The 50+ Greatest Singers From Alabama

In this post, you’ll be seeing the list of the greatest singers from Alabama (both artists and bands from Alabama).

For centuries, Alabama has had a strong connection with music. Alabama has played a vital role in the development of several musical genres including gospel, country, folk, and blues.

Most of the best musical artists from Alabama have already been inducted into Alabama’s Music Hall of Fame.

Without much ado, let’s see the list of the best singers from Alabama.

1. Hank Williams Sr.

Hank William’s full names are Hiram King Hank William. He was born in Mount Olive, Butler County, Alabama but later relocated to Georgiana with his family.

He is an American singer, songwriter, and musician and he is regarded as one of the most influential and significant American singers and songwriters of the 20^th century.

Hank Williams was into Western Music, Folk music, and Outlaw country music. He recorded 35 singles that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Country and Western bestsellers chart.

His albums include Cold, Beyond the Sunset, Cold Heart, Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts, Hillbilly Hero, and many more.

He died in the year 1953 from a heart failure caused by drug abuse and alcohol. Despite the fact that he lived a short life, he is still regarded and celebrated as one of the most influential popular singers of the 20^th century.

2. The Commodores

The Commodores are an American soul/funk band that people came to know about in the late 1970s through the mid -1980s. Their genre of music includes Funk, soul, R&B, and Pop.

The members of commodores met as freshmen at the Tuskegee Institute (now called Tuskegee University) in 1968. They signed with a record label called Motown in 1972.

This group’s most successful period was in the late 70s and mid-80s when Lionel Richie was a co-lead singer. Their biggest hit singles are ballads like Easy, Three Times a Lady, and Nightshift, and funky dance hits are Brick House, Lady, Fancy Dancer, and Too Hot ta Trot.

In the year 1986, the Commodores won their first Grammy Award for the song Nightshift.

3. Lionel Richie

Born Lionel Brockman Richie jr. He is an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer and he is one of the best singers from Alabama. He was a member of the group Commodores but left in 1982 to pursue a solo career.

In the same year (1982) he released his debut solo album “Lionel Richie” that contained three hit singles (Truly, You Are, and My Love). This album hit No. 3 on the music charts and sold 4 million + copies.

He released another album in 1983 “Can’t Slow Down” and sold more twice as many copies. This pushed him into the first rank of international superstars.

Over the course of his musical career, he has sold more than 90 million records worldwide, this has made him one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time.

He has won over three Grammy awards and has also been nominated for two Golden Globe awards but won one.

In the year 2016, he received the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s highest honor, (the Johnny Mercer Award).

4. Alabama band

This is an American country and Southern rock band formed in 1969 at Fort Payne, Alabama. The Alabama band was formed by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry. His other cousin Jeff Cook later joined the band.

They were first started as Wildcountry and toured the Southeast bar circuit in the early 70s. They later changed their name to Alabama in the year 1977 and was signed by RCA Records.

This band’s biggest success came in the 1980s where the band had more than 27 No. 1 hit and seven multi-platinum album sales.

Alabama has more than 41 No. 1 country records on the Billboard charts and has sold over 75 million records thus making them the most successful band in country music.

In the year 2019, Alabama was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum and was awarded a Life Time Achievement Award.

5. Jimmy Buffett

James William Buffett is an American Singer, musician songwriter, author, actor, and businessman from Mobile, Alabama.

Jimmy is best known for his music which often describes an island escapism lifestyle. Together with his band (Coral Reefer Band) he has recorded hit songs such as Margaritaville, and Come Monday.

Aside from his musical career, he is also one of the best-selling writers and owns two restaurants which he named after his best songs.

He is one of the world’s richest musicians with a net worth of $550 million.

6. Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole’s full names are Nathaniel Adams Coles. He was born March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama and died February 15, 1965, in Santo Monica, California.

He was an American jazz pianist and vocalist. He recorded more than a hundred songs that became hits on the pop charts. He also acted in films and on TV and performed on Broadway.

Nat King Cole was the first African American man to host an American TV series. He was one of the best singers from Alabama.

7. Tammy Wynette

Born Virginia Wynette Pugh- She was an American country music singer/songwriter and one of the best-known country music artists and biggest-selling female singers.

She was called the “First Lady of Country Music” and her hit song “Stand by Your Man” is one of the best-selling hit singles by a female in the history of country music.

Many of her songs dealt with classic themes of divorce, loneliness, and the difficulties of life and relationships.

Wynette charted 20 number-one songs on the Billboard Country Chart during the late 1960s and early 70s.

8. Wilson Pickett

Wilson Pickett was born March 18, 1941, in Prattville, Alabama. He was an American singer and songwriter and played a vital role in the development of American Soul Music.

Wilson recorded more than 50 songs which made the US R7B charts, many of which crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100.

Some of his best singles are: In the Midnight Hour, Land of 1,000 Dances, Mustang Sally, and Funky Broadway.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the year 1991, in recognition of his impact on songwriting, and recording.

9. Jason Isbell

Michael Jason Isbell is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter from Green Hill, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. Jason is best known for his solo career, his work with The 400 Unit band, and as a former member of Drive-By Truckers.

Isbell is into Progressive country, alternative country, and southern rock music. His albums include sirens of the Ditch, Southeastern, Jason Isbell and the 400 unit, Here We Rest, and many more. He has won four (4) Grammy Awards.

10. Emmylou Harris

Emmylou Harris was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She’s an American singer, musician, and songwriter. She’s into country, country rock, folk, country folk, Americana, Christian country, outlaw country, and bluegrass music.

Emmylou has released many albums and singles over the course of her music career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and several other honors such as induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Also, in the year 2018, she got the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

11. Alabama Shakes

In 2009, Alabama Shakes was formed in Athens, Alabama. It is an American rock band with lead singer and guitarist Britany Howard, Bassist Zac Cockrell, guitarist Heath Fogg, Keyboard player Ben Tanner, and drummer Steve Johnson.

This band is into Southern rock, Blues-rock, and Soul roots-rock music.

This group got three nominations for the 2013 Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Rock Performance for “Hold On”, and Best Recording Package for their debut album, “Boys & Girls”.

12. Percy Sledge

Born Percy Tyrone Sledge on November 25th, 1941 in Leighton, Alabama and died April 14th, 2015. He was an American Gospel, R&B, and Soul singer.

Percy Sledge is best known for the song “When a Man Loves a Woman”. This song was a number one hit on both the Billboard 100 and R&B singles charts in 1966. The song was awarded a million-selling, Gold-certified disc from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

He achieved his strongest success in the late 1960s and early 70s with a series of emotional soul songs. Years later he received the Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s Career Achievement Award and in 2005, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

13. Jamey Johnson

Jamey Johnson was born July 14^th, 1975 in Enterprise, Alabama. He is a singer and songwriter that is into country and outlaw country music. In 2005, he was signed into BNA Records and made his debut with his hit single “The Dollar”.

In 2006 he dropped from BNA Records and signed to Mercury Nashville Records in 2008, releasing his second album, the gold-certified “That Lonesome Song”.

His second album produced two singles “In Color” and “High Cost of Living” hit the Top 10.

Jamey Johnson has released a couple of albums and has written songs for other famous singers from Alabama and other states in America.

14. Clarence Carter

Clarence George Carter was born in Montgomery Alabama on January 14, 1936. He is an American musician, soul singer, songwriter, and record producer.

He was born blind and attended the Alabama School for the Blind in Talladega, Alabama, and Alabama State College where he graduated with a BSc degree in music.

Some of his most successful songs include Slip Away, Back Door Santa, Too weak to Fight, Patches, and Strokin.

15. Big Mama Thornton

Born Willie Mae Thornton in Ariton, Alabama on December 11^th, 1926. She was popularly known as Big Mama Thornton and was into Rhythm and blues, Texas blues music.

She was an American rhythm-and-blues singer and songwriter and was the first to record Leiber and Stoller’s “Hound Dog” in the early 1950s which became her biggest hit, staying 7 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and selling over 2 million copies.

Big Mama Thornton other recordings included the original version of “Ball and Chain.

16. Dinah Washington

Dinah Washington’s full names are Ruth Lee Jones. She was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on August 29^th, 1924. She was an American singer and pianist who has been praised as the most popular black female recording artist of the 1950s.

She started her career as a jazz vocalist and performed and recorded a range of styles including R&B, Blues, and Traditional Pop music and gave herself the title of Queen of the Blues.

In the year 1986, she was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and in 1993, an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

17. Gucci Mane

Born Radric Delantic Davis in Bessemer, Alabama on February 12^th, 1980. He is an American Rapper and songwriter and professionally known as Gucci Mane. He helped develop the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside T.I. and Young Jeezy in the 2000s and 2010s.

In the year 2005, he launched his first album “Trap House”, followed by his second and third albums “Hard to Kill” and Trap-A-Thon in 2006. Gucci Mane released his fourth album “Back to the Trap House in the year 2007.

He later released his first gold-certified album ( sixth album) “The State VS Radric Davis. He has released 13 studio albums and more than 71 mixtapes throughout his music career.

In the year 2007, he established his own record label “1071 Records”.  He has also collaborated with other artists like Drake, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Selena Gomez, Marilyn Manson, and Mariah Carey.

18. Odetta

Odetta Holmes was born in Birmingham Alabama. Odette was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, actress, lyricist, and civil rights icon. She was into majestic folk, blues, jazz, and gospel music.

Aside from singing, she also helped to change the world by raising consciousness and evoking thoughts during the civil rights movement.

She made her strongest mark by performing with fervent grace at marches and rallies. Odetta knew how to combine protest with inspiration and also knew how to call for change in a memorable and meaningful way.

Odetta’s cover of “We Shall Overcome” became a staple for freedom fighters, and she sang “O Freedom” at the 1963 March in Washington.

She had followers like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, and Admirers like Martin Luther King Jr.

She was loved by celebrities and foot soldiers during her time on earth. She died on December 2, 2008, but still remains a symbol of hope and freedom.

19. Eddie Levert

Edward Willis Levert was born June 16^th, 1942 in Bessemer, Alabama. He is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and producer.

He is into R&B, blues, soul, and gospel music. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the group “The O’Jays”.

20. Eddie Floyd

Edward Lee Floyd is an American singer and songwriter born June 25^th, 1937 in Montgomery, Alabama. His kind of music includes Soul, R&B, and Southern Soul music.

He is popularly known for his work on the Stax record label in the 60s and 70s and also the No.1 R&B hit song “Knock on Wood”.

Floyd received a brass note on the Beale Street Brass Notes Walk of Fame in 2016 and was also named to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in the year 2018.

Other singers from Alabama include

21. Adele “Vera” Hall

22. Arlin Moon

23. Charlie Stripling

24. Blind Boys of Alabama

25. Dan Penn

26. Arthur Alexander

27. Denson Brothers

28. Delmore Brothers

29. Donnie Fritts

30. Eddie Hinton

31. Herman Blount (Sun Ra)

32. George “Wild Child” Butler

33. Johnny Sandlin

34. Hugh Martin

35. James Reese Europe

36. Sam Philips

37. Tommy Shaw

38. Jerry “Boogie” McCain

39. Ottokar Cadek

40. Lionel Hampton

41. Spooner Oldham

42. Joel “Jo Jo” Adams

43. Inez Andrews

44. The Butler Twins

45. Adolphus Bell

46. Shelly Colvin

47. Mike Cooley

48. Robin Clark

49. Boyd Bennett

50. Earl St. Clair

51. Lee Clayton

52. Wesley Dennis

53. Elley Duhe’

54. Brad Cotter

55. Jeff Cook

56. Jaybird Coleman

57. Rex Griffin

58. Wendy Holcombe

59. Sonny James

60. Jimmy Murphy

 

 

Conclusion

There you have it, some of the famous singers from Alabama. These singers/artists are well known for their great music and contributions to the entertainment industry.

Though some of these singers like Tammy Wynette, Nat King Cole, Percy Sledge, Dinah Washington, Odetta, Hank Williams Sr. etc, are no more, their music still lives on and they are considered as the greatest singers of all time.

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What country singers are from Alabama?

The country singers that live in Alabama include:

• Drake White
• Jamey Johnson
• Alison Moorer
• Adam Hood
• Jimmy Buffet
• Sweet Tea Trio
• Ty Herndon
• The Band Perry

And more

2. What is Alabama known for?

Alabama is known for its iron and steel natural resources, football, sweet tea, southern hospitality, and music.

3. Who are the famous people from Alabama?

• Channing Tatum
• Courteney Cox
• Robin Roberts
• Laverne Cox
• Charles Barkley
• Lionel Richie
• Gucci Mane
• Hank Aaron
• Roy Wood, Jr.

And many more

4. What is the hottest month in Alabama?

July is the hottest month in Alabama.

5. Is Alabama a good place to live?

Alabama boost of some of the nation’s most affordable home prices, lowest cost-of-living indexes, and also low taxes. Alabama is an affordable state to live in.