Image by Max Sparber via Flickr
Minnesota has made great contributions to American music. An eclectic group of musicians and performers have come from the North Star State. The rock/pop star Prince, folk musician Bob Dylan, the close harmony Andrew Sisters, the surf rock band The Trashmen, the rock pioneer Eddie Cochran, the garage rock band The Castaways, alternative rock band Soul Asylum, and the punk rock band The Replacements…to name a few.
In the late 1970s, Prince popularized what became known as the Minneapolis Sound. It was a mixture of New Wave, rock, R&B, pop, sythpop, and funk. Its popularity was boosted in the 80s by a variety of bands and artists including The Family, Mazarati, The Time, and Vanity 6 and influenced later musical themes/genres like electro and techno.
A form of funk or funk rock, the Minneapolis Sound had several characteristics that set it apart. Rhythmically, it was usually fast and had louder, more aggressive guitars. Keyboards and highly processed drums were popular and horns gave way to synthesizers.
Minnesota is a perfect place for the musically eclectic. Fans of classical music will enjoy the internationally popular Minnesota Orchestra or the St. Olaf College choir. Folk fans have the Prairie Home Companion radio show. The Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir and the Sounds of Blackness will please gospel-lovers. Fans of the blues, R&B, hip hop, jazz, and rock and roll won’t be disappointed either.
Minnesotan artists have made great contributions to many musical forms. One of the state’s nicknames is the Land of 10,000 Lakes – with its musical history and popularity, Minnesota might as well be considered the Land of 10,000 Hits.
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