St. Louis is a city that has been enriched by the confluence of major rivers and complex cultures, and this is reflected in its music. From early blues and jazz to country and bluegrass, almost every style of American music has emerged or passed through this place and has come out changed. This is a comprehensive guide to the music of St.
Louis, from the iconic songs that have become part of its identity to the lesser-known artists who have made their mark on the city's musical history. At the beginning of the 20th century, thousands of African-Americans moved north during the Great Migration, importing a mix of styles and ideas that gave rise to sounds never heard before. One such artist was W. C. Handy, who arrived in St.
Louis in 1892 and dreamed of succeeding, but ended up penniless and sleeping on the riverbank. Two decades later, his song “St. Louis Blues” became one of the first blues melodies to triumph as a pop song. Kansas City is home to famous artists such as Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Lester Young and their own distinctive jazz style. Louis also has a rich history of generating good music, with bands from diverse genres such as jazz, rock, Americana and hip-hop, as well as world-class institutions such as St.
Louis Symphony and the Fox Theatre. In the 1950s, St. Louis was an important place for early blues and jazz, as well as for country and bluegrass. It was also home to Ike Turner and Tina Turner (formerly known as Anna Mae Bullock). The city's potential husband and wife became popular in their own right and, within that time, Bullock adopted the stage name Tina Turner. St.
Louis was also home to Stack Lee Shelton, who photographed William Lyons at the Bloody 3rd Ward at the turn of the century. This red light district was also home to many music clubs, which gave rise to artists such as Nelly who took the music world by storm in 2000. Other notable musicians from St. Louis include Gayle McCormick, whose time in the spotlight was brief but made history; Deep Morgan; John Seiter, a native of St. Louis who found success as a drummer in the industry both on stage and behind the scenes; and Emmett Miller, whose ghost inspired Handy's famous hit “St.
Louis Blues”.Today, St. Louis is still home to many talented musicians who are making their mark on the city's musical history. To experience this rich musical heritage for yourself, visit some of St. Louis' iconic venues such as The Pageant or Delmar Hall at The Delmar Loop at Moonrise Hotel. You can also watch music videos by St.
Louis artists or check out archived articles on Chuck Berry, sacred hip-hop and more.
