Celebrating the musicians, builders, and visionaries who made Upstate New York a force in American music.
82 Inductees Across 7 Regions
From Buffalo’s funk and punk scenes to Rochester’s Eastman School pipeline, from the Woodstock creative commune to Albany’s underground, Upstate New York has shaped American music in profound and often underrecognized ways.
No Upstate city rivals Buffalo for sheer musical breadth. Rick James defined funk from the East Side. Ani DiFranco built the DIY independent label movement from her Buffalo apartment. The Goo Goo Dolls gave the world "Iris." Cannibal Corpse became the best-selling death metal band of all time. Grover Washington Jr. invented smooth jazz. Griselda put Buffalo back on the national hip-hop map. And Harold Arlen — the man who wrote "Over the Rainbow" — was a Buffalo native.
The Eastman School of Music is the single most important institutional pipeline for Upstate NY music talent. It trained Chuck Mangione, Steve Gadd, Ron Carter, Mick Guzauski, Mitch Miller, Angelo Badalamenti, and Maria Schneider. Lou Gramm of Foreigner grew up in Rochester. Cab Calloway was born there. Son House was rediscovered there in 1964.
When Albert Grossman moved to Woodstock in the 1960s and built Bearsville Studios, he created an ecosystem that attracted Bob Dylan, The Band, Van Morrison, Todd Rundgren, and dozens of jazz legends. Levon Helm hosted the Midnight Ramble concerts from his barn. Alan Gerry saved the Woodstock festival site by building Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
Jimmy Van Heusen — who wrote "Come Fly with Me" for Sinatra — was born in Syracuse. Ronnie James Dio grew up in nearby Cortland. Joey Belladonna of Anthrax hails from Oswego. Earth Crisis pioneered metalcore. Joe Bonamassa, the world's top-grossing blues artist, opened for B.B. King at age 12 in Utica.
Phantogram, State Champs, Drug Church, Maria Brink of In This Moment, MacArthur Fellow Vijay Iyer, and Voice winner Sawyer Fredericks all have roots here. Greg Haymes built the scene by writing about it for 30 years. Greg Bell booked 3,000 shows. Brooks Brown built WEQX into the last independent alternative radio station in America.
10,000 Maniacs formed in Jamestown. X Ambassadors came out of Ithaca. Orleans gave us "Still the One." Gym Class Heroes launched from Geneva. And the GrassRoots Festival in Trumansburg has been bringing communities together through music since 1991.
15 inductees matching your filters
Jamestown
Jamestown's 10,000 Maniacs pioneered the alternative rock movement in the 1980s. Their MTV Unplugged appearance was a landmark moment, and they helped define the college...
View Profile →Woodstock / Bearsville
The single most important music industry figure in Upstate New York history. Albert Grossman managed Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, The Band, and Peter Paul &...
View Profile →Woodstock
Raised in Woodstock as the daughter of Levon Helm, Amy Helm carries on the rich folk and Americana tradition of the region. Her music draws...
View Profile →Buffalo
Buffalo-born Ani DiFranco founded Righteous Babe Records at age 18 and released 20+ albums independently, becoming a cultural icon of the DIY music movement. Grammy...
View Profile →Woodstock (resident 1965-1972)
Bob Dylan's Woodstock years (1965-1972) were among his most creatively fertile. The Basement Tapes, recorded with The Band at Big Pink in Saugerties, became one...
View Profile →Woodstock
Multi-instrumentalist Cindy Cashdollar grew up on a dairy farm in Woodstock and became one of the most sought-after slide guitar and Dobro players in American...
View Profile →Trumansburg / Ithaca
Jeb Puryear founded the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival in 1991 — one of the longest-running and most beloved community music festivals in New York State....
View Profile →Woodstock (resident)
The Lovin' Spoonful founder became a longtime Woodstock resident. John Sebastian's impromptu performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival is one of the event's most memorable...
View Profile →Woodstock
The Band's drummer and vocalist made Woodstock his permanent home, hosting the beloved Midnight Ramble concerts from his barn studio. His three-time Grammy-winning solo career...
View Profile →Woodstock
Michael Lang co-created the most famous music festival in history — the 1969 Woodstock Festival. His vision defined the idea of the American music festival...
View Profile →Jamestown
From Jamestown, NY, Natalie Merchant was the voice of 10,000 Maniacs and one of the most prominent figures in 1990s alternative rock. Her solo career...
View Profile →Fultonville
Sawyer Fredericks won The Voice Season 8 at just 16 years old, showcasing an authentic folk voice rooted in his Upstate New York upbringing near...
View Profile →Troy
Troy-born Sean Rowe possesses one of the most distinctive deep baritone voices in American folk music. His critically acclaimed songwriting and powerful live performances make...
View Profile →Woodstock / Saugerties
The Band lived and created their masterworks in Woodstock and Saugerties, recording Music from Big Pink in a house in West Saugerties. Levon Helm remained...
View Profile →Woodstock (resident)
Northern Irish legend Van Morrison was a Woodstock resident who recorded key albums in the area. His time in Upstate New York contributed to some...
View Profile →The Upstate Music Hall of Fame is a living project. If you know of a musician, producer, promoter, or music industry figure from Upstate New York who should be recognized here, we want to hear from you.