One of the first states in the union, Connecticut is also the southernmost state in the region known as New England. Though it is best known for its lush greenery as well as its history of financial service businesses, there’s a surprising wellspring of musical talent that hails from The Nutmeg State. Let’s meet the 10 biggest musicians from Connecticut.
(If you live in a more southern state, discover the 10 biggest musicians from Arkansas.)
To compile a list of the biggest musicians from Connecticut, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of musical websites and databases including Hello Music Theory, Singersroom, and The Famous People. From there, we picked an array of artists from different periods and genres. After that, we consulted sites like Britannica for specific biographical information.
John Mayer
- Hometown: Fairfield
One of the biggest musicians from Connecticut is undoubtedly John Mayer. The singer, songwriter, and guitarist first got his start at the Berklee College of Music, before playing at local clubs and building his name. His two albums with Columbia Records were critical and commercial successes, both earning multi-platinum status.
Later in his music career, John Mayer joined the remaining members of the Grateful Dead to form the band Dead & Company. The band has continued to play shows in Jerry Garcia’s honor well into the current year. For his musical success, Mayer has won seven Grammy Awards.
Moby
- Hometown: Darien
Born Richard Melville Hall, Moby is a singer, songwriter, and animal rights activist. He first rose to prominence with his 1991 single “Go,” which reached the top ten charts in both The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Since then, Moby has released a string of successful albums including “Play,” which sold over 12 million copies.
In addition to music, Moby is a noted animal rights activist. In this role, Moby has lent support to various organizations including Farms Not Factories as well as releasing a documentary called “Punk Rock Vegan Movie.” For his musical success, Moby has won two Billboard Music Awards, five DanceStar Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards.
Rivers Cuomo
- Hometown: Mansfield
One of the biggest musicians from Connecticut is guitarist and singer Rivers Cuomo. He first tasted fame with the release of his band Weezer’s debut album, the “Blue Album,” which was a critical and commercial success and earned multiplatinum status. Since then, as part of Weezer, Cuomo has released a string of successful albums.
In addition to Weezer, Cuomo has collaborated with several musicians including Scott Murphy, Todd Rundgren, and Panic! At the Disco. For his work with Weezer, Cuomo has earned numerous accolades including a Grammy Award, five MTV Video Music Awards, and sold millions of records.
Gene Pitney
- Hometown: Rockville
Born Gene Francis Alan Pitney, Gene Pitney was a singer-songwriter and music artist and one of the biggest musicians from Connecticut. He first rose to prominence with the release of his Top 40 hit “(I Wanna) Love My Life Away.” From there, Pitney released a string of successful songs with over 20 of them becoming Top 40 hit singles.
Some of these tracks include “Town Without Pity,” “(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance,” “It Hurts to Be in Love,” and “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart.” A noted songwriter, Pitney also wrote hit singles for musicians Bobby Vee, Ricky Nelson, and the Crystals. For his musical success, Pitney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Michael Bolton
- Hometown: New Haven
No doubt, another one of the biggest musicians from Connecticut is singer and songwriter Michael Bolton. Born Michael Bolotin, Bolton first rose to fame as frontman for the band Blackjack. He reached true success, however, with a string of hit solo songs in the mid-1970s and ’80s.
He is also a noted collaborator, having worked with musicians such as Patti LaBelle, Ray Charles, Celine Dion, and B.B. King. For his musical success, Bolton has sold more than 75 million records as well as earning six American Music Awards and two Grammy Awards. (For other acts from this generation, discover baby boomers that are still making great music.)
Liz Phair
- Hometown: New Haven
Born Elizabeth Clark Phair, Liz Phair is a singer and songwriter. Though she worked as a musician around the country, most notably in San Francisco, Phair did not taste fame until the release of her debut album “Exile in Guyville.” Since then, she has released a string of successful albums and earned acclaim for her unique rock sound.
Her fourth album, “Liz Phair,” earned her a mainstream audience with the single “Why Can’t I?” peaking at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Besides having sold over three million records worldwide, Phair has earned numerous accolades for her music. Some of these include a Spin Readers’ Poll Award, a BMI Pop Award, and three ASCAP Pop Music Awards.
Mark McGrath
- Hometown: Hartford
Born Mark Sayers McGrath, Mark McGrath is a singer, musician, actor, and television host. He first rose to prominence as lead singer of the band Sugar Ray. Starting with the hit single “Fly,” McGrath and Sugar Ray released several hit albums and singles including “Every Morning” and Sunday.”
After music, McGrath transitioned to a visual media career. Some of his many television credits include the show “Extra,” “American Idol,” “Charmed,” and “Celebrity Wife Swap.” As for films, McGrath has had roles in dozens of movies including “Scooby Doo,” “Uptown Girls,” and “Sharknado 2: The Second One.”
MGMT
- Hometown: Middletown
MGMT is a neo-psychedelic rock band formed in Middletown and some of the biggest musicians from Connecticut. Consisting of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, MGMT first rose to prominence with the release of their debut album “Oracular Spectacular.” Noted for its unique sound, the album produced several hit songs including “Time to Pretend,” “Electric Feel,” and “Kids.”
Since then, MGMT has released numerous hit albums including “Congratulations,” and their eponymous third album “MGMT.” For the band’s unique take on psychedelic rock, MGMT has earned numerous accolades throughout their career. Some of these include two Music Video Production Awards, four NME Awards, and a Grammy Award.
The Carpenters
- Hometown: New Haven
Some of the biggest musicians from Connecticut are Karen and Richard Carpenter. The duo first tasted fame as the band “The Carpenters,” which signed to A&M Records in 1969. The following year, the duo released the singles “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” and “We’ve Only Just Begun” to widespread acclaim and commercial success.
Their unique style and vocal ensemble helped The Carpenters earn a record-breaking number of hit singles in the following years with three number-one singles and five number-two singles on the Billboard Charts. Though they sold more than 100 million records worldwide, the stress of music life was too much for the siblings. Richard stepped away from the band due to addiction while Karen died in 1983 due to complications from anorexia nervosa.
Vinnie Vincent
1983: Vinnie Vincent of the rock and roll band Kiss performs in circa 1983. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
- Hometown: Bridgeport
One of the biggest musicians from Connecticut is guitarist and musician Vinnie Vincent. Born Vincent John Cusano, Vincent first tasted fame as a member of the legendary rock band Kiss. Though he was with the band for their more successful years, disputes arose and Vincent left the band in 1984.
After that, Vincent started his eponymous band, the Vinnie Vincent Invasion, which had some successful hits in the hair metal genre. Beyond that, Vincent was also a staff songwriter for numerous television shows including “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi.” In recent years, Vincent has reunited with members of Kiss and made stage and performance appearances with members of the band. (For other underrated musicians, discover the most popular artists who’ve never had a No. 1 hit.)