Meet the 10 Biggest Musicians From Minnesota

Minnesota is one of the northernmost states in the United States. Also called The Land of 10,000 Lakes, the state is steeped in Native American history and is typified by cold, snowy winters. Known best for its healthcare and finance industries, the state has also produced a torrent of influential musicians. Let’s meet the 10 biggest musicians from Minnesota.

To compile a list of the 10 biggest musicians from Minnesota, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of celebrity and music publications including Hello Music Theory, Singers Room, and Minnesota Fun Facts. Next, we selected musicians from a range of eras and musical genres. After that, we consulted sites like Britannica and Biography for specific biographical details.

Prince

• Hometown: Minneapolis

One of the biggest musicians from Minnesota was musician, producer, dancer, and actor Prince. Born Prince Rogers Nelson, he first rose to prominence after signing a record deal with Warner Bros. at the tender age of 19. From there, he released several successful albums including “Dirty Mind” and “1999.” After that, Prince released his seminal album “Purple Rain.” Not only was it the soundtrack for a film by the same name, the album spent six months on the Billboard Charts.

Over his lifetime, Prince sold over 100 million albums, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. For his unique fusion of genres like soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock, Prince earned many accolades for his music. These include an American Music Award, a Grammy President’s Merit Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Though Prince tragically died of an accidental overdose in 2016, he was inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues Music Halls of Fame the same year.

Bob Dylan

• Hometown: Duluth

Another one of the biggest musicians from Minnesota, if not the biggest, is Bob Dylan. Born Robert Allen Zimmerman, he was a folk musician in Greenwich Village, New York before he rose to prominence with his album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.” From there, Dylan would go on to release three of the most influential rock albums of the 1960s in 15 months, “Bringing It All Back Home,” “Highway 61 Revisited,” and “Blonde on Blonde.”

A songwriter with incredible depth, scope, and vision, Dylan became an icon of the transformative music of the 1960s and early ’70s. Throughout his career, he has sold over 145 million records and earned many accolades. Some of these include 10 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and most notably, the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Lizzo

• Hometown: Detroit

Though she was born in Detroit, rapper and singer Lizzo got her musical start in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Born Melissa Viviane Jefferson, she first rose to prominence with her first major label EP “Coconut Oil.” After that, Lizzo’s album “Cuz I Love You” peaked at number four on the Billboard charts. The single from that album, “Truth Hurts,” hit number one on the charts and became the longest-leading solo song by a female rapper.

Since then, Lizzo has continued to pump out hits including “Good as Hell,” “Rumors,” and “About Damn Time.” She has sold over 20 million albums in a few short years and earned many accolades. Some of these include Time Magazine’s “Entertainer of the Year,” four Grammy Awards, two Soul Train Music Awards, and a Billboard Music Award.

The Replacements

• Hometown: Minneapolis

Another selection of the biggest musicians from Minnesota is the rock band The Replacements. Featuring members Bob and Tommy Stinson, Chris Mars, and Paul Westerberg, The Replacements rose to prominence with the release of albums “Hootenanny” and “Let it Be.” A notorious renegade rock band, both in spirit and in live performances, The Replacements disbanded in 1991.

Over the following years, however, the influence of the band only grew. Though ostensibly an underground band during its short run, many famous bands including The Goo Goo Dolls and They Might Be Giants count them as inspiration. In recent years, a litany of songs by The Replacements appeared in movies like “Can’t Hardly Wait,” “Hot Tub Time Machine,” and “Say Anything.”

(For other influential artists who never reached commercial heights, discover the most popular artists who’ve never had a No. 1 hit.)

Judy Garland

• Hometown: Grand Rapids

Another one of the biggest musicians from Minnesota was actress and singer Judy Garland. Born Frances Ethel Gumm, Garland rose to prominence as a child actress and musician, appearing in films like “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “The Harvey Girls,” and most notably as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.”

Though personal struggles would typify her later career, Garland intermittently returned to acting with “A Star is Born,” and “Judgement at Nuremberg,” both of which earned her Academy Award nominations. Though she struggled with fame and drug addiction before ultimately succumbing to the latter, Garland earned many accolades throughout her career. Some of these include a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and two U.S. postage stamps featuring her likeness.

Soul Asylum

• Hometown: Minneapolis

Soul Asylum is a rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Originally formed under the name Loud Fast Rules, the band changed its name to Soul Asylum in 1984. Though the band recorded several albums under various labels with little success, they rose to fame with the album “Grave Dancers Union,” which would go on to earn triple platinum status in sales.

Due to the success of that album, the band performed at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton the following year. After that, Soul Asylum released the album “Let Your Dim Light Shine,” which also earned platinum status. For their musical success, Soul Asylum won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song and a mural celebrating them in Minneapolis.

Atmosphere

• Hometown: Minneapolis

Another group of the biggest musicians from Minnesota is the hip-hop duo Atmosphere. Consisting of rapper Slug and DJ/producer Ant, Atmosphere rose to prominence with the release of their first album, “Overcast!” Since then, the duo has released thirteen albums and ten EPs, which bolstered their reputation for conscious underground hip-hop.

Considered influential by many musicians in the industry, Atmosphere has collaborated with the likes of Living Legends, KRS-ONE, MF DOOM, and Aesop Rock. Though they remain a relatively underground act, Atmosphere has reached iconic status in their hometown of Minneapolis. (For other musical duos, discover the most popular music duos of all time.)

Hüsker Dü

• Hometown: Saint Paul

Hüsker Dü was a punk rock band from Saint Paul, Minnesota. Formed in 1979 by members Greg Norton, Grant Hart, and Bob Mould, the band first rose to prominence with the release of their debut studio album “Everything Falls Apart.” Hüsker Dü’s next album, “Zen Arcade,” is considered by some to be one of the greatest rock records of all time and a pioneering sound in the Alternative Rock genre.

While Hüsker Dü disbanded in early 1988, their influence and legacy would only grow. Countless famous bands and musicians count them as influences including the Pixies, Nirvana, Green Day, and even the Foo Fighters. Like other seminal Minneapolis bands, Hüsker Dü is honored in a mural on First Avenue in the city.

The Andrews Sisters

• Hometown: Minneapolis

Another group of the biggest musicians from Minnesota was The Andrews Sisters. Consisting of three sisters, LaVerne, Maxene, and Patricia Andrews, the trio first came to prominence with their 1941 hit “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” From there, The Andrews Sisters would introduce American audiences to the swing, boogie-woogie, and jump blues genres with hits like “Bei Mir Bistu Shein,” “Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out the Barrel),” and “Rum and Coca-Cola.”

Throughout their career, The Andrews Sisters sold an estimated 80 million records. Though they were only active until the early 1960s, their influence can be seen in countless vocal acts that have come since including Bette Midler and Christina Aguilera. For their success, The Andrews Sisters were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.

Brother Ali

• Hometown: New Hope

Another one of the biggest musicians from Minnesota is rapper and activist Brother Ali. Born Jason Douglas Newman, he first rose to prominence with the release of his album “The Undisputed Truth,” which debuted at 69 on the Billboard Charts. Since then, Brother Ali has released several albums including “Us,” “Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color,” and “All the Beauty in This Whole Life.”

With his distinct appearance due to albinism and his religious faith, Brother Ali has entranced audiences since he rose onto the music scene. A noted activist, Brother Ali was arrested after a protest in Minneapolis. For his musical success, several of Brother Ali’s albums have been placed in music publication’s Best Albums of the Year lists.

(For musicians from a state closer to the southern border, meet the 10 biggest musicians from Oklahoma.)