Musicians From Illinois

Regarded as one of the most popular and influential jazz musicians of the previous century, Quincy Jones is known for his work with other legendary artists like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra. As the first African-American to find success at the Academy Awards ceremony, Quincy has influenced a host of black musicians and songwriters.

Patti Smith is an American singer-songwriter. Referred to as the punk poet laureate, Smith became an influential figure of the punk rock movement with the release of her album Horses. Many world-renowned musicians, such as Madonna and Michael Stipe, have cited Smith as their inspiration. Even actresses like Ellen Page and Maria Doyle Kennedy have called Smith a major influence.

Jonathan Cain is a singer-songwriter and musician. He is a keyboardist for the rock band Journey. Interested in music from a young age, he attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music. He began his professional music career in the mid-1970s and played with numerous bands before joining Journey. He is also a solo artist and owns a recording studio. 

Virgil Abloh is not just a designer but also a qualified architect. He has been a DJ, too. Apart from heading Louis Vuitton's menswear collection as its artistic director, he also became the first Black designer to lead a major fashion brand. He has also launched the luxury streetwear label Off-White.

Grace Slick is a retired singer-songwriter. Slick played an important role in the psychedelic music scene that flourished in San Francisco during the mid-1960s. One of the earliest female rock stars, Slick played a key role in the development of rock music during the 1960s. She was named among the Greatest Women of Rock N Roll by VH1 in 1999.

Shel Silverstein was an American writer, playwright, songwriter, and cartoonist. Renowned for his children's books, songs, and cartoons, Silverstein's works have been translated into over 30 languages. The recipient of many prestigious awards, such as Grammy Awards, Shel Silverstein was posthumously inducted into the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.

Rapper and record producer Earl Sweatshirt was previously known as Sly Tendencies. He was part of the hip-hop collective Odd Future. Following the release of his debut mixtape, his mother sent him to a Samoa boarding school. He went back to Los Angeles soon and began making music again.

Retired singer, songwriter, and bassist, Peter Cetera, first gained fame as an original member of the rock band Chicago. He later launched a successful solo career as well. He often collaborated with David Foster and Amy Grant over the course of his long career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Warren Zevon was an American musician, rock singer, and songwriter. As a songwriter, Zevon contributed immensely to the success of songs recorded by other artists, such as Murray McLauchlan. Also known for his acerbic lyrics and dry wit, Warren Zevon made several appearances on shows like the Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with David Letterman.

Billy Corgan is an American professional wrestling promoter, singer, and songwriter. He is credited with forming the popular alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. He is also credited with founding Resistance Pro Wrestling and currently owns the National Wrestling Alliance promotion, for which he also serves as the promoter. Having struggled with several mental disorders, Corgan promotes abuse support networks.

Haley Reinhart is an American songwriter, singer, and voice actress. She started hogging the limelight after finishing third in the 10th season of popular reality TV show, American Idol. Also a well-known philanthropist, Reinhart has worked closely with organizations, such as Starkey Hearing Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. She has also been involved with charities that fight against bullying.

Born in Chicago, Irish-origin entertainer Michael Flatley took to dancing inspired by his step dancer mother and music-loving father. Initially a gambler and stockbroker, he later performed with The Chieftains and then choreographed the globally renowned show Riverdance. He later launched shows such as Lord of the Dance and Celtic Tiger.

Lou Rawls was an American singer, composer, record producer, and actor. Rawls sold over 40 million records during his illustrious career. He was also renowned for his charity work; in 2004, he was honored by the popular philanthropic organization United Negro College Fund for his work with the organization for more than 25 years.