic rock/dark wave/noise rock/lo-fi (2000–present)
- Northwest hip hop(2003–present)
- Green Apple Quick Step, alternative rock/post-grunge/psychedelic rock (1992–1998. 2009–present)
- The Green Pajamas neo-psychedelia/indie rock/Paisley Underground/jangle pop (1984–present)
- Green River, grunge/punk rock/heavy metal/garage rock (1984–1988, 1993, 2008–2009, 2018)
- Grieves, hip hop (2007–present)
- Gruntruck, grunge/heavy metal/alternative metal (1989–1993, 1996–2002, 2017–present)
- Ivar Haglund, folk (1920s–1980s)
- Hammerbox, alternative rock/grunge (1990–1994, 2004)
- Randy Hansen, psychedelic/blues rock/Jimi Hendrix tribute (1972–present)
- Harvey Danger, alternative rock (1992–2001, 2004–2009)
- Hater, alternative metal/grunge/hard rock (1993–1997, 2005, 2008)
- The Head and the Heart, indie folk/folk rock (2009–present)
- indietronica/synth-pop(2005–2006)
- Heart, hard rock/pop rock (1967–1998, 2002–2016, 2019–present)
- Heir Apparent, heavy/power/progressive metal (1983–1989, 2000–2019)
- Heiress, sludge metal/post-metal (2006–present)
- Hell's Belles, hard rock (2000–present)
- Helms Alee, sludge metal/noise rock/post-hardcore (2007–present)
- Jimi Hendrix, psychedelic rock/blues rock (1963–1970)
- Hey Marseilles, folk rock/chamber pop (2006–present)
- Hibou, dream pop, (2013–present)
- Himsa, metalcore/melodic death metal (1998–2008, 2017–present)
- Hobosexual, indie/experimental/alternative/garage rock (2009–present)
- R&B/pop/rock and roll(1958–1997)
- Hovercraft, experimental/noise/space/post-rock (1993–2001)
- I Declare War, deathcore (2005–present)
- The Intelligence post-punk/garage rock/garage punk (1999–present)
- Ivan & Alyosha, indie pop/rock (2007–present)
- Northwest hip hop/trap(1992–present)
- Ayron Jones, blues/grunge/rock/soul (2005–present)
- (1951–present)
- Juned, pop rock (1993–1996)
- Juno, indie rock/post-punk/post-hardcore/shoegaze/electronic (1995–2003, 2006)
- Damien Jurado, indie rock (1995–present)
- Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, indie rock/psychedelic pop/jazz (2005–2013)
- Kenny G, smooth jazz (1973–present)
- Kid Sensation (now Xola Malik), old skool hip hop/rap (1987–1996, 2009–present)
- Kill Switch...Klick, industrial rock (1991–present)
- Kings Kaleidoscope, contemporary worship/Christian rock/art rock/chamber pop/progressive pop (2011–present)
- Kinski, post-rock/noise rock/instrumental rock (1998–present)
- Kiss It Goodbye, metalcore/hardcore punk (1996–1998, 2012)
- Kultur Shock, Gypsy punk/alternative metal (1996–present)
- doo wop/neo-psychedelia(2013–present)
- R&B/soul(2004–2018)
- LAND, jazz/world/rock/electronic (1993–2001)
- The Lashes, power pop (2000–2008)
- Lavender Country, country/Americana (1972–1976, 1999–2000, 2014–present)
- Legion Within, dark wave/gothic rock/industrial rock (2000–present)
- The Lemons, post-grunge/pop-punk/thrash metal (1991–1996)
- R&B(1957–1969)
- Peter Scott Lewis, contemporary classical (1980s-present)
- Ryan Lewis (born in Spokane, Washington), alternative hip hop/progressive rap/pop rap/hipster hop (2006–present)
- Limp Richerds, hardcore punk/noise rock/grunge (1981–1987)
- Little Champions, indie rock (1996–present)
- jamband(1995–present)
- Loaded, hard rock/punk rock (1999–2002, 2006–present)
- The Long Winters, indie rock (2001–present)
- Love Battery, alternative rock/grunge/psychedelic rock (1989–2002, 2006, 2011–2013)
- Macklemore, alternative hip hop/progressive rap/pop rap/hipster hop (2000–present)
- Mad Rad, hipster hop/electronic (2007–2010)
- Mad Season, alternative rock/grunge (1994–1996)
- The Magic Magicians, indie rock (2000–present)
- prog rock(1996–present)
- The Maldives, alt-country/country rock (2002–present)
- Mamiffer, post-rock/ambient/experimental rock/drone ((2007–present)
- prog rock(2007–present)
- Briana Marela, indie rock (2010–present)
- b-boycrew
- Math and Physics Club, indie pop/twee pop (2004–present)
- Duff McKagan, hard/punk rock (1979–present)
- (1976–1996, 2001–present)
- Mateo Messina, classical/film score (1995–present)
- Emi Meyer, jazz (2007–present)
- Vic Meyers, jazz (1910s–1930s)
- Mico de Noche, sludge metal (2001–present)
- prog rock(2001–2018)
- The Missionary Position, hard rock/blues/funk (2009–present)
- Mistrust, heavy metal (1984–1988)
- Northwest hip hop(1992–2017)
- Pamela Moore, hard rock/heavy metal (1981–present)
- Mother Love Bone, grunge/glam punk (1988–1990)
- Northwest hip hop(1999–present)
- Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, indie/alternative rock (2008–present)
- Mudhoney, alternative rock/grunge/garage punk (1988–present)
- The Murder City Devils, horror/garage punk (1996–2001, 2006–present)
- My Sister's Machine, hard rock/grunge/heavy metal/alternative metal (1989–1994, 2010–2011)
- The Myriad, indie/alternative rock (2002–2009)
- Nacho Picasso, hip hop (2010–present)
- Naked Giants, rock and roll/psychedelic rock/grunge/post-punk/lo-fi (2014–present)
- Narrows, mathcore/hardcore punk/post-hardcore/sludge metal (2008–present)
- Nerve Filter, electronic (1995–present)
- Nevada Bachelors, alternative/indie/pop rock (1997–2001)
- Nevermore, heavy/progressive/thrash/power metal (1991–2001)
- New American Shame, hard rock (1998–2001, 2010–present)
- surf rock(2009–present)
- Nightcaps, lounge/pop/jazz/torch/soul/garage rock (1994–present)
- The No WTO Combo, hardcore punk/spoken word (1999)
- Northwest hip hop(2004–present)
- Northwest hip hop(1999–present)
- On the Last Day, post-hardcore/alternative rock/emo/screamo (2003–2009)
- Northwest hip hop(1997–present)
- ambient pop/electronic(2012–present)
- Orkestar RTW, Balkan/folk (1987–present)
- Sean Osborn, classical/chamber (1980s-present)
- Pacific Gold, contemporary Christian/folk rock/indie rock (2012–present)
- busker
- The Pale Pacific, indie rock/power pop (1994–present)
- Aaron Parks, jazz (1999–present)
- Past Lives, post-punk/experimental rock/post-hardcore (2007–present)
- Pearl Jam, grunge/alternative rock/hard rock (1990–present)
- Pedro the Lion, indie rock/slowcore/emo (1995–2006, 2017–present)
- Perfume Genius, art/baroque/indie/chamber pop (2008–present)
- Perkins Coie Band, rock and roll/garage rock (1999–present)
- R&B(2008–present)
- Pigeonhed, funk/soul/trip hop/lo-fi (1993–1997, 2010–2019)
- musical comedy(1997–2009)
- Pollens, indie rock (2008–present)
- Ponga, jazz improv (1997–2001)
- Pony Time, garage rock/punk rock (2009–present)
- Poor Moon, indie folk/pop (2012–present)
- (2001–2005, 2013)
- Posse, indie rock (2010–2017)
- The presidents of the United States of America, alternative rock/pop-punk/post-grunge (1993–1998, 2002–2015)
- Pretty Girls Make Graves, post-punk/indie rock/emo (2001–2007)
- Pretty Mary Sunshine, indie rock (1993–1994)
- The Prom, indie rock (1999–present)
- Psychic Emperor, indie rock/electronic (2004–present)
- Q5, hard rock/heavy metal (1983–1989,:2014–present)
- Northwest hip hop(2002–present)
- Raft of Dead Monkeys, Christian punk/hardcore punk/noise rock (1999–2001, 2004)
- Raz Simone (Razpy), hip hop/trap (2014–present)
- Red Stars Theory, indie rock/post-rock/slowcore (1995–2000)
- Melissa Reese, hard rock/heavy metal/glam metal/alternative rock/alternative metal/electronica/experimental rock/punk rock (2006–present)
- Reignwolf, indie rock/blues rock (2011–present)
- Reverend, thrash/speed/power metal (1989–1993, 2000–2010)
- The Revolutionary Hydra, indie rock (1997–2003)
- Roadside Monument, instrumental math rock/emo (1994–1998, 2002–2003)
- The Rockfords, alternative rock (1999–2003)
- Room Nine, alternative/psychedelic rock (1980–1988)
- Rose Blossom Punch, post-grunge/alternative rock (1995–1999)
- Loni Rose, pop (1993–present)
- Rose Windows, psychedelic/experimental rock (2010–2015)
- The Rumba Kings, world/Latin (2015–present)
- R&B(1960–present)
- indie hip hop(2002–present)
- Sanctuary, thrash/power metal (1985–1992, 2010–present)
- Sandrider, grunge/hard rock/sludge metal (2008–present)
- Satchel, grunge (1991–2019)
- The Saturday Knights, hip hop/indie rock/pop (2007–present)
- folk/country pop(2005–2012)
- Schoolyard Heroes, horror punk/alternative rock/gothic rock/shock rock (1999–2009)
- scntfc, EDM/hip hop/rock (2000s-present)
- Marc Seales, jazz/post-bop (1990s-present)
- Seapony, indie pop (2010–2015, 2017)
- Seattle Chamber Players, chamber (1989–present)
- choral(1982–present)
- opera company(1963–present)
- choral/a cappella/classical/contemporary classical(1972–present)
- Seattle Symphony, classical/contemporary classical (1903–present)
- (1990–2008)
- experimental/alternative hip hop(2009–present)
- Sharks Keep Moving, math/indie rock (1997–2002)
- Shoplifting, punk rock (2002–2006)
- Sicko, pop-punk (1991–2001, 2018–present)
- The Sight Below, ambient/techno/shoegaze/electronic (2008–present)
- pop-rap(1981–present)
- Sirens Sister, alternative rock (2006–present)
- Skerik, jazz/saxophonics/punk jazz (1980s-present)
- Skin Yard, grunge/alternative metal (1985–1992)
- Sky Cries Mary, psychedelic rock/trance/industrial/space rock (1988–1999, 2004–2009, 2013–present)
- Sledgeback, punk rock/Oi! (2004–present)
- Slender Means, indie rock (2003–2010)
- Sleze, glam metal (1984–1987)
- Smoosh (now Chaos Chaos), indie/synth/baroque/twee pop (2000–present)
- SMP, industrial rock (1992–present)
- Soiled Doves, post-hardcore/art punk/screamo/experimental rock (2000–2001)
- Northwest hip hop(2008–present)
- Solger, hardcore punk (1980–1982)
- Soulbender, alternative metal/hard rock (2002–2014)
- Soundgarden grunge/heavy alternative metal/hard rock (1984–1997, 2010–2019)
- Northwest hip hop(1989–2004)
- Spys4Darwin, alternative metal/hard rock (2001–2002)
- bubblegum pop-punk(1984–2009, 2017–present)
- Floyd Standifer, jazz (1946-2000s)
- experimental/black metal(1998–present)
- Sunny Day Real Estate, emo/indie rock/post-grunge/post-hardcore (1992–1995, 1997–2001, 2009–2014, 2022–present)
- punk pop(1993–2005)
- Sweet 75, alternative rock (1994–2000)
- Sweet Water alternative rock/punk rock/new wave/grunge/hard rock (1990–1999, 2007–present)
- Tad, grunge/alternative metal/sludge metal/noise rock (1988–1999)
- garage rock revival(2014–present)
- Tattle Tale, folk punk/indie rock (1992–1995)
- Tea Cozies, garage rock (2005–2012)
- Teen Angels, grunge (1990s)
- The Tempers, synth-pop/glam rock/art rock/dark cabaret (2006–present)
- Temple of the Dog, grunge/alternative rock (1990–1992, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2014–2016, 2019)
- Northwest hip hop(1999–present)
- These Arms Are Snakes, post-hardcore/alternative metal (2002–2009, 2016, 2021)
- This Busy Monster, indie rock (1992–2001)
- This Providence, alternative rock/indie rock/pop-punk/emo (2003–2013)
- Jennifer Thomas, classical/crossover/new-age (1990s-present)
- Thorr's Hammer, death-doom (1994–1995, 2009–2010)
- Thrones, doom metal/avant-garde/noise rock/experimental rock (1994–present)
- Throw Me the Statue, indie pop (2005–2013)
- Thunderpussy, hard/blues rock (2014–present)
- Tiny Vipers, indie rock (2006–present)
- The Tiptons Sax Quartet, jazz (1990s-present)
- TKO, hard rock/heavy metal (1977–1986, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2018)
- Toe Tag, hardcore punk/thrash metal/metalcore (2006–present)
- Total Experience Gospel Choir, gospel (1973–present)
- Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, anti-folk/indie rock/art pop (2000–2011)
- Trial, hardcore punk (1995–2000, 2005, 2009, 2011)
- The Tripwires, power pop/pub rock (2006–present)
- Truly, grunge/psychedelic rock/alternative rock (1990–1998, 2008–present)
- Tuatara, instrumental world/folk (1996–present)
- cuddlecore(1995–present)
- The Turn-Ons, alternative rock (1997–2008)
- The U-Men, grunge/punk rock/post-punk/garage rock/noise rock (1980–1989)
- Uncle Bonsai, acoustic contemporary folk (1981–1988, 1999–present)
- Undertow, hardcore punk/metalcore (1991–2004)
- Unified Theory, alternative rock/post-grunge (1998–2001)
- United State of Electronica, electronic rock (2002–present)
- Unwed Sailor, instrumental rock/ambient/post-rock (1998–present)
- Vells, indie rock (2001–present)
- Vendetta Red, alternative rock/screamo/emo/post-grunge/post-hardcore (1998–2006, 2010–present)
- Visqueen, pop-punk/power pop/indie rock (2001–2011)
- Walt Wagner, lounge/pop/classical/rock and roll (1960–2017)
- The Wakefields, alt-country/Americana (2004–present)
- Waking Hour, progressive metal (2003–present)
- Frank Waldron, jazz (1910s–1950s)
- The Walkabouts, indie rock/alt-country/folk rock/chamber pop/slowcore (1984–2015)
- Walking Papers, alternative rock (2013–present)
- War Babies, hard rock/glam metal (1998–1993)
- Waxwing, emo/indie rock (1996–2005)
- Harold Weeks, jazz/ragtime (1910s–1967)
- Wellwater Conspiracy, alternative rock/garage rock/neo-psychedelia/space rock (1993–2004)
- Western State Hurricanes, indie rock (1997–1999)
- Whangdoodle Entertainers, jazz/ragtime (1907–1925)
- prog rock(2005–2022)
- Willard, grunge/sludge metal/heavy metal/alternative metal (1989–1995, 2018)
- William Control (Wil Francis), dark wave/synth-pop/gothic rock (2008–2017, 2020)
- Dick Wilson, jazz (1930–1941)
- Wimps, punk rock (2012–present)
- Northwest hip hop(2008–present)
- Wonderful, dream pop (1999–present)
- Xperience, alternative hip hop (2004–present)
- The Young Fresh Fellows, alternative rock (1981–present)
- Zeke, hardcore punk/hard rock/heavy metal (1992–present)
- Zipgun, punk rock (1991–1994)
Sequim
- R&B/country(2016–present)
Snohomish
- Megs McLean, country rock/grunge/"crunge" (2015–present)
Spokane
- Cami Bradley, folk/pop (2013–present)
- Michael Clarke, folk/country rock (1964–1993)
- Bing Crosby, traditional pop/vocal jazz (1922–1977)
- dixieland(1931–1993)
- Enterprise Earth, deathcore (2014–present)
- Thomas Hampson, opera/romantic/chamber/show tunes (1980–present)
- Myles Kennedy, alternative metal/blues rock/hard rock/jazz (1988–present)
- The Makers, garage rock (1991–present)
- The Chad Mitchell Trio, folk (1958–1967, 1987, 2005–2014)
- Patrice Munsel, opera/show tunes (1943–2008)
- Jimmy Rowles, jazz/swing/cool jazz (1940s–1980s)
- Spokane Symphony, classical (1945–present)
- Telecast, Christian rock (2003–2008)
- Too Slim and the Taildraggers, blues rock (1986–present)
- folk pop(2000–present)
- Merrill Womach, gospel (1960–1985)
Stanwood
- Bundle of Hiss, hard rock/grunge/heavy metal (1980–1988)
Tacoma
- Botch, mathcore/metalcore (1993–2002)
- Neko Case, indie rock/alt-country/folk rock/Americana (1994–present)
- Corky Corcoran, jazz (1940–1979)
- Girl Trouble, garage rock (1983–present)
- Donald Glaude, house (1992–present)
- Harkonen, post-hardcore (1997–2005)
- He is We, indie pop(2008–present)
- Junkyard Jane, Americana/"Swampabilly" (1997–present)
- melodicpop (1989–1995, 2013)
- Vicci Martinez, pop/rock (2000–present)
- Jerry Miller, psychedelic rock/folk rock (1959–present)
- Motopony, indie/alternative rock (2008–present)
- prog metal/hard rock(1986–present)
- Roald Reitan, opera (1957-1970s)
- Roy, folk/indie rock (2002–2006, 2010)
- Seaweed, punk rock/alternative rock/post-hardcore (1989–1999, 2007–2014)
- symphonic rock(2002–2006)
- Swelter, noise rock/hardcore punk/shoegaze (1989–1998)
- surf rock(1958–present)
- Versing, alternative rock/indie rock/shoegaze (2015–present)
- R&B(1958–1969)
- Jaime Wyatt, outlaw country/Americana (2002–present)
- Yogi Yorgesson, traditional pop parody music (1927–1941)
Tenino
- Adam Craig, country (2004–present)
Tri-Cities
- Larry Coryell, jazz fusion/free jazz/pop/rock/classical (1965–2017)
- Gosling (formerly Loudermilk), hard/alternative rock (1995–2006)
- Kristine W, dance/house/electronica/jazz (1985–present)
- James Otto, country (2002–present)
- Michael Peterson, country (1986–present)
Tumwater
- Karp, post-hardcore (1990–1998)
- Survival Knife, post-hardcore (2011–2015)
- Unwound, post-hardcore/noise rock/experimental rock (1991–2002)
Vancouver WA
- Jeff Lorber, smooth jazz/jazz fusion (1975–present)
Vashon
- The Pharmacy, psychedelic/indie rock (2002–present)
- pop punk(1990–2002, 2011, 2013, 2014)
- Sumac, post-metal/sludge metal (2014–present)
Wahkiakum County
- Giants in the Trees, alternative rock (2017–present)
Walla Walla
- Chastity Belt, alternative rock/rock and roll/noise pop/pop rock (2010–present)
- Evelyn Evelyn, baroque pop/Americana/dark cabaret (2007–2012)
Wenatchee
- The Chargers, garage rock (1966–1969)
- surf rock(1963–1994)
- surf rock/country(1961–present)
- Don Lanphere, jazz (1947–2003)
Yakima
- R&B/jazz(1980–present)
- Gary Peacock, jazz/avant-garde jazz/free jazz (1956–2020)
- The Velvet Illusions, garage rock (1965–1967)
(Note: years active are as of July 23, 2022 and are in some cases approximate)
See also
- Hip-hop music in the Pacific Northwest
- Indigenous music of North America#Northwest Coast
- Museum of Pop Culture
- Music of Seattle
- List of songs about Seattle
- List of musicians from Seattle
- Music of Olympia, Washington
- Music of the Pacific Northwest
References
- ^ "Music Production: What Does a Music Producer Do? – Berklee Online". Berklee Online Take Note. September 10, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "FFanzeen: Rock'n'Roll Attitude with Integrity: Chinas Comidas: An Inside Look – Rock'n'Roll in Washington State [1980]". November 15, 2015.
- ^ "Jaime "Crunchbird" Johnson Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
- ISBN 0-922915-71-7.
- Bush, James. "Encyclopedia of Northwest Music: From Classical Recordings to Classic Rock Performances, Your Guide to the Best of the Region". Seattle: Sasquatch Books, 1999. 340p. ISBN 1-57061-141-6