From opera houses to opry houses Kansans have graced the world with music covering a large swath of styles and genres.
Below are links to resources on Kansas born and/or bred musicians as well as music festivals, concerts and events held in the Sunflower State. Keep in mind that this list barely scratches the surface
GENERAL RESOURCES
Kansas Folk Music and Dance Resource Centerhttp://www.kansasfolk.org/
Kansas Music Educators Association
http://www.ksmea.org/home/index.php
Kansas Music Hall of Fame
http://www.ksmusichalloffame.org/
Kansas State Picking and Fiddling Championship
http://www.kansasfiddlingandpicking.org/
Messiah Festival of Music & Art (Lindsborg, Kansas)
http://www.bethanylb.edu/messiahfestivalofthearts.html
Arts and Entertainment, Topeka
http://cjonline.com/life/arts-entertainment
(provided by the Topeka Capital Journal)
Country Stampede
http://www.countrystampede.com/
(Country music concert held at Manhattan, Kansas, each summer)
Sunflower Music Festival
http://www.sunflowermusicfestival.org/
("The Sunflower Music Festival presents an annual series of orchestra concerts, chamber music evenings, educational projects and other artistic events of the highest level. These events occur throughout a two week period each June in White Concert Hall on the Washburn University campus")
The Winfield Music Home Page
http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/music/
(Winfield is famous for its Blue Grass Festival)
Walnut Valley Music Festival (Winfield, Kansas)
http://wvfest.com/
Some Kansas bands and singers listed on the site (check under performers): Last Kansas Exit, Spontaneous Combustion, The Plaid Family, Bluegrass Country Boys, Prairie Rose Wranglers, Connie Dover, Live Bait with Mackie Redd,
"They're Playing Our Song: Community Bands in Kansas"
http://www.kshs.org/p/online-exhibits-they-re-playing-our-song-introduction/10555
(A great online exhibit provided by the Kansas State Historical Society of the various bands that have entertained Kansans through the years)
The Society also has a transcription of an article online, "The First Kansas Band" at:
http://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-historical-quarterly-the-first-kansas-band/12683
MUSICIANS, BANDS, CHORUSES, ETC.
Ann Zimmerman (guitarist, singer and composer)http://www.annzimmerman.com/
Arnold Moore (blues singer - 1914-2004)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Moore
Brian Lewis (violinist)
http://www.music.utexas.edu/directory/details.aspx?id=147
Byron Berline (fiddler - born in Wichita, Kansas)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Berline
Buck Clayton (jazz musician - 1911-1991)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Clayton
Carson J. Robison (cowboy musician - 1890-1959)
http://www.kansasfolk.org/stories/sp00307.htm
http://library.pittstate.edu/spcoll/ndxrobison.html
Charles L. Johnson (composer of ragtime and popular music - 1876-1950)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_L._Johnson
Charlie Parker (jazz musician and composer - 1920-1955)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Parker
http://www.kshs.org/portraits/parker_charlie.htm
Chely Wright (country music)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chely_Wright
http://chely.com/
Chester Allen Thomas (jazz musician - born: 1957)
http://www.smooth-jazz.de/Artists4/Thomas.htm
Chuck Mead (country music, member of BR5-49 band)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR549
http://www.lawrence.com/news/2004/jun/15/chuck_mead/
Coleman Hawkins (jazz musician - 1904-1969)
http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/coleman-hawkins/12083
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleman_Hawkins
Dodge City Cowboy Band
http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/dodge-city-cow-boy-band/12037
http://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-historical-quarterly-the-dodge-city-cowboy-band/13097
Eva Jessye (choral conductor/director - 1895-1992)
http://library.pittstate.edu/spcoll/ndxjessye.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Jessye
Freedy Johnston (singer and song writer)
http://www.freedyjohnston.com/
Gail Kubik (1914-1984)
http://www.nhptv.org/kn/itv/mcd/kubik.htm
Howard Haskin (operatic tenor)
http://www.howardhaskin.com/
James A. King (operatic tenor - born: 1925)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_King_%28tenor%29
Janelle Monáe (indie pop and soul singer, songwriter)
http://www.jmonae.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janelle_Mon%C3%A1e
Jennifer Knapp (Christian Folk-Rock musician - born: 1980)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Knapp
http://www.jenniferknapp.com/
Joe Walsh (guitarist and rock musician - 1947- )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Walsh
John Joseph (J.J.) Richards (band music)
http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/learning_tools/hall_of_composers/richards.htm
Judy Coder (Western/Cowgirl musician)
http://www.judycoder.com/
Kansas (rock band with members from Kansas)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_%28band%29
Band member: Kerry Livgren
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Livgren
(Other bands which came out of this group, Kansas II and Proto-Kaw are mentioned in this article too)
Article on Kansas from Kansas 150 SLK blog
http://kansas150slk.blogspot.com/2010/05/rock-band-kansas.html
Karen Mueller (autoharpist)
http://www.karenmueller.com/
http://www.karenmueller.com/showrelease.html?id=6
Kaw Valley Shape Note Singing Association
http://www.kawshapenote.org/
("Shape note singing is a very community-oriented, inclusive form of singing. No experience is necessary, and we charge no admission fee or dues. While most of the tunes in the book we sing from ...which dates back to the 1840's... are hymns and anthems, we are a cultural, not religion-based organization.")
Kelley Hunt (singer and song writer)
http://www.kelleyhunt.com/biography.html
Kelly Wertz (folk musician)
http://www.wertsmusic.com/
Louis T. "Moondog" Hardin (musician and beat poet - 1916-1999)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moondog
Mark Schultz (contemporary Christian musician)
http://markschultzmusic.com/home/
Marshall's Civic Band (Topeka, Kansas)
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/mcb/
Martina McBride (country musician - born: 1966)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martina_McBride
Melissa Etheridge (singer - born 1961)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_Etheridge
http://www.melissaetheridge.com/
Central States District Men's Barbershop Choruses
https://www.centralstatesdistrict.com/district_choruses.html
---Orphans (1954 SPEBSQSA Quartet Champions)
Merle Evans (Ringling Bros. Circus band leader/composer - 1892-1987)
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/cherokee/library2/biography/MEvans.html
Ottawa Suzuki Strings
http://www.ottawasuzukistrings.org/
Pleasant Valley Gang
http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/pleasant-valley-gang/12171
Queen Bey (jazz musician)
http://www.queenbey.com/
Samuel Ramey (opera singer - born: 1942)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Ramey
Stan Kenton (jazz pianist, and bandleader - 1911-1979)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Kenton
Sweet Adelines Midwest Plains, Region 7 (Women's Barbershop)
http://www.sweetadelinesregion7.com/
---Zing! (2010 International Sweet Adelines Quartet Champions)
---Classic Edition (1998 Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champions)
---Shondells (1977 Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champions)
Thurlow Lieurance (1978-1963)
http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/thurlow-lieurance/12131
Topeka Festival Singers
http://topekafestivalsingers.org/main/
OTHER PLACES TO LOOK: Kansas State Historical Society web site
http://www.kshs.org
(Try searches in the search box at the top of the page for terms like: musicians and music)
If you have correction, additions or comments contact Bill Sowers at the State Library of Kansas
ksdocs@kslib.info
