The 18 Greatest Musicians From Minnesota

A Nobel laureate, Hollywood royalty, Twin Cities punk and Rhymesayers rap all came out of one cold state. Some sold millions of records; others mostly sold out First Avenue.

1. 1
   Prince

   Minneapolis-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist behind Purple Rain and the Minneapolis sound.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Bob Mould

   Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman whose Minneapolis hardcore records helped invent alternative rock.
   873pts
3. 3
   Lizzo

   Rapper and singer who built her career in the Minneapolis scene before Truth Hurts went to No. 1.
   873pts
4. 4
   Bob Dylan

   Duluth-born, Hibbing-raised songwriter and the only musician to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
   812pts
5. 5
   Low

   Duluth slowcore band led by Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker.
   641pts
6. 6
   Soul Asylum

   Minneapolis rock band whose Runaway Train won a Grammy in 1994.
   555pts
7. 7
   Eddie Cochran

   Albert Lea-born rock and roll pioneer who recorded Summertime Blues before dying at 21.
   454pts
8. 8
   Morris Day

   Minneapolis singer who fronted The Time and played Prince's rival in Purple Rain.
   454pts
9. 9
   The Andrews Sisters

   Minneapolis close-harmony trio behind Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and a string of 1940s hits.
   454pts
10. 10
    Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

    Minneapolis production duo behind Janet Jackson's Control and Rhythm Nation.
    454pts
11. 11
    Brother Ali

    Minneapolis rapper on the Rhymesayers label known for Shadows on the Sun.
    454pts
12. 12
    The Replacements

    Minneapolis punk band led by Paul Westerberg whose albums shaped American alternative rock.
    333pts
13. 13
    Atmosphere

    Minneapolis hip-hop duo of Slug and Ant who built Rhymesayers into an independent powerhouse.
    333pts
14. 14
    Semisonic

    Minneapolis rock band behind Closing Time, led by songwriter Dan Wilson.
    333pts
15. 15
    The Jayhawks

    Minneapolis band that helped define alt-country with Hollywood Town Hall.
    333pts
16. 16
    Owl City

    Owatonna-born Adam Young's synth-pop project behind the No. 1 single Fireflies.
    333pts
17. 17
    Trampled by Turtles

    Duluth bluegrass band that topped the Billboard bluegrass chart.
    333pts
18. 18
    Judy Garland

    Grand Rapids, Minnesota native who sang Over the Rainbow in The Wizard of Oz.
    0pts

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