Arizona is the land of sweeping canyons and desert vistas. In fact, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, The Grand Canyon, is located here. Though it was the last contiguous state to be added to the Union, Arizona is a powerhouse of culture, especially music. As such, let’s meet the ten biggest musicians from Arizona. Some of them may surprise you. (If you live in a more northern state, meet the biggest musicians from Pennsylvania.)
To compile a list of the biggest musicians from Arizona, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of music websites, celebrity databases, and news publications including Hello Music Theory, The Famous People, and the Phoenix New Times. From there, we selected a range of musicians from different genres and decades. After that, we consulted sites like Britannica and Biography for biographical information.
Stevie Nicks
- Hometown: Phoenix
Born Stephanie Lynn Knicks, Stevie Knicks is a singer, songwriter, producer, and one of the biggest musicians from Arizona. Though she first got her start in music as part of a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, Knicks rose to fame upon joining the band Fleetwood Mac. During her tenure with the band, Fleetwood Mac became one of the best-selling music groups, with over 120 million records sold worldwide.
Knick’s solo career was met with equal success. She has released eight studio albums and sold 65 million records in the United States alone as a solo recording artist. Beyond that, Knicks’ solo career has earned her nominations for eight Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards nominations. She is also the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, for her solo career and as a member of Fleetwood Mac, respectively.
Alice Cooper
- Hometown: Phoenix
Born Vincent Damon Furnier, Alice Cooper is a world-famous singer and musician. He first got his start in local Arizona bands, before rising to fame with the 1970 single “I’m Eighteen.” Since then, Cooper has released several successful albums with his band and then solo. Throughout his career, he has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
Besides his reputation as “The Godfather of Shock Rock,” Cooper has had a diverse career. In addition to roles in films like “Wayne’s World” and “Mayor of the Sunset Strip,” he is also a restauranteur and celebrity golfer. Since 2004, Cooper has also hosted the classic rock radio show “Nights with Alice Cooper.”
Linda Ronstadt
- Hometown: Tuscon
Another one of the biggest musicians from Arizona is singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt. Born Linda Maria Ronstadt, she first rose to fame with the release of chart-topping albums “Simple Dreams,” “Living in the USA,” and “Heart Like a Wheel.” A consummate collaborator, Ronstadt has lent her voice to over 120 albums, selling more than 100 million records worldwide.
Ronstadt is also a heavily decorated musician. For her success, she has won 11 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, two Academy of Country Music Awards, and three American Music Awards. More recently, Ronstadt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities.
Dierks Bentley
- Hometown: Phoenix
Born Frederick Dierks Bentley, Dierks Bentley is a country music singer and songwriter. He first rose to fame with the release of his eponymous debut album and his follow-up release “Modern Day Drifter,” both of which were best-selling albums. Bentley studio albums have contributed 27 singles to the Hot Country and Country Airplay charts, 18 of which have reached number one.
As for his accolades, Bentley has been nominated for a Grammy Award fourteen separate times. Beyond that, he has won three Country Music Association Awards, two CMT Music Awards, and three Academy of Country Music Awards. In his personal life, Bentley is a flying enthusiast and holds a private pilot license.
Chester Bennington
- Hometown: Phoenix
Another one of the biggest musicians from Arizona was a singer, songwriter, and lead vocalist of the band Linkin Park, Chester Bennington. Born Chester Charles Bennington, he first rose to fame after the release of Linkin Park’s debut album “Hybrid Theory.” Certified diamond, this release was the best-selling album of the 2000s decade.
As part of Linkin Park, Bennington won numerous accolades throughout his career. These include two Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, and six American Music Awards. Bennington, however, struggled with both depression and substance abuse throughout his life and was found died by suicide in 2017.
Charles Mingus
- Hometown: Nogales
Born Charles Mingus Jr., Charles Mingus was an upright jazz bassist, composer, and author. He first rose to prominence collaborating with famed jazz musicians Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Louis Armstrong. With a career spanning over three decades and a wealth of classic recordings, Mingus is considered one of the greatest jazz composers and musicians in history.
Throughout his career, Mingus earned several accolades. These include a Guggenheim Fellowship for Music Composition, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and inductions into both the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Hall of Fame. In 1995, the United States Post Office issued a stamp bearing Mingus’ likeness in honor of his contribution to music. (For more critically acclaimed but commercially underrepresented musicians, learn about the most popular artists who’ve never had a No. 1 hit.)
Jimmy Eat World
- Hometown: Mesa
Jimmy Eat World is an American rock band composed of Jim Adkins, Tom Linton, Rick Burch, and Zach Lind. The band first rose to prominence with the release of their album “Bleed American” in 2001. This album spawned four charting singles including “The Middle,” which reached number one on the charts.
Since then, Jimmy Eat World has released nearly a dozen studio albums, with many of them charting in the top ten for album releases. The band’s highest charting release came with its sixth LP, “Chase This Light.” This album reached number five on the Billboard 200.
Marty Robbins
- Hometown: Glendale
Another one of the biggest musicians from Arizona was singer, songwriter, and NASCAR racing driver Marty Robbins. Born Martin David Robinson, he first rose to fame with the release of the single “I’ll Go On Alone,” which reached number one. From there, Robbins released a string of number-one singles including “El Paso” and “A White Sport Coat.”
Throughout his career, Robbins recorded more than 500 singles and 60 albums. For his success, he won two Grammy Awards and was elected to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Beyond music, Robbins was also a professional NASCAR racing driver, earning six top-ten finishes throughout his racing career. (For other songs like “El Paso,” explore the 50 most popular songs about America.)
Waylon Jennings
- Hometown: Tempe
Another one of the biggest musicians from Arizona was singer-songwriter, musician, and actor, Waylon Jennings. Born Wayland Arnold Jennings, he first rose to fame after releasing the critically-acclaimed albums “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean” and “Honky Tonk Heroes.” From there, Jennings released a string of hit albums and became the face of the Outlaw Country music genre.
Besides music, Jenning embarked on a notable acting career. He had notable roles in the film “Maverick,” as well as the television shows “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Stagecoach,” and “Family Guy.” For his musical success, Jennings was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
Michelle Branch
- Hometown: Sedona
Born Michelle Jacquet Branch, Michelle Branch is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She first rose to prominence with the release of albums “The Spirit Room” and “Hotel Paper.” Since then, Branch has released a string of successful albums, with many of them producing hit singles as well.
Throughout her career, Branch has received many accolades for her musicianship. These include a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, as well as an MTV Video Music Award. Her most recent release, “The Trouble with Fever” was released in 2022. (For more cross-genre hits like the song by Michelle Branch and Santana, learn about 25 unexpected cross-genre mashups.)