Mountain State Musicians: WV's notable artists
These Appalachian mountains have their own distinct sound.
If you're missing WV, you can find its passion flowing through its talent. Throw on some mountain music!
These are just a handful of WV's prominent artists:
Brad Paisley
Country Star Brad Paisley has an outline of WV embedded in his home studio, to remind him of the roots from which he grew a successful career of 21 No. 1 hits and a massive collections of awards from the Country Music Association and Academy of country music, among others. His pop culture references and humor add to his catchy country tunes.
Michael W. Smith
This contemporary Christian musician and vocalist has racked up 3 Grammys, more than 40 Dove Awards, 28 No. 1 hits and several platinum and gold albums. His hits have topped lists in the mainstream genres as well as the Christian charts, and the former president of the United States, George W. Bush, even asked Smith to pen a song about the World Trade Center Attacks.
Kathy Mattea
Her blend of folk, bluegrass and Celtic sounds has earned Kathy Mattea great notoriety. She's a Nashville legend with 16 No. 1 hits and more than 30 singles on the charts, and 2 albums that earned her a Grammy. Her recent 2008 CD "Coal" took a stand on mountaintop removal.
Billy Cox
If you don't recognize his name, have you heard of Jimi Hendrix? Cox was the bassist for Hendrix throughout his career. The two met in the army, and became friend in addition to building a musical bond. He's been inducted to the Musicians Hall of Fame. You can hear his current work on his latest album, Old School Blue Blues (2011).
Connie Smith
Her 1964 hit "Once a Day" spent 8 weeks at No. 1 in the Billboard country music charts, which is the longest any female has ever held the top spot. Add that to her 11 Grammy nominations, 31 albums on the charts, and a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and it's easy to see why she's considered one of the most underrated vocalists in the industry.
Who is your favorite WV native musician?