Meet the 10 Biggest Musicians From Colorado

Nothing brings people together quite like music. You never know who you might meet when you go to a show. People are willing to travel all around the world for it. You can go to a festival in another country with others who share the same music tastes.

Knowing there are songs to help you through every scenario in life that describe whatever emotions you’re feeling is amazing. Different parts of the world have music that’s distinct to them. When you think of Colorado, you might think of hipster and indie music genres. Given what groups have come from the state, that makes total sense. Musicians aren’t the only people with talent who come from the Centennial State, either. There are tons of athletes to think about as well. Click here to read more about sports teams from Colorado.

Regarding music, Colorado is also home to one of the greatest concert venues in the world. Musicians from all over the globe dream of playing shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater. The state sits facing the mountains, with the city of Denver lighting up behind it. It’s always open for people to visit when concerts aren’t happening. Some of the talented folks who were born in Colorado have taken this stage.

To gather this list of the biggest musicians from Colorado, 24/7 Tempo consulted many different music-centered sources. These include Rolling Stone, Spotify, and Hello Music Theory.

Isaac Slade (the frontman of The Fray) and Joe King (one of the guitarists) are originally from Boulder. 2005 was a massive year for The Fray. They released their debut album which included the song they’re most known for, “How to Save a Life.” Another album titled, “The Fray” included their hit song, “You Found Me.”

It was released in 2009. The group is originally from Denver and still releases music today. They were originally created as a group that would lead worship at several different churches in the Denver area. The band has been up for many different nominations over the years and has taken home three Billboard Music Awards. It’s not possible to talk about Colorado music and culture without mentioning this iconic rock band.

Denver isn’t the only major city in Colorado. About an hour and a half south, you’ll find Colorado Springs, the home of OneRepublic and lead guitarist Zach Filkins. The pop band was one of the first to use the internet to their advantage, as they were tracked down using Myspace back in the 2000s.

The group was brought to Los Angeles and signed with Timbaland’s record label. They were the first rock band to sign with him and would go on to explode with their single “Apologize.” OneRepublic has delivered hit after hit ever since, with songs like “Counting Stars,” “Stop and Stare,” and “All the Right Moves.”

Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte first met while living in Boulder, Colorado. There’s something about hearing their hit song “DONTTRUSTME” playing in a movie, club, bar, or party. The song is so versatile that it can be blasted in almost any environment. The duo’s name comes from the Denver area code of 303.

While they were active, the two had a legendary run between 2007 and 2010. After their first single and album, they came back with “Streets of Gold” that featured “My First Kiss.” Ke$ha was part of this album. These days, you can find the pair performing at festivals all around the world. With their crowd getting older, making sure they’re on the lineup is a must for festival coordinators.

Philip Bailey was born in 1951 in Denver, Colorado. He rose to fame as a singer, percussionist, and songwriter in the band Earth, Wind, & Fire. The group first came together back in 1969 and has gone on to be one of the most successful stories of all time. The group has won six Grammy Awards during their time making music. They’re also known for being in the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame. Bailey was part of that magic and he’s thought of as one of the most important people in music history.

The pop rock genre has exploded over the last few years. Jamie Laurie is one of the members of a group called Flobots that fits into that category. The singer was born in Denver. Flobots was formed in 2005 and became known for their hit single “Handlebars” in 2008. The song illustrates how people always try to one up each other, rather than just appreciating what’s in front of them.

If you wateched “Austin & Ally” on Disney Channel, then you’re already familiar with Ross Lynch. The singer and actor from Littleton, Colorado played the titular role of Austin. He’s also an accomplished singer who’s had an impressive solo career. Before that, he was part of a band called The Driver Era. Lynch was known for his solo song “A Billion Hits,” which was released in 2012. Lynch’s brother, Rocky, was part of The Driver Era alongside him – and he was also born in Colorado. He’s actively working on creating the same level of buzz his brother has.

Todd Mohr was born in Denver, Colorado and has been the lead singer of the band Big Head Todd and the Monsters. The group was also founded in Colorado and is known for hits like “Broken Hearted Savior” and “Resignation Superman.” Mohr and the group have been around since the 1980s and even though they haven’t won any major awards, it still says a lot that they’ve been able to sustain their notoriety.

Most music lovers know all about who Maroon 5 is. Even if you don’t know the band, you’ve likely heard of Adam Lavine. While he’s not from Colorado, Jesse Carmichael is. Carmichael is one of the guitarists for the band. He grew up in the beautiful city of Boulder and he’s one of the few people to grace the Super Bowl halftime stage.

Maroon 5 is an iconic bands, making Carmichael a legend in his own right. Click here to read more about famous athletes from Colorado. Maroon 5 released new music in 2023 like many other bands. Click here to read about the the most popular albums released in 2023.