The 20 most notable musical acts who have roots in Houston

The undisputed queen of R&B, Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter is a proud Houston native who reps the city’s Third Ward. She’s even reminded fans of that fact on songs like “Bow Down,” from her groundbreaking 2016 visual album “Lemonade,” and most recently, on her remix of fellow Houstonian and rap up-and-comer Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage.” 

The sister of Beyonce Knowles-Carter and an extraordinarily talented R&B artist in her own right, Solange Knowles was born in Houston in 1986. Like her sister, she started singing and dancing at a young age, eventually performing at the legendary Houston theme park AstroWorld. Now, Knowles lives in New Orleans, just a short drive away from her home city on the Third Coast. 

A legendary Texas musician and the definition of a troubadour, Robert Earl Keen was born in Houston in 1956. Keen later departed to Nashville, then settled in Austin, where he became a Texas country legend with songs like “The Road Goes On Forever.” 

A country artist who rose to fame in 1988 with the release of his album Diamonds & Dirt, Grammy winner Rodney Crowell was born in Houston in 1950. After growing up in the city, he moved to Nashville in 1972, and the rest is history. 

Arguably the biggest new name in hip-hop, Megan Thee Stallion was technically born in San Antonio in 1995 but moved to Houston shortly after. She attended high school in the suburb of Pearland, then began her rap career in the city’s storied hip-hop scene. 

‘90s country star Clint Black was born in New Jersey, but he was raised in the Houston suburb of Katy. A neo-traditionalist known for his hits like “Killin’ Time,” Black was also introduced to his wife of more than 20 years, actress Lisa Hartman Black, after a show in Houston. 

A singer-songwriter who deftly blends blues, pop, country, and jazz, Robert Ellis grew up in Houston and got his start playing shows not too far away in Lake Jackson, where he was born. On his 2019 album “Texas Piano Man,” Ellis included an ode to Topo Chico, the fizzy mineral water beloved in Houston and throughout the Lone Star State. 

The iconically bearded frontman of ZZ Top, Billy Gibbons was born into a musical family in Houston on December 19, 1949. In 1969, he teamed up with Dallasites Dusty Hill and Frank Beard to form ZZ Top, and the rest is history. 

The ‘00s girl group that would eventually go on to produce superstar Beyonce, Destiny’s Child was formed in Houston with the name “Girl’s Tyme” in 1990. LeToya Luckett, who was a member of the group for its first two albums and a solo artist in her own right, was also born and raised in Houston. 

A legendary Houston rap duo comprised of Chad “Pimp C” Butler and Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, UGK (or UnderGround Kingz) originated in Port Arthur, Texas, about 90 miles away from Clutch City. After years of releasing mixtapes and earning a loyal cult following of fans, the duo rose to prominence in 2000 when UGK appeared on Jay-Z’s smash hit “Big Pimpin.” 

A fiercely independent singer-songwriter, Jack Ingram was born in Houston and raised in the nearby suburb of The Woodlands. Ingram scored his first #1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with “Wherever You Are” in 2005, more than two decades after he began his music career in Texas. Now, he’s collaborating with major country stars like Miranda Lambert. 

A prolific rapper and DJ, music fans will most likely recognize Houston native Paul Wall from his 2007 hit “Grillz,” on which he appears alongside St. Louis rapper Nelly. After finding mainstream success during the mid-00s, Wall has continued to be a relevant figure in the Houston rap scene with the release of albums and mixtapes, including 2020’s Slab Talk, a collaboration with fellow Houston rapper Lil’ Keke. 

The mastermind behind the Houston rap scene’s iconic “chopped and screwed” sound, DJ Screw was born Robert Earl Davis Jr. in Smithville, Texas. After bouncing between Smithville and Houston as a child, Davis debuted his trademark slowed-down style in the early ‘90s. In the years following, DJ Screw collaborated with Houston rappers and sold his legendary mixtapes out of a nondescript house in Houston. Tragically, Davis died in 2000 as the result of a codeine overdose. 

Born on August 21, 1938, Kenny Rogers is the definition of a native Houstonian. After playing shows at Houston venues like the Texan Theatre and the Houston Petroleum Club as a young man, he went on to attend the University of Houston before moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s to further pursue his music career. 

Born Jacques Berman Webster in Houston in 1991, Travis Scott is a global rap titan whose empire ranges from music to fashion to limited-edition meals at McDonald’s. A native of the South Park neighborhood of Houston, Travis Scott has always made his connection to the city clear, especially with his acclaimed 2018 album Astroworld. 

Led by powerhouse vocalist Kam Franklin, The Suffers are the new face of Houston soul. The indie band’s sound — which blends R&B, soul, and rock elements, among other influences — is as diverse as the city itself. 

Born in Houston and raised not too far away in Klein, Lyle Lovett got his start in the music venues of Texas before growing into a country legend. He even married his current wife (and San Antonio native) April Kimble in Harris County back in 2017. 

Arcade Fire’s William Butler and Edwin “Win” Butler definitely know a thing or two about “The Suburbs” after growing up outside of Houston in The Woodlands. The brothers and bandmates wrote Arcade Fire’s third album from the perspective of growing up in the ‘burbs, earning the band an Album of the Year Grammy following its release in 2010. 

Nicknamed the “first lady of modern gospel,” Yolanda Adams was born in Houston and is a graduate of the city’s Texas Southern University. A stunning vocalist and humanitarian, Adams won her first Grammy Award in 2000 for the hit album “Mountain High, Valley Low,” which has since been certified Platinum twice. 

Discovered while performing at a Houston restaurant, alt-rock band Blue October had its first-ever television performance on local television station KTRK in 1998. Seven years later, the band had its biggest hit with “Hate Me,” a radio hit that peaked at #2 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.