Although Texas is not known as a Black music hub, many musical icons were born in the “Lone Star State.”
When people think about Black music, several cities come to mind and probably none of them are in the Lone Star State.
Hip-hop originated in The Bronx, N.Y.
New Orleans and Chicago are known for jazz.
And when one thinks about great R&B, they often look at Detroit, Memphis and Philadelphia.
However, some of the most iconic music megastars originated from the great state of Texas.
So as Black Music Month 2024 ends, RegalMag.com decided to show some homeboy/homegirl love to musical greats that come from the same state that RegalMag.com calls home.
So, without further ado, show some love to some of the best Texans to ever grace the musical stage.
- Billy Preston—Yes, Eddie Murphy once said that the fifth Beatle was a Black man named Clarence on “Saturday Night Live.” However, the person who often gets viewed as an honorary member of the Fab Four is Houston-born, Billy Preston. Even if some people are not familiar with his iconic career, they were familiar with his iconic afro and gapped-tooth smile. Preston did session work for The Beatles, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, James Cleveland and The Everly Brothers. But many remember him for his certified hit, “Nothing from Nothing” as a solo artist.
- Bun B—Why is Bun B on this list and not Pimp C? Well, Bun was born in Port Arthur, Texas, while Pimp was born right up the road in Crowley, La. Shout out to Acadia Parish, La. While UGK tops many Texans’ list of favorite rap groups, do not sleep on Bun as a solo artist. And definitely do not sleep on him as a top-rated lyricist. His third solo album “Trill O.G.” is a classic. Just ask The Source magazine. And his features on other artists’ music, especially during the time of Pimp C’s incarceration, do not get much better. Salute to the trill O.G.
- Megan thee Stallion—Yes, it might be a little premature to put this hottie on the list. But name a woman rapper who has come in the game as strong as Megan and stayed at the top. And despite controversy from issues with her label to being shot, Megan thee Stallion continues to make the city of Houston proud, especially those that are products of Texas Southern University. Her new album “MEGAN” drops on June 28 and singles like “BOA” and “HISS” are already making waves on the radio.
- Scarface—While Megan thee Stallion is definitely holding it down for Houston emcees, none of that would have been possible without icons like Scarface from the Geto Boys. Before the Geto Boys dropped their second album “Grip It on That Other Level” in 1989, most hip-hop fans saw Texans as just some country bumpkins. However, Scarface immediately proved that he could go toe-to-toe with the best emcees around the country such as 2Pac, Nas, Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z.
- Scott Joplin—Shoutout to Texarkana, Texas because it is better than its neighbor Texarkana, Ark. Hopefully, none of Regal’s Arkansas readers see this article. However, that is the childhood hometown of the king of ragtime music, Scott Joplin. It was while living in the Texas-Arkansas border town that Joplin became great at the piano and banjo. Joplin taught himself how to play piano while he spent time in a home where his mother worked. The Texas native is known most for his iconic song “The Entertainer,” used in the 1973 movie “The Sting,” which won an Academy Award for Best Score.
- Travis Scott—The Astroworld Festival notwithstanding, Travis Scott is the definition of the 21st century pop culture icon. The Missouri City, Texas native has mastered blending psychedelic sounds with hip-hop, while not ignoring his Houston roots. Hip-hop heads can hear the influence that D.J. Screw’s sound had on the Elkins High School alum. Scott is currently in the running for song of the summer thanks to Mustard’s new track entitled “Parking Lot.” Although the words Astroworld and Travis Scott will always have a negative connotation, the album “Astroworld” was an instant classic that still knocks almost six years after its release.
- Barry White—Sure, Chris Tucker ruined one of Barry White’s all-time classics (“You’re the First, The Last, My Everything”) in the movie “Money Talks.” But the deep and smooth baritone that White possessed, and the hit songs that came as a result, always made his birth home Galveston, Texas proud. White released timeless and sensual songs like “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” “Practice What You Preach,” “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up” and “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me.”
- Kirk Franklin—Forget the haters who do not like the hip-hop and R&B vibes in gospel. But Kirk Franklin totally remade the gospel genre into the image of the younger generation by featuring secular artists on inspirational tracks from rapper Salt to rock star Bono. Some haters have labeled Franklin as an overpaid choir director. But his talents as a songwriter and musician should make him the gospel version of Quincy Jones or Dr. Dre. Franklin has given churchgoers hits like “Silver and Gold” and “Melodies from Heaven.” But when a gospel artist can get love from MTV with “Stomp,” they have really and truly crossed over and done something great.
- Sly Stone—Sure, Sly and the Family Stone hail from the Bay Area. However, the artist born Sylvester Stewart came out the womb in Denton, Texas. In the 1960s, male artists dressed in suit and ties like The Temptations and The Four Tops. However, Sly and the Family Stone changed the whole game with their hippy wardrobe and interracial and multi-gendered lineup. Almost immediately, other artists like the Jackson Five covered their work with songs like “Stand.” And later, future bands like Prince and the Revolution got their style and interracial and multi-gendered lineup from the people who made fans dance to the music.
- Beyoncé—RegalMag.com does not even have to describe how legendary the former lead singer of Destiny Child is. Simply put, she is Queen Bey. All hail the queen. Enough said.
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