Massachusetts is the land of beans and cod. As New England’s most populous state, it’s not surprising that it’s also the home of many influential music artists. What is surprising, however, is just how many of the big acts to come out of The Bay State are bands. As such, let’s meet the 10 biggest musicians from Massachusetts. (For another New England state, discover the biggest musicians from Connecticut.)
To compile a list of the 10 biggest musicians from Massachusetts, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of music and celebrity websites and databases including Hello Music Theory and The Famous People. From there, we selected the biggest musicians from a range of genres, styles, and periods. After that, we consulted websites like Biography and Britannica for specific biographical information.
Aerosmith
- Hometown: Boston
Some of the biggest musicians from Massachusetts comprise the members of the rock band Aerosmith. The band was formed by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joe Kramer, and Brad Whitford in Boston in 1971. They first rose to fame with the release of their eponymous debut album.
Since then, Aerosmith has become the best-selling American hard rock band of all time. Besides having sold over 150 million records worldwide, Aerosmith has earned 21 Top-40 hit singles. As for their accolades, the band won four Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, and 10 MTV Video Music Awards. For the band’s unprecedented success, Aerosmith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. (For other classic acts that are still active, explore baby boomer artists still making great music.)
Boston
- Hometown: Boston
Formed in Boston and named after the great city, the band Boston also features some of the biggest musicians from Massachusetts. Formed by Tom Scholz in 1975 with more members slowly added over time, Boston quickly grew into one of music’s biggest acts. Some of their biggest hits include “More than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” and “Don’t Look Back.”
During their career, Boston released six studio albums and sold more than 75 million records worldwide. The band has continued to release albums, however, the death of original lead singer Brad Delp in 2007 has slowed the band’s output. Since then, various singers have stepped in to fill his shoes including Michael Stipe and Tommy DeCarlo.
James Taylor
- Hometown: Boston
Another one of the biggest musicians from Massachusetts is undoubtedly James Taylor. Born James Vernon Taylor, he first rose to prominence by releasing the No. 3 single “Fire and Rain.” After that, Taylor scored a No. 1 hit with “You’ve Got a Friend,” before releasing a “Greatest Hits” album which sold over 12 million copies.
Since then, Taylor has retained an impressive fanbase for a singer-songwriter, selling over a million copies of each album released. A heavily decorated musician, Taylor has also earned over six Grammy Awards. For his musical success, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.
Donna Summer
- Hometown: Boston
Donna Summer was a singer-songwriter. Born Donna Adrian Gaines, Summer got her start playing in a psychedelic rock band as well as acting and singing on stage. Her breakthrough came, however, with the release of songs like “Love to Love You Baby” and “I Feel Love.”
The success of these tracks and others led to her being called the “Queen of Disco.” Throughout her career, Summer has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the best-selling musicians of all time. For her musical success, she has won five Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Summers died of lung cancer at the age of 63.
New Kids on the Block
- Hometown: Dorchester
No one quite captured the attention of 1980s kids more than boy band and some of Massachusetts’s biggest musicians, New Kids on the Block. Created by music producer Maurice Starr, New Kids on the Block exploded onto the scene in the 1980s and, no doubt, paved the way for the success of future boy band pop acts.
Throughout their career, New Kids on the Block sold more than 80 million records worldwide. Besides being one of the first bands to play the Super Bowl Half-Time Show in 1991, the band has earned a long list of accolades. These include a Grammy Award, two American Music Awards, and nine Boston Music Awards.
Godsmack
- Hometown: Lawrence
Godsmack is a hard rock band formed by Sully Erna, Robbie Merrill, Tony Rombola, and Shannon Larkin in 1995. The group achieved success relatively early, with some of their first songs like “Keep Away” and “Whatever” topping the local Boston/New England area charts.
After that, Godsmack released three consecutive No. 1 albums on the Billboard Charts with “Faceless,” “IV,” and “The Oracle.” Throughout their career, Godsmack has sold nearly 20 million records worldwide. For their musical success, the band has won a Billboard Music Award and 16 Boston Music Awards.
Yo-Yo Ma
- Hometown: Tyringham
Another one of the biggest musicians from Massachusetts is cello virtuoso and classical music popularizer Yo-Yo Ma. Although he was born in Paris, Y0-Yo Ma attended Harvard University in Massachusetts as well as living for long periods in Tyringham. A child prodigy, Ma rose steadily to prominence as he matured playing in various orchestras as a soloist.
Throughout his career, Ma has sold over two million albums, which is impressive for the relatively overlooked modern classical music. He has also earned numerous distinguished accolades for his work, including 19 Grammy Awards, the Avery Fisher Prize, the Glenn Gould Prize, the National Medal of the Arts, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Dropkick Murphys
- Hometown: Quincy
Another group of the biggest musicians from Massachusetts is the Celtic punk band The Dropkick Murphys. Formed in 1996, the band slowly but steadily gained a reputation for its unique Irish-inflected brand of punk rock and its energetic live shows. The band scored its first hit with the song “Tessie.”
The breakthrough for The Dropkick Murphys would only come, however, with the release of the single “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” off their album “The Warrior’s Code.” After the song was featured in the movie “The Departed,” it became their best-known song and reached platinum status in sales. Something like hometown heroes, The Dropkick Murphy’s are also known for their annual St. Patrick’s Day concerts in the Boston area. (For other cult classic bands, explore the most popular artists who’ve never had a No. 1 hit.)
Rob Zombie
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 13: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Singer Rob Zombie performs on a stop of the Freaks on Parade tour at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
- Hometown: Haverhill
Another one of the biggest musicians from Massachusetts is singer, songwriter, producer, and film director Rob Zombie. Born Robert Bartleh Cummings, Zombie first rose to prominence as frontman for the successful hard rock band White Zombie. After that, he embarked on a solo career earning various platinum albums and selling millions of records.
After music, Zombie embarked on a successful film career as a director. Becoming a true practitioner of horror, he has released several cult-classic, yet controversial films. These include “House of 1000 Corpses,” “The Devil’s Rejects,” and the successful remake of “Halloween.”
Leonard Bernstein
- Hometown: Lawrence
Another one of the biggest musicians from Massachusetts is conductor, composer, and pianist Leonard Bernstein. He first became known in the public consciousness after he was hired as the lead conductor for the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.
Besides conducting orchestras, Bernstein was also a successful composer. Some of his work includes the hit musical “West Side Story” and various symphonies. For his musical success, Bernstein earned seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a whopping 16 Grammy Awards. He also received the Kennedy Center Honor in 1981. (For other beloved musicians, discover the music artists with the highest approval ratings.)