We often find ourselves turning to music – to lift our spirits, soothe our souls and spark our creativity. Social media channels and playlists are filled with famous and not-so-famous voices sharing their songs with the world.
Missouri has long been known for its music – blues, jazz, bluegrass, country, pop, rock and more. The Show-Me State has certainly seen its share of remarkable musicians as well as songs inspired by some of our most famous places.
Here’s a sampling of tunes – from a variety of genres – with Missouri ties for your playlist:
- “All I Wanna Do,” by Sheryl Crow, pop star from Kennett.
- “Johnny B. Goode,” by Chuck Berry, rock and roll legend from St. Louis.
- “Missouri Moon,” by Rhonda Vincent, “The Queen of Bluegrass,” who lives in Kirksville.
- “What’s Love Got to do with It,” by Tina Turner, soul and rock star who lived her teen years in St. Louis.
- “Missing Missouri,” by Sara Evans, country music performer from New Franklin.
- “Time to Drive,” by Ray Cardwell, bluegrass musician from Springfield.
- “Maple Leaf Rag,” by ragtime composer and performer Scott Joplin, who lived in Sedalia and St. Louis.
- “Ornithology,” by Charlie Parker, jazz great from Kansas City.
- “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louie,” written by Andrew B. Sterling and Kerry Still in 1904 to celebrate the World’s Fair, later featured in the musical by the same name.
- “Kansas City,” written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, with more than 300 recorded versions, including the number one hit by Wilbert Harrison.
- “Take My Breath Away,” lyrics by Springfield native Tom Whitlock, featured in the movie “Top Gun.”
- “Sni-A-Bar Stomp,” by The Hipnecks, from Columbia.
- “Everything,” by Ha Ha Tonka, a band from Springfield and named for the popular Missouri State Park.
- “I Need Never Get Old,” by Nathaniel Rateliff, from Hermann, performs with his band The Night Sweats.
- “Wrong Way,” by Loose Loose, based in Columbia.
- “Buy Me a Boat,” by Chris Jansen, country music singer from Perryville.
Check out our Spotify Playlist below or create your own Missouri playlist with these songs and hundreds more featuring Show-Me state musicians and songwriters.
To explore more of Missouri’s musical heritage, visit the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City. Tune into the Big Muddy Music Hour to hear a variety of talent from Missouri.