From mountain music to modern hits: The history of music in Virginia

From the echoes of Appalachian folk to the pulsating beats of hip-hop, Virginia’s music scene is a testament to its rich, evolving heritage. Discover how this historic commonwealth went from the birthplace of country music to a modern hotspot for diverse genres.

Virginia is renowned for its pivotal role in American history, from the establishment of Jamestown to its ongoing influence on the nation’s cultural landscape. It’s no surprise the state’s musical legacy is just as in tune. 

It all began in the Appalachian Mountain region, where the music culture arose from mixing native and colonial traditions in such a profound way, it would continue to course through our taste in tunes to this very day. 

The deep-rooted history of Appalachian music is responsible for the creation of many music genres. Appalachian mountain music started after European (largely Scottish) cultures brought their music traditions to the region; later, African music contributed to this genre to create what we know as mountain folk music. 

But Virginia’s music scene didn’t stop in the mountains. No, this ever-evolving history is alive and well in the modern age, with rich musical institutions throughout the commonwealth continuing to cultivate successful performing artists—and a music culture that is unique to Virginia. We’re excited to delve into the twists and turns of how it got to where it is today.

The Birthplace of Country Music 

Virginia is known specifically as an important place for the creation of modern country music. The city of Bristol is a small, but musically significant, town on the Tennessee-Virginia state border. In 1998, the US Congress deemed Bristol the “Birthplace of Country Music.” 

This location was granted the title because of its role in the 1927 Bristol Sessions, which produced the recordings of some of the first country songs in, well, the country by The Carter family and other artists. 

Country music is one of Virginia’s largest contributions to American music culture. Still, other genres like rock n’ roll, folk, and bluegrass also take major influence from Appalachian music— which has contributed to a large and diverse music scene throughout the commonwealth. 

Regions throughout the state have created unique music scenes, with Hampton Roads becoming a hip-hop staple, Northern Virginia catering mostly to rock and alternative artists, and the Blue Ridge Mountains continuing its traditions as a folk and bluegrass hub. 

Virginia’s capital city, Richmond, especially became a hub for many music genres. The city’s intimate concert venues created a thriving melting pot for independent artists and cultivated many punk, rock, metal, alternative, and hip-hop scenes throughout the area. To this day, Richmond has remained steadfast in its undying love for independent music, and venues like The National and The Camel have become staples for independent performing artists. 

Thanks to the commonwealth’s history and culture surrounding music, many local artists have made their mark on the industry. Some industry standouts include Patsy Cline, The Stanley Brothers, Pharrell Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Missy Elliott, and many more. 

Here’s a breakdown of Virginia locals who made it big in the music industry:

Hampton Roads 

• Pharrell Williams (Virginia Beach)
• Missy Elliott (Portsmouth)
• The Neptunes (Virginia Beach)
• NERD (Virginia Beach)
• Timbaland (Norfolk)
• Pusha T (Virginia Beach)
• Ella Fitzgerald (Newport News)
• Bruce Hornsby (Williamsburg)

Central and NoVA

• Dave Matthews Band (Charlottesville)
• Stewart Copeland (Alexandria)
• Jason Mraz (Mechanicsville)
• Patsy Cline (Winchester)
• Kali Uchis (Alexandria)
• Trey Songz (Petersburg)
• Shaboozey (Fairfax)

Richmond

• D’Angelo 
• GWAR 
• Tommy Richman 

Blue Ridge Mountains

• The Carter Family (Maces Spring)
• The Stanely Brothers (Dickenson County)

In order to cater to the flood of talent coming from the area, Virginia is also home to many significant music venues and institutions. Virginia Beach’s Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, Norfolk’s Scope, and Brown’s Island in Richmond are all standouts for large-scale musical performances.

Both local and non-local artists feel the pull to the commonwealth, and many performers make it a point to visit Virginia during their world tours. In the spring of 2024, pop artist Chappell Roan had her largest crowd to date during her performance at Brown’s Island with 16,000 attendees right before her career took off. Irish artist Hozier took to the stage at the Veterans Amphitheater to a sold-out crowd of 20,000 back in May.

With these large and popular venues hosting world-class acts, it is clear that even beyond the borders of the commonwealth, musical artists around the world understand how important Virginia is to modern music. And year after year, Virginia continues to cultivate new performing artists with its extensive love and rich history of music.