25 prolific Bay Area musicians

Sly Stone grew up in Richmond and was a DJ for various San Jose-based radio stations before forming his band, Sly and the Family Stone. With hit songs like “Everyday People” and “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” Sly and the Family Stone were known for blending sounds of funk and psychedelic soul throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Carlos Santana grew up in San Francisco, and his band Santana signed with Columbia Records after opening for a fellow Bay Area band, the Grateful Dead. For over five decades, Santana has infused sounds of Latin and rock music to bring fans hit records like “Smooth” and “Oye Como Va.” 

Green Day formed in Rodeo, as two of the group members, Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt, met in high school. Longtime drummer Tre Cool joined the band a couple of years later. Green Day helped push the punk rock scene across the Bay Area with hit songs like “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” “Basket Case,” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” 

When people think of Bay Area hip-hop, Vallejo native E-40 tends to come to mind. With nearly four decades in the industry, not only has E-40 established himself as one of hip-hop’s most creative lyricists with his flow speed and catchy lingo, but he’s also well-respected for continuing to work with the newer generations of artists. Some of his hit songs include “Sprinkle Me,” “U and Dat,” and “Tell Me When To Go.” 

Girl group En Vogue started as a quartet hailing from Oakland, and one of the things that always stood out is their astronomical vocal ability. Between their different vocal tones and smooth harmonies, they’re easily a favorite girl group of the ‘90s. Some of their hit songs include “Hold On,” “Free Your Mind,” and “Don’t Let Go (Love).” 

In the mid-90s, rock band Third Eye Blind formed in San Francisco, playing local gigs until they signed a deal and released their self-titled debut album in 1997. Throughout the years, the band has seen massive success behind songs like “Jumper” and “How’s It Going To Be.” 

It was a family affair for R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, which consisted of brothers Raphael Saadiq, D’Wyane Wiggins, and cousin Timothy Christian Riley. After they toured as musicians during Prince’s Parade tour in 1986, they formed the band in their hometown of Oakland. Some of the group’s biggest hits include “Feels Good,” “Anniversary,” and “It Never Rains (In Southern California).” 

MC Hammer is the type of rapper who always brought engaging stage presence. It was something he observed early on, growing up in Oakland. As a kid, he would dance alongside a beatboxer outside of sports stadiums to earn some cash. His love for dance was evident on stage and in music videos for hit songs such as “U Can’t Touch This” and “2 Legit 2 Quit.” He also made history as the first rapper to reach diamond-selling status with his album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em. 

Hailing from El Cerrito, brothers John and Tom Fogerty teamed up with Stu Cook and Doug Clifford to form the rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. They released seven albums throughout their career, but unfortunately, several feuds and lawsuits between the members prevented them from reuniting much after their heyday. 

Keyshia Cole grew up in the city of Oakland, and she made sure to film her debut video “I Changed My Mind” in the hometown that helped raise her. Throughout her career, Cole has been known for her vulnerability in her music, giving fans ballads like “Love” and “I Should Have Cheated,” while also giving audiences music to dance to like “Let It Go.” 

Before the Counting Crows established themselves as the rock band they are known as today, group members Adam Duritz and David Bryson first formed in San Francisco as an acoustic duo. In 1993, they released their debut album, August and Everything After, and have since gifted fans with hit songs like “Mr. Jones” and “A Long December.” 

There’s no doubt that Too Short is one of the most prominent Bay Area rappers. Although he was born in Los Angeles, he grew up in Oakland, and he makes sure to represent the Bay in his lyrics and music production. Some of his hit songs include “Shake That Monkey,” “Getting is Good,” and “Blow The Whistle.” 

In 1965, the Grateful Dead formed as a rock band hailing from Palo Alto. They were known for fusing their rock sound with other genres such as folk, country, bluegrass, and reggae, as well as improvising during their live performances. Not only were they one of the highest-grossing touring bands, but they were also rightfully inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

Oakland native Sheila E. comes from a family lineage of musicians, including her father, Pete Escovedo, and godfather, Tito Puente. Not only is Sheila a singer, but she’s also more widely known as a drummer and percussionist. Early in her career, she joined the George Duke Band before venturing into a solo career and dropping hit singles like “The Glamorous Life.” 

Hailing from the city of Vallejo, H.E.R. was widely recognized as a child prodigy due to her talent for playing different instruments. As a child, she performed on different platforms, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, and the world-renowned Apollo Theater. Since releasing her breakthrough EP in 2016, H.E.R. has won several awards, including an Academy Award and several Grammys. 

Vallejo-bred band Con Funk Shun released most of their music in the ‘70s and ‘80s. As one can tell by the band’s name, they fused funk and soul into their music, which was heard on songs like “Ffun” and “Love’s Train,” a song later covered by R&B groups such as Dru Hill and Silk Sonic. 

San Francisco-based band Journey was always bound for success, especially since the group was composed of former members of Santana, the Steve Miller Band, and Frumious Bandersnatch. The rock band’s music was most prominent during the ‘70s and ‘80s with songs like “Open Arms” and “Don’t Stop Believin'.” 

For fans of ‘70s soul music, Oakland-bred band Tower of Power deserves some rotation. With singer Lenny Williams handling lead vocals, the band released several hit songs such as “So Very Hard To Go” and “You’re Still a Young Man.” 

Oakland native Kehlani was originally a member of the band PopLyfe, which ended up being a finalist on Season 6 of America’s Got Talent. In 2014, Kehlani released their debut mixtape Cloud 19, which helped set the stage for the follow-up mixtape You Should Be Here  the following year. With over a decade in the music industry so far, she’s worked with some of the hottest artists, including Justin Bieber, Jhene Aiko, Ty Dolla $ign, and Chance The Rapper. 

San Francisco-based rock group the Steve Miller Band was formed back in 1966. With a career spanning over five decades, the band is known for their hit songs like “The Joker,” “Rock’n Me,” and “Fly Like An Eagle.” 

Oakland native Goapele came onto the scene in 2001 with her smooth single “Closer,” an inspirational jam that encourages listeners to keep striving towards their dreams. It’s simply a timeless record that people will love for generations to come. Due to the song’s popularity across the Bay Area, it eventually caught some mainstream wave as it was featured on the soundtrack to the 2003 film Honey. Since then, Goapele has released six more albums and continues to stay booked and busy at festivals and sporting events. 

San Jose-based band Smash Mouth first came onto the scene in 1997 with their debut album Fush Yu Mang, which was led by their groovy single “Walkin’ On The Sun.” One of the cool things that stood out about Smash Mouth’s music is how much they blended rock with psychedelic pop on songs like “Then The Morning Comes” and their cover of “Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby.” One of their most popular songs, released in 1999, was the single “All Star,” which is recognized by many from the animated film Shrek or various sporting events. 

The Pointer Sisters were originally a trio comprised of sisters June, Bonnie, and Anita, who grew up in Oakland. Their music blended electronic funk and new wave on hit songs like “He’s So Shy,” “Automatic,” and “I’m So Excited.” Throughout their career, they won three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for their track “Jump (For My Love).” 

Although the heavy metal band originally formed in Los Angeles, only a couple of years after coming together did they set their home base in San Francisco. Throughout their 40-year career, they’ve won nine Grammy Awards, including Best Metal Performance for songs like “Stone Cold Crazy” and Best Hard Rock Performance for “Whiskey in the Jar.” 

San Jose-based band The Doobie Brothers are rockers who blend their style with sounds of pop and folk. The band released five albums before Michael McDonald joined as another lead vocalist; this was a few years before McDonald took on a solo career. With a career spanning over five decades, The Doobie Brothers are recognized for hit songs like “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Runnin,’ and “What a Fool Believes.”