The greatest all-time musicians and bands from Indiana

These Indianapolis-based punks began in the mid-1980s, and enjoyed a strong local following due to their Ramones-influenced tunes. The hooks were catchy and the lyrics crass and crude and misogynistic, while touching everything from homosexuality ("Why Don't Lesbians Love Me?") pop culture ("You Got A Great Body, But Your Record Collection Sucks") and booze ("Smashed Again"). Though the group put out five studio records from 1989-2005, it never generated sustain success beyond the heartland. 

Hit any state university in Indiana during the early-to-mid-1990s, and there's a good chance music fans happened upon The Why Store. These Muncie rockers with an indie/alternative flare built a solid following throughout the Midwest, opened for John Mellencamp, and even appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. However, even though The Why Store enjoyed radio success with the single "Lack of Water," and signed a deal with an MCA subsidiary, it never enjoyed true national success. However, through 2021, the band was still playing with six studio albums under its belt. 

What began as an a cappella group at Indiana University founded in 1996, Straight No Chaser has grown into a professional act that has traveled the world. The professional group released its first album in 2008, Holiday Spirits, which, obviously, featured many popular Christmas classics. Though there have been several lineup changes to the professional act, all current members were also members of the student-run act, which still exists at IU (under the name Another Round). SNC's 2013 release Under the Influence featured covers of popular songs with the original artists such as Phil Collins, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Dolly Parton.

A native of Lafayette and born Jeff Isbell, Stradlin made a name for himself as rhythm guitarist for Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Guns N' Roses, which featured Stradlin's childhood friend from Indiana (more on him in a bit). Stradlin, though, left the band following its legendary 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction, on which he co-wrote hits "Sweet Child o' Mine" and "Paradise City." Steeped in the blues, Stradlin went on to enjoy a well-respected career as a solo artist, where he fell back on that influence to churn out 10 such albums after earning some notable success with his band Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds in the early 1990s.

The hardcore punk scene in the United States was prominent on both coasts, thanks to groups to bands like Black Flag and Dead Kennedys in California and Minor Threat in the Washington D.C. area. Then there was Indianapolis' Zero Boys, which was arguably the most notable and important hardcore punk outfit to hail from the Midwest. However, the band endured a disjointed career, releasing its debut record in 1981, then after breaking up, following that up 10 years later. It's officially released just four studio albums, but several singles, EPs and were part of many compilation projects.

Formed in the shadow of "Touchdown Jesus" in South Bend, Umphrey's McGee has been going strong since the mid-to-late 1990s, thanks to a potpourri of sound and traditionally strong live shows. True experimental musicians, Umphrey's McGee has dabbled in everything from straight-up rock to bluegrass to jazz to funk and seemingly everything else in between. Perhaps that's why the band has developed such a loyal following and put out 14 studio albums, most recently in 2022. It's also been heralded as one of the best jam bands of all time, in the spirit of the Grateful Dead and Phish.

It might surprise casual rock fans to learn that Roth was born in Bloomington, Ind., and spent his childhood years living in New Castle. That's before his family moved to Pasadena, Calif., where Roth attended high school. Though Roth is known for his cheeky, sexually-charged lyrics and high-octane stage presence while leading Van Halen, he generally had to work for what he achieved while fronting one of the biggest bands of the world — then enjoying decent success as a solo artist during the 1980s and early '90s. He credits his drive to a solid, workmanlike Midwestern upbringing.

Also known as William Rose (then William Bailey) from Lafayette, Axl Rose went on to become one of most prominent and notorious rock frontmen of 1980s and into the early '90s. Joined by his buddy Izzy Stradlin in Guns N' Roses, Rose and his uniquely shrieking vocals made for loads of success as the band helped create some of the most raw and intense mainstream hard rock at the time. Of course, Rose was completely full of himself, starting live concerts late, inciting riots and inflating an ego that essentially led to the band's demise. Since a partial reunion of Guns N' Roses over the last several years, Rose has been much more tame and keeps out of the spotlight.

Another iconic musician to come from Indianapolis, Montgomery should be considered one of the most versatile jazz guitarists of all time. An experimental guitarist at heart, Montgomery was an innovative player, trying to find different and distinct sounds. Montgomery was also known for the way he plucked the guitar strings with his thumb. He was prominent during the 1960s, but sadly passed away from a heart attack in 1968 at age 45. Stevie Wonder and Eric Johnson are among those prominent musicians who cite the Grammy Award winner as an influence on their own careers.

Hubbard attended Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, and by 20 years old during the late 1950s, was living in New York and playing trumpet along side some of the best jazz musicians in the world — Sonny Rollins, J. J. Johnson, and Quincy Jones just to name a few. Hubbard is credited with being a major torchbearer for the modern-day jazz trumpet sound. As his career went on, Hubbard also played with likes of John Coltrane, Elton John, Billy Joel and George Benson.

In some form, a version of The Four Freshman will still pop up today. Back in the late 1940s, the vocal group, which featured Columbus, Ind., natives Don and Ross Barbour, started out at as a barbershop quartet while attending the music school at Butler University in Indianapolis. From the there, the group turned to more of a jazzy sound, and eventually moving into pop. Known for its collective harmonies, The Four Freshman also played their own instruments. A couple of their more popular tunes included "Charmaine" and "Graduation Day." 

Members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this Indianapolis pop vocal group from the 1930s and '40s predated the era of doo-wop. In many ways, The Ink Stops influenced many of those artists of that ilk which would follow. The outfit truly gained prominence when vocalist Bill Kenny introduced a more soulful, tender approach to its sound during the mid-to-late 1930s. Some of The Ink Spots' biggest hits included "If I Didn't Care," "Maybe," "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and "To Each His Own."

A nine-time Grammy Award nominee, Hiatt was born and raised in Indianapolis, where he taught himself to play guitar around 11 years old. From there, he was off and running toward a successful professional career as a singer-songwriter. Hiatt has put out more than 20 studio albums since his 1974 debut Hangin' Around The Observatory, spanning such musical genres as traditional rock, blues, folk, country and new wave. In addition, acts like The Jeff Healey Band and Bonnie Raitt, among several others, have earned success with Hiatt-penned songs. 

The youngest of the 10 Jackson children from the famed Gary, Ind., family, Jackson was a child actor who then turned her attention to music, where she was one of the most prominent performers during the 1980s with massively popular albums Control (1986) and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989), thanks to her seemingly constant presence on MTV. Jackson also proved to be an icon in fashion, though her elaborate stage shows and endured her share of controversy (remember the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show?). A five-time Grammy Award winner, Jackson has received nominations in the genres of pop, rock, dance, rap and R&B. 

Whether going by Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, John Cougar Mellencamp, or simply John Mellencamp, the music that this Seymour native has made is truly legendary. He's responsible for some of the most iconic pop-rock songs of the 1980s ("Hurts So Good," "Jack & Diane," "Pink Houses," "Small Town") and has long been a champion of musically promoting the working-class hero and drawing attention to social-justice issues. Still a musical presence, Mellencamp's Hall of Fame career also includes more than 10 Grammy Award nominations and one victory.

Bloomington's very own, Carmichael seemingly did it all. Writing, composing and singing music, he was a presence on radio, film television during a legendary career that really got going during the 1930s and kept on churning. Carmichael wrote the music for such classics as "Georgia on My Mind" and "Star Dust." He also received an Academy Award nomination for "Ole Buttermilk Sky" in 1946, from the film Canyon Passage, which he starred. He won the 1951 Oscar for Best Original Song with "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening." Carmichael was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.  

A product of North Central High School in Indianapolis, Babyface is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters and record producers in the world of pop, R&B and hip hop. As of 2024, Babyface had 13 Grammy Awards in his collection, which included producing the mega-popular soundtrack for The Bodyguard (1992) and Eric Clapton's "Change The World" (1996) single. When it comes to versatility and overall talent, Edmonds remains a giant in a business that doesn't see many able to sustain success at a ridiculous high level, whether performing or working behind the scenes for parts of five decades.

From Peru, Ind., Porter was playing violin and piano before the age of 10, thus starting one of most celebrated and legendary careers by any songwriter and composer. Whether making music for movies or Broadway, Porter built an arsenal of success that remains tough to rival even today. He won his first Best Musical Tony Award for Kiss Me, Kate, which debuted in 1948. In addition, Porter notably wrote the music and lyrics for Broadway hits Anything Goes, Can-Can and Silk Stockings, plus standards like "I Get a Kick Out of You," "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," among many, many more.

Brothers of the aforementioned Janet Jackson, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael made up the Gary family of performers that took the legendary Motown label to new heights. The Jackson 5 was the first group to debut with four straight singles that topped the Billboard Hot 100: "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There." There are bands, then there are iconic acts like the Jackson 5, which earned huge success with R&B and pop fans. Members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, legendary doesn't seem to truly do the group justice considering the success they enjoyed and impact had in terms of influencing acts — of any color — that followed.

Of all the Jacksons, from the beginning, Michael was always the one with most talent. Obviously as a vocalist and dancer, but he truly became one of the biggest entertainers of all time as a songwriter when his iconic solo records Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987) and Dangerous (1991) were released and dominated the pop-music scene. What hasn't been said about Michael Jackson's impact on popular music and pop culture? A trendsetter when it came to stage presence (the moonwalk), fashion (red zipper jacket and rhinestone glove) and music videos (epics like "Thriller"). Michael will always be one of the most legendary and memorable people ever to grace this planet — for better or worse.