Musicians From New York

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 1 
Billy Joel
(Singer, Composer)
Billy Joel
58
Birthdate: May 9, 1949
Sun Sign: Taurus

Popularly known as the Piano Man, Billy Joel is a singer-songwriter and musician. Having sold more than 150 million records worldwide, Billy is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He is also America's third best-selling solo artist and the sixth best-selling recording artist. He is also known for his multiple relationships with popular women.

 2 
John Williams
(One of the Greatest Film Composers of All Time)
John Williams
35
Birthdate: February 8, 1932
Sun Sign: Aquarius

John Williams is an American composer, pianist, trombonist, and conductor. Widely considered the greatest film composer ever, John Williams has played a significant role in the American film industry by composing music for films, such as the Jurassic Park films, Star Wars saga, the Indiana Jones films, and Schindler's List. He has also influenced several other composers like Marcus Paus.

 3 
The Notorious B.I.G.
(One of the Greatest Rappers of All Time)
The Notorious B.I.G.
94
Birthdate: May 21, 1972
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: March 9, 1997

The Notorious B.I.G. was a rapper and songwriter and is considered one of the best ever. His debut album Ready to Die in 1994 was critically acclaimed. He was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in September 1996. His album Life After Death was released two weeks after his death. 

 4 
Steven Tyler
(Lead Singer of the Rock Band 'Aerosmith')
Steven Tyler
26
Birthdate: March 26, 1948
Sun Sign: Aries

Popularly known as the Demon of Screamin, Steven Tyler is the lead singer of the famous rock band Aerosmith. Known for his high-energy performances, Tyler is named in Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Singers. Also a well-known philanthropist, Tyler launched a non-profit organization called Janie's Fund and has helped raise more than $2.4 million for the organization.

 5 
Carole King
(Composer)
Carole King
34
Birthdate: February 9, 1942
Sun Sign: Aquarius

Carole King is an American singer-songwriter. As a songwriter, King has contributed immensely to the success of other singers and is widely regarded as one of the most successful female songwriters of the 20th century. In 2013, she became the first woman to be honored with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

 6 
Neil Diamond
(Singer-songwriter Known for the Hit Song 'Sweet Caroline')
Neil Diamond
19
Birthdate: January 24, 1941
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Neil Diamond has sold more than 125 million records and has had 10 Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary chart-topping singles. The Lifetime Achievement Grammy-winner was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His song Sweet Caroline was preserved in the National Recording Registry for being culturally relevant.
 7 
Lou Reed
(Lead Guitarist, Vocalist & Principal Songwriter of the Rock Band “The Velvet Underground”)
Lou Reed
17
Birthdate: March 2, 1942
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: October 27, 2013
Lou Reed redefined the glam rock genre with his album Transformer. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee initially wrote sings for Pickwick Records and performed with the Velvet Underground. He then released 20 solo albums. His parents had made him go through electro-shock therapy to “cure” his bisexuality.
 8 
Rick Rubin
(Record Producer)
Rick Rubin
14
Birthdate: March 10, 1963
Sun Sign: Pisces

A record producer, Rick Rubin is the former co-president of Columbia Records and a co-founder of Def Jam Recordings. By promoting the musical groups  Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Public Enemy, he helped popularize hip hop music. He has been named on Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World.

 9 
Tom Morello
(American Guitarist Best Known for His Tenure with the Rock Band 'Rage Against the Machine')
Tom Morello
15
Birthdate: May 30, 1964
Sun Sign: Gemini

Tom Morello is an American musician, rapper, singer, actor, songwriter, and political activist. Morello is best known for his association with Rage Against the Machine, which he co-founded with Zack de la Rocha. Renowned for his creative and unique guitar playing style, Tom Morello was ranked among the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine.

 10 
George Gershwin
(Pianist and Composer Best Known for His Orchestral Compositions ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and ‘An American in Paris’)
George Gershwin
7
Birthdate: September 26, 1898
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: July 11, 1937

George Gershwin was an American pianist, composer, and painter. His work Porgy and Bess is widely regarded as an American cultural classic and one of the 20th century's most important American operas. Many of his compositions have been used in films and television series. His life and work inspired the 1945 biographical movie, Rhapsody in Blue.

 11 
Harry Nilsson
(Former Singer-songwriter known for Everybody's Talkin' and Without You, both of which won Grammy Awards)
Harry Nilsson
7
Birthdate: June 15, 1941
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: January 15, 1994
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 12 
Steve Vai
(Guitarist, Composer and Songwriter Best Known for His Albums 'Flex-Able' and 'Passion and Warfare')
Steve Vai
10
Birthdate: June 6, 1960
Sun Sign: Gemini
Three-time Grammy-winning guitarist and singer Steve Vai began his career as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa and played for his band till he launched his solo career. Guitar World named him the “10th Greatest Guitarist. His music was featured in music videos such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
 13 
Jay-Z
(One of the Most Influential Hip-Hop Artists in History)
Jay-Z
69
Birthdate: December 4, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Jay-Z is an American rapper and songwriter and is one of the world's best-selling music artists. His debut album Reasonable Doubt was hugely successful in 1996 and since then he has gone on to release many more acclaimed and successful albums. He has been charged with assaulting a record executive and was given a three-year probation sentence in January 2000.

 14 
John Frusciante
(Lead guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers who helped write such songs as "Scar Tissue" and "Give it Away)
John Frusciante
8
Birthdate: March 5, 1970
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 15 
Nile Rodgers
(Guitarist, Composer, Songwriter, Record producer, Film score composer)
Nile Rodgers
12
Birthdate: September 19, 1952
Sun Sign: Virgo
 16 
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky
(One of the Most Influential Composers of the 20th Century and a Pivotal Figure in 'Modernist Music')
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky
9
Birthdate: June 17, 1882
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: April 6, 1971

Four-time Grammy-winning Russian composer and pianist Igor Stravinsky is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. He is remembered for his ballets The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring. He broke the traditional flow of music and incorporated his own style.

 17 
Lin-Manuel Miranda
(Actor, Singer-songwriter)
Lin-Manuel Miranda
21
Birthdate: January 16, 1980
Sun Sign: Capricorn
The multiple award winning actor, composer, lyricist, singer and playwright, Lin-Manuel Miranda, has transformed Broadway musicals like never before by combining classic musical theatre with modern musical forms like hip-hop and salsa. His creation Hamilton, a hip-hop musical on Alexander Hamilton, is one of the biggest musicals of all time.
 18 
Buddy Rich
(Musician)
Buddy Rich
6
Birthdate: September 30, 1917
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: April 2, 1987
 19 
Lenny Kravitz
(One of The Greatest Artists of Hard Rock Known for His Hits 'It Ain't Over 'til It's Over' and 'Again')
Lenny Kravitz
13
Birthdate: May 26, 1964
Sun Sign: Gemini

A well-known singer-songwriter, Lenny Kravitz won the Grammy Award for four consecutive years from 1999 to 2002 under the same category - Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. In 2003, he founded a New York City-based company called Kravitz Design Inc. From being an award-winning musician to a successful entrepreneur, Lenny Kravitz is truly a multi-talented individual.

 20 
Nas
(One of the Most Influential and Greatest Rappers of All Time)
Nas
7
Birthdate: September 14, 1973
Sun Sign: Virgo

Widely considered one of the greatest rappers ever, Nas has seven platinum and multi-platinum albums under his belt in the US. In 2006, he was ranked fifth on MTV's The Greatest MCs of All Time list. In 2012, he was ranked second on the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time list published by The Source. He is also an entrepreneur.

 21 
ASAP Rocky
(Member of The Hip-Hop Collective 'A$AP Mob')
ASAP Rocky
16
Birthdate: October 3, 1988
Sun Sign: Libra
Rapper ASAP Rocky gained fame with his debut mixtape, LiveLoveA$AP. He released two consecutive Billboard 200-topping albums, Long. Live. ASAP and At. Long. Last. A$AP. Fans loved his Grammy-nominated single Fuckin' Problems. He also produces using the pseudonym Lord Flacko and is part of the hip-hop collective A$AP Mob.
 22 
Johnny Ramone
(Guitarist)
Johnny Ramone
6
Birthdate: October 8, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: September 15, 2004
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 23 
Macaulay Culkin
(One of the Most Successful Child Actors of the 1990s)
Macaulay Culkin
11
Birthdate: August 26, 1980
Sun Sign: Virgo

Former actor, Macaulay Culkin, rose to prominence as a child star after he appeared in the film Home Alone. At the height of his fame, he was listed on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Kid-Stars. He quit acting as a teenager and returned to the entertainment world years later. Currently, he runs a podcast called Bunny Ears.

 24 
Mary J. Blige
(Rapper, and Actress Known as "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul")
Mary J. Blige
8
Birthdate: January 11, 1971
Sun Sign: Capricorn

Mary J. Blige is a popular singer-songwriter and actress. Having sold 80 million records worldwide, she is one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Referred to as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary is credited with influencing the fusion of R&B and hip hop. She often gets featured in lists like The 100 Greatest Women in Music.

 25 
Marc Anthony
(Top-Selling 'Salsa' Artist of All Time)
Marc Anthony
5
Birthdate: September 16, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo

Marc Anthony is a singer-songwriter, television producer, and actor. He is the top-selling salsa artist in history, for which he entered the Guinness Book of Records. Also a well-known philanthropist, Marc Anthony helped launch the Maestro Cares Foundation, which helps orphans and teenagers around the world.

 26 
Jimmy Iovine
(Record executive, media proprietor best known as the co-founder of Interscope Records)
Jimmy Iovine
7
Birthdate: March 11, 1953
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 27 
RZA
(Rapper)
RZA
12
Birthdate: July 5, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Rapper RZA leads the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and previously performed with Gravediggaz, under the name “The RZArector.” He is also known for his directorial debut, The Man with the Iron Fists; his appearance in films such as American Gangster; and his BAFTA-nominated music in Kill Bill: Volume 1.
 28 
Luther Vandross
6
Birthdate: April 20, 1951
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: July 1, 2005

Luther Vandross was an American record producer and singer-songwriter. As a background vocalist, Vandross contributed to the success of several songs recorded by artists like David Bowie, Diana Ross, and Judy Collins. Regarded as a singer with one of the greatest voices in recorded history, Luther Vandross' works have influenced many artists like D'Angelo, Jaheim, Ne-Yo, John Legend, and Usher.

 29 
Carly Simon
(Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Songs: ‘You're So Vain’, ‘Nobody Does It Better’ & ‘Let the River Run’)
Carly Simon
6
Birthdate: June 25, 1943
Sun Sign: Cancer
Carly Simon began as part of the Simon Sisters, with her sister Lucy. She won a Grammy with her first album and has since delivered many chartbusting tracks, including Nobody Does It Better from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. She has also written several children’s books.
 30 
Post Malone
(One of the Best-Selling Pop Singer-Songwriter and Has Won 10 Billboard Music Awards)
Post Malone
20
Birthdate: July 4, 1995
Sun Sign: Cancer

Much appreciated for his introspective songwriting, singer-songwriter, Post Malone ,is the first-ever solo artist to top both the Billboard Rap Airplay and Adult Contemporary charts as a lead artist. His music covers a range of genres including country, grunge, rap, and R&B. He has been accused of  "appropriating" African-American culture and has been called a “culture vulture".

 31 
Joe Satriani
(Guitarist is a 15-time Grammy Award nominee and has sold over 10 million albums, making him the bestselling instrumental rock guitarist of all time)
Joe Satriani
5
Birthdate: July 15, 1956
Sun Sign: Cancer
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 32 
DMX
(Rapper)
DMX
13
Birthdate: December 18, 1970
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 33 
Alicia Keys
(Singer, Actress)
Alicia Keys
35
Birthdate: January 25, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius

Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys has been active in the music industry since the mid-1990s. Her debut album was a super hit and earned her five Grammy Awards. She is one of the best-selling artists in the United States and has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. She is also known for her humanitarian work, philanthropy, and activism.

 34 
Rick James
(American Singer-Songwriter, Multi-Instrumentalist and Record Producer.)
Rick James
9
Birthdate: February 1, 1948
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: August 6, 2004

Rick James was an American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is credited with forming several bands, including The Mynah Birds and Stone City Band. His career was hampered by his controversial personal life and drug addiction problems; he was convicted of kidnapping and torturing women on two separate instances under the influence of crack.

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 35 
Norah Jones
(One of the Best-Selling Jazz Artists & Daughter of Indian Sitarist and Composer Ravi Shankar)
Norah Jones
7
Birthdate: March 30, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries

Norah Jones is an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. Having sold over 50 million records worldwide, Jones is one of the most successful and best-selling singers of her generation. She was ranked 60th on the artists of the 2000s decade list published by Billboard magazine. Norah Jones has won several prestigious awards including multiple Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards.

 36 
Method Man
(Rapper And Member Of Hip Hop Collective 'Wu-Tang Clan')
Method Man
8
Birthdate: March 2, 1971
Sun Sign: Pisces

Method Man is part of the hip-hop duo Method Man & Redman and Wu-Tang Clan. His collaborative single with Mary J. Blige, I'll Be There for You, won a Grammy. He has also appeared on the show Method & Red, in HBO series such as Oz, and in several films.

 37 
Fiona Apple
(Singer-songwriter)
Fiona Apple
6
Birthdate: September 13, 1977
Sun Sign: Virgo
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 38 
Madison Beer
(Known for Her Singles "Dead" and "Home with You")
Madison Beer
6
Birthdate: March 5, 1999
Sun Sign: Pisces

American singer Madison Beer broke into the top 50 list of many music charts in the US when she featured in a new single in February 2015 by DJ Mako titled I Won't Let You Walk Away. Some of her other notable songs are Dead, Say It to My Face, Home with You, Good in Goodbye, Selfish, Stained Glass and Baby.

 39 
Walter Becker
(American Musician, Songwriter and Record Producer)
Walter Becker
4
Birthdate: February 20, 1950
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: July 3, 2017
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 40 
Joan Chandos Baez
(Best Known for Her Songs "Diamonds & Rust," "We Shall Overcome" and "Joe Hill")
Joan Chandos Baez
4
Birthdate: January 9, 1941
Sun Sign: Capricorn

Singer, songwriter, musician, and activist Joan Baez has been active in the music world for over six decades. She emerged as a major musical figure in the counterculture era of the 1960s. Her music encompasses various genres like pop, folk-rock, country, and gospel music. She is involved in civil rights, human rights, and environmental activism as well.

 41 
Crispin Glover
(Actor and Director Known for His Role as ‘George McFly’ in the Film ‘Back to the Future’)
Crispin Glover
5
Birthdate: April 20, 1964
Sun Sign: Taurus
Crispin Glover is known for his Saturn Award-nominated performances in Back to the Future and Willard. He is mostly seen in roles of eccentric men. Fans loved him in American Gods and as Andy Warhol in the movie The Doors. He owns the production and publishing company Volcanic Eruptions
 42 
Busta Rhymes
(Rapper)
Busta Rhymes
8
Birthdate: May 20, 1972
Sun Sign: Taurus
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 43 
Bobby Darin
(Pop vocalist who released the hits "Mack the Knife," "Dream Lover," and "Beyond the Sea.")
Bobby Darin
5
Birthdate: May 14, 1936
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: December 20, 1973
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 44 
Mos Def
(Rapper, Actor)
Mos Def
6
Birthdate: December 11, 1973
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 45 
Kim Gordon
(Singer)
Kim Gordon
3
Birthdate: April 28, 1953
Sun Sign: Taurus
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 46 
Ashanti
(Singer-songwriter and Actress Know for Her Hit Song "Foolish")
Ashanti
6
Birthdate: October 13, 1980
Sun Sign: Libra

Ashanti is an American singer, record producer, songwriter, model, and actress. A talented musician, Ashanti became the first woman to occupy the number one and number two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Also known for her humanitarian work, Ashanti works tirelessly towards several causes, including raising awareness about issues pertaining to domestic violence.

 47 
Laura Branigan
(Singer)
Laura Branigan
4
Birthdate: July 3, 1952
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: August 26, 2004
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 48 
Barry Manilow
(Best Known for His Hits "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "I Write the Songs")
Barry Manilow
6
Birthdate: June 17, 1943
Sun Sign: Gemini
Grammy-winning artist Barry Manilow is best known for his tracks Mandy and I Write the Songs. He was initially a jingle writer/singer. Although he was previously in a heterosexual relationship with Susan Deixler, he later got the marriage annulled, came out as gay, and married his manager Garry Kief.
 49 
Pat Benatar
(Rock Singer and Songwriter Known for Her Songs ‘Heartbreaker’ and ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’)
Pat Benatar
4
Birthdate: January 10, 1953
Sun Sign: Capricorn

Four-time Grammy-winning rock artist Pat Benatar left her job as a teller to step into the music industry and is best known for her chartbusting tracks Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Fire and Ice, and Love Is a Battlefield. She has platinum albums in both the U.S. and Canada.

 50 
Sean Lennon
(Musician, Songwriter & Multi-Instrumentalist)
Sean Lennon
4
Birthdate: October 9, 1975
Sun Sign: Libra

The son of John Lennon, Sean Lennon followed in his father's footsteps to become a musician, songwriter, and producer. A practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, Lennon played in Live on Earth to help raise funds for the David Lynch Foundation, a global charitable foundation which funds the teaching of Transcendental Meditation in schools.