Musicians From California

Rapper, record producer, and audio engineer, Dr. Dre, is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. He is credited with the popularization of  West Coast G-funk, a sub-genre of hip hop. After establishing himself in the music industry, he promoted the careers of many other rappers, including 2Pac and Snoop Dogg.

James Hetfield is an American songwriter and musician. He is credited with co-founding one of the most popular heavy metal bands of all time, Metallica. James Hetfield is often regarded as one of the greatest guitarists and vocalists ever. Since the 1980s, Hetfield has played a key role in the success of ESP Guitars, as one of its major endorsers.

Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician and record producer. He is credited with co-founding and popularizing the rock band, Green Day. As a guitarist and vocalist, he has also contributed immensely to the success of the punk rock band Pinhead Gunpowder. In 1997, Armstrong founded Adeline Records to help support contemporary bands; the record company was closed in 2017.

Finneas O'Connell is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and record producer. He has played an important role in the success of his younger sister Billie Eilish's career as he has written and produced many of her popular songs. He has written and produced songs for other famous music artists as well.

Brian Wilson is a singer-songwriter and record producer. He is credited with co-founding the popular rock band, The Beach Boys. Referred to as a genius, Wilson serves as an inspiration to several indie musicians. Regarded as one of the most significant songwriters of his generation, Wilson is often featured in lists, such as the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Lindsey Buckingham ruled the American rock scene with the band Fleetwood Mac, performing with his then-girlfriend, Stevie Nicks. Rolling Stone named him one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. After a brief hiatus, he rejoined the band but was fired eventually.

Tom Waits is a musician and songwriter. His lyrics, which are delivered in his trademark gravelly voice, often focus on the underbelly of society. His story of being born in a middle-class family to becoming one of the greatest songwriters of all time serves as an inspiration to many. He has also influenced several musicians and attained a cult following.

Beck is an American musician and record producer. He came into prominence for creating musical collages of several genres. Beck has been applauded by music lovers and critics as being one of the most idiosyncratically creative musicians of alternative rock. Two of his albums were named in the 500 greatest albums of all time list by Rolling Stone magazine. 

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker is known for his mohawk and tattoos. He has also been part of bands such as The Transplants, +44, and Box Car Racer, and starred in the reality series Meet the Barkers. He owns a record label and a clothing brand, and has written a memoir.

Jerry Garcia had an illustrious 30-year career as the lead guitarist and vocalist of the rock band the Grateful Dead. Rolling Stone ranked him 13th on their 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. He was known for his improvisations, participated in many side projects, and released several solo albums.

A young singer and songwriter who rose to international fame while still in her teens, Billie Eilish is blessed with a soprano vocal range and an ethereal voice. Already the recipient of numerous accolades, including five Grammy awards, she was named in Time magazine’s  inaugural "Time 100 Next" list in 2019.

Mike Love is an American singer-songwriter. He is credited with co-founding the popular rock band, The Beach Boys. Over the years, Love has contributed to the success of the band as one of their main vocalists and lyricists. Although his lyrics reflected the youth culture throughout the 1960s, they started accommodating themes like meditation after he started practicing Transcendental Meditation.

Singer and rapper, Doja Cat, is best known for the music video for her song Mooo!, which went viral in 2018 and made her an international sensation. She subsequently went on to become a social media celebrity with millions of followers across platforms. She often kindles controversies because of her social media comments on sensitive issues.

Bonnie Raitt is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist. Despite little commercial success at the beginning of her career, Raitt remained persistent until she had her first major hit in 1989. She has been named in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time lists. She also supports organizations like Little Kids Rock.

Actor, film director, and producer, Kevin Costner, is a much-decorated Hollywood with two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards to his name. Even though he never dreamed of a career in films as a youngster, fate ultimately led him to Hollywood where he made a successful career. He is also a singer in a country rock band.

Regarded as one of the most acclaimed musical artists of his generation, Frank Ocean is recognized for his unconventional production techniques and wide vocal range. He is credited with revitalizing and popularizing jazz and funk-influenced R&B. He is also regarded as a representative of alternative R&B. He was named in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world list.

Widely regarded as the pioneer of Latin rock and Chicano rock, Ritchie Valens was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. Since his untimely death at the age of 17, Ritchie Valens has inspired several musicians and bands like Carlos Santana, Los Lonely Boys, and Los Lobos. Valens also inspired Robert Quine, Jimi Hendrix, Keith O'Conner Murphy, and Chris Montez among others.

One half of the popular actor duo The Two Coreys, Corey Feldman started out as a child actor before establishing himself as a popular star in the American film industry. An ardent advocate against child molestation, Feldman was summoned to testify against Michael Jackson in the latter's child molestation trial; being Jackson's close friend, he did not testify against Jackson.

Tyga is a singer-songwriter, rapper, television personality, and actor. Although Tyga had a promising start to his music career, he faced a setback when he had to endure a long period of negative reviews and poor sales. He was also troubled by a series of legal issues. Despite his struggles, Tyga proved his mettle by releasing his hit album Legendary.

Tori Kelly was initially spotted on Star Search and won America's Most Talented Kid. She failed to make it to the "Top 24" of American Idol but later released Billboard Hot 100-charting singles such as Nobody Love. The two-time Grammy-winner has also voiced Meena in Sing and its sequel.

Courtney Love is an American singer-songwriter, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the alternative rock and grunge music scenes of the last three decades. Known for her distinctive style and confrontational lyrics, Love has been a major influence on aspiring female rock musicians across the world. She is also an ardent supporter of LGBT rights.

American businessman and co-founder of a successful music label. Death Row Records, Suge Knight has been a controversial figure. He had been in and out of prison for a number of years for charges like theft, racketeering, attempt to murder and parole violation, before he was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the a hit-and-run incident in October 2018.

Josh Groban is an American actor, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Groban had a major impact on the music industry right after making his debut. He has sold over 20 million albums inside a decade, with his first four solo albums receiving multi-platinum certifications. Also a well-known philanthropist, Groban has performed for several charity events.

Trap sensation Roddy Ricch is best known for his mixtape Feed Tha Streets II, which featured the Billboard Hot 100-charting track Die Young. Nipsey Hussle's track Racks in the Middle, featuring Ricch, got him a Grammy Award. Fans also loved Ricch's Hot 100-topping single The Box from his debut album.

Emily Osment is an American actress and singer-songwriter. After starting her career as a child artist, Osment went on to establish herself as a successful adult actress. Apart from being an actor and singer, Osment has had an impact as a philanthropist over the years; she works with organizations that educate children about the importance of caring for the environment.

Scott Weiland was an American singer and songwriter. He is credited with co-creating the popular rock band Stone Temple Pilots where he served as the lead singer. He was also part of two supergroups, namely Velvet Revolver and Art of Anarchy. Known for his chaotic and flamboyant onstage persona, Weiland is widely viewed as a versatile vocalist.

Composer, singer, songwriter, and record producer, Danny Elfman is best known for his association with the new wave band Oingo Boingo. He has written over 100 feature film scores and has composed music for numerous TV shows and stage productions. He is the recipient of two Emmy Awards and one Grammy and has been nominated for the Academy Award.

Vince Neil, lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, had a successful solo career too, with albums such as Tattoos & Tequila. He owns several businesses, including a tattoo parlor and a vineyard. He was imprisoned for vehicular manslaughter in the death of Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle.

Snoop Dogg is a famous American rapper whose life is a perfect example of rags-to-riches story. As a child, he did various odd jobs to help his family make ends meet. He started rapping as a young boy to distract himself from his unstable family life. He ran into trouble with the law as a teenager. However, once he released his debut album, there was no looking back.

Darren Criss is a popular American actor and singer-songwriter. Darren Criss is also known as the founder of a musical theater company called StarKid Productions and the co-founder of a music festival called Elsie Fest. Also known for his charity work, Darren Criss has performed at many charity benefits and is a supporter of LGBT rights and The Trevor Project.

Jeff Buckley was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. His only studio album, Grace, was included in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. Since his untimely death at the age of 30, Jeff Buckley has been the subject of several documentaries. His death also inspired several artists to record songs in tribute to his life and career.