Cincinnati, OH

Music connected to Cincinnati

Ready to dig into the tunes of Cincinnati? This Ohio River city, nestled between Midwestern charm and urban ambition, has inspired musicians across genres. From country twang in Buck Owens' "Sam's Place" to the hip-hop beats of Afroman's "Licc'em Low Lisa," Cincinnati's name echoes in surprising corners of the music world. Even Eminem tips his hat in "Role Model," proving the Queen City's reach extends far beyond its borders.

But Cincinnati's story goes deeper than just name-drops. Founded in 1788 and named for the Roman citizen-soldier Cincinnatus, the city's history as a vital trade hub on the Ohio River has shaped its culture. While you're exploring the music scene, keep an ear out for echoes of the past, from the devastating Great Flood of 1937 to the legends surrounding the haunted Music Hall. With artists like Atmosphere and Bobby Bare drawing inspiration from this unique place, Cincinnati promises a rich and diverse sonic landscape.

About Cincinnati

• Doris Day, legendary actress and singer, was born in Cincinnati.
• Procter & Gamble, a multinational consumer goods corporation, was founded there.
• Its location on the Ohio River made it a vital trade hub.
• Beneath Cincinnati lies a network of abandoned subway tunnels.
• The Great Flood of 1937 devastated the city and its riverfront.
• Named for Roman citizen-soldier Cincinnatus, it was founded in 1788.
• With 309,317 residents, its population is just below Pittsburgh's.
• Sitting 490 feet above sea level, it's higher than Chicago.
• Healthcare and manufacturing are major employment sectors.
• A blend of Midwestern charm and burgeoning urban energy.
• Fossiliferous Ordovician shale and limestone, containing abundant brachiopods and trilobites, defines the area's geology.
• The Little Miami River, a designated National Scenic River, flows near Cincinnati.
• The Ohio River provides the primary water source for the city of Cincinnati.
• The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is home to the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros.
• The area is within the mixed mesophytic forest region, characterized by diverse hardwood trees.
• The Hopewell culture built earthen mounds in the Cincinnati area between 200 BCE and 500 CE.
• Union soldiers fired cannons from Cincinnati to Covington during the Civil War in September 1862.
• The Roebling Suspension Bridge, connecting Cincinnati and Covington, Kentucky, was completed in 1866.
• Legend says Music Hall is haunted by the ghosts of workers killed during its hasty construction.
• Interstate 71 passes through Cincinnati, connecting the city to Louisville and Columbus.

Artists From Cincinnati

#KingProphet 2 of Clubs 26 Letters Aaron Dessner Abe Olman Abiodun Oyewole Adam Gregory Adam Ross Against Al Morgan Alexina Duchamp Alice Cary Alton Fitzgerald White American Sin Ampline Amy London Andy Black Ant Dog Anthony Gray Aradhna Arin Ray Arlo McKinley Art Roseman Ash Thomas Ass Ponys Aziza Love Barry Ries Beneath the Sky Benjamin Moermond Billy Golden Billy Ward Blessid Union of Souls Bloodgate Bob Allen Bob McGinnis Bob Roberts Bobby Martin Bootsy Collins Bottom Line Brandi Chavonne Massey Brett Brock Brette Taylor Brian White Brian White and Justice Bryce Dessner Buffalo Killers Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle Burning Star Core Carin Levine Carl Dobkins Jr. Carl Lunsford Carole Bogard Caterpillar Tracks Charles Manson Charlie Alexander Chastain Chloe Hotline Chris Jasper Christ Church Cathedral Choir Christian S. Green Christopher Douglas Williams Chrome Cranks Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Cincinnati Transit Authority Cliff Friend Cliff Hess cLOUDDEAD Cobra Kai Corpus Christi Counterfeit Money Machine Counting Stars Craig Bailey Craig Fuller Crosswind Cult of Sorrow Curly & The Cueballs Curtis Peagler D-Maub D. Watkins Dana Burnet Dangerous Jim and the Slims Daniel von Bargen Danny Cox Dave Janes David Freiberg David Mack David Michael-Philips David Rhodes Brown Dead End Path Death Before Disco Dee Felice Trio Desdemona Finch Deus Vult Dexter Filkins Don Braden Don Gohman Doris Day Dust by Monday E-Swift Earl Fuller East Orange Express Eddie Wuebben Edgar Courance Edmund J. Pendleton Edmund Louis Gruber Edmund White Elk Emily Hines ENMY Erector Set Ernie Isley Ethicist False Hydra Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician FIGHTMASTER Five Deez Fizzgig Foxy Shazam Frank Tribble Frazier River Fred Hersch Fredric Brown Gabrielle Dennis Gary Owen GenX George Hurrell George Russell Gideon "Guitar" Watson Gilbert Young Gloria Bare Gloria Jones Gordon Brisker Hal Davis Hal Sparks Harlan Lattimore Harry Richman Harvey Evans Head Collector Heartless Bastards Hellnation Henry Fillmore Henry Strong Durand Herbie Cox Hi-Tek Hudson Leick Iceskates Interstate Rivals Iron Oath IShowSpeed iSWHAT?! It's Them Jack Burton Overdrive Jack Manning James Griffin James Levine Jerome Deupree Jerry Rubin Jim Dine Jim McKell Jimmie Dodd Jimmy Madison Jimmy Mundy Joe Jordan John N. Klohr John Vester Johnny Clark Johnny Clueless Jon J Muth Jon Willwerth Jonah Colina Jonell Joshua King Joshua Treble Juan Nelson Julie Rivé-King Junior Citizens K-Drama Katt Williams Kelly Shaefer Kenneth Koch Kenny Poole Kevin Allison KiKi Layne Kinder Words L.A. Reid LaSalle Quartet Lee Bowman Lee Tucker Libby Holman Little Willie & The Wonders LNZNDRF Lo, the Loyal Conscripts Lone Catalysts Lynnea Mad Anthony Main Flow Mallory Mamie Smith Mandy Harvey Mark Ibold Mark Robertson Marsha Brady Marty Balin Marvin Isley Matt Berninger Max Geers Max Green Megan Schroer Michael Gruber Michael Lucarelli Michael Maniaci Michael Marcagi Michael Moore Mike Longo Milkmine Mind Soup Mitchell Ryan Moonbeau Moth Mr. Dibbs MUSE-Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir My Sister Sarah Nadi Qamar New World Nicholas Angelich Nick Dittmeier Nicole C. Mullen Nikki Glaser Nile Noble Ghost Nogothula OB1 Obsidian Mind Odd Nosdam Ohio Knife On Bodies One Nation Under Operation's Otis Williams Otis Williams & the Charms Ouiwey Collins Over The Rhine Overseer O’Kelly Isley Patricia Elaine Baumhardt Pearlene Penny Ford Peppermint Subway Pete Rose Peter Adams and The Nocturnal Collective Peter Wiley Phil Cody Poiesis Quartet Pomegranates Prayers Unanswered Probably Just Paranoid psychodots Q.R. Ghazala Quinn Bolton Rajiv Dhall Ralph Penland Randall Einhorn Ray Flerlage Reflection Eternal Renewal Ric Hordinski Rip Rock & Raunch Roger Hamilton Spotts Ronald Isley Rose Funeral Roy Rogers Rudolph Isley Ruth Lyons Ruth Shaw Wylie Sabre Saturday Supercade Scott Lindroth Second Alibi Shadow Lake Shag Lab Sheldon Reynolds Short Millie Skeets Herfurt Skeleton Hands Slang Ton Smoke Parade Smokey & His Sister Sonny Brown Sorceröt Spear Spike Spirit and the Bride Stan Lynch Standard Time Stays in Vegas Stephan Moore Steven Spielberg Still Crossed Sudan Archives Suffocate Faster Sword Ted Turner The Casinos The Chosen Lot The Comforts The Deele The Dopamines The Fabulous Fish The Glass Wall The Greenhornes The Group The Isley Brothers The Kelly Richey Band The Light Wires The Menus The Modern Jazz Disciples The National The National Trust The Pinstripes The Sacred Mushroom The Seedy Seeds The Seniors The Socials The Sundresses The Tillers The Wakedead Gathering Them Thomas Michael Thorns of the Carrion Throneberry Till Plains Tom Segura Tony & The Bandits Tony Miceli Touchdown Jesus Turtledoves Unseen Vacation Vacillantes Valdrin Velvet Crush Vicki Lewis Virginia Payne WALK THE MOON Walter Connolly Water and Sand weakness Weezy Jefferson Westfauster Whalefeathers Wheels WHY? William Earl Collins William Howard Taft William Merrigan Daly William Slapin William Weber William “Hicky” Kelley Wintter Watts Withhold Yoni Wolf Zack Attack Zanister Zayex

Songs About Cincinnati

Welcome to the Jungle by

The Winner by

Clap Hands by

Sam’s Place by

Fins by

Licc’em Low Lisa by

Johnny, Hold Back by

Sunrise by

Put in Work by

Sam’s Place by

Jesus, Take the Wheel by

Role Model by

Clap Hands by

Trying to Find a Balance by

I Don't Care by

Contemporary Man by

Comin’ to Your City by

Down in the Lonesome Draw by

I’m a Ramblin’ Man by

It's Your Thing by

Shout by

Bout It, Bout It II by

Thug Girl by

When They Gone by

Nearby Places

#KingProphet 2 of Clubs 26 Letters Aaron Dessner Abe Olman Abiodun Oyewole Adam Gregory Adam Ross Against Al Morgan Alexina Duchamp Alice Cary Alton Fitzgerald White American Sin Ampline Amy London Andy Black Ant Dog Anthony Gray Aradhna Arin Ray Arlo McKinley Art Roseman Ash Thomas Ass Ponys Aziza Love Barry Ries Beneath the Sky Benjamin Moermond Billy Golden Billy Ward Blessid Union of Souls Bloodgate Bob Allen Bob McGinnis Bob Roberts Bobby Martin Bootsy Collins Bottom Line Brandi Chavonne Massey Brett Brock Brette Taylor Brian White Brian White and Justice Bryce Dessner Buffalo Killers Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle Burning Star Core Carin Levine Carl Dobkins Jr. Carl Lunsford Carole Bogard Caterpillar Tracks Charles Manson Charlie Alexander Chastain Chloe Hotline Chris Jasper Christ Church Cathedral Choir Christian S. Green Christopher Douglas Williams Chrome Cranks Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Cincinnati Transit Authority Cliff Friend Cliff Hess Cobra Kai Corpus Christi Counterfeit Money Machine Counting Stars Craig Bailey Craig Fuller Crosswind Cult of Sorrow Curly & The Cueballs Curtis Peagler D-Maub D. Watkins Dana Burnet Dangerous Jim and the Slims Daniel von Bargen Danny Cox Dave Janes David Freiberg David Mack David Michael-Philips David Rhodes Brown Dead End Path Death Before Disco Dee Felice Trio Desdemona Finch Deus Vult Dexter Filkins Don Braden Don Gohman Doris Day Dust by Monday E-Swift ENMY Earl Fuller East Orange Express Eddie Wuebben Edgar Courance Edmund J. Pendleton Edmund Louis Gruber Edmund White Elk Emily Hines Erector Set Ernie Isley Ethicist FIGHTMASTER False Hydra Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician Five Deez Fizzgig Foxy Shazam Frank Tribble Frazier River Fred Hersch Fredric Brown Gabrielle Dennis Gary Owen GenX George Hurrell George Russell Gideon "Guitar" Watson Gilbert Young Gloria Bare Gloria Jones Gordon Brisker Hal Davis Hal Sparks Harlan Lattimore Harry Richman Harvey Evans Head Collector Heartless Bastards Hellnation Henry Fillmore Henry Strong Durand Herbie Cox Hi-Tek Hudson Leick IShowSpeed Iceskates Interstate Rivals Iron Oath It's Them Jack Burton Overdrive Jack Manning James Griffin James Levine Jerome Deupree Jerry Rubin Jim Dine Jim McKell Jimmie Dodd Jimmy Madison Jimmy Mundy Joe Jordan John N. Klohr John Vester Johnny Clark Johnny Clueless Jon J Muth Jon Willwerth Jonah Colina Jonell Joshua King Joshua Treble Juan Nelson Julie Rivé-King Junior Citizens K-Drama Katt Williams Kelly Shaefer Kenneth Koch Kenny Poole Kevin Allison KiKi Layne Kinder Words L.A. Reid LNZNDRF LaSalle Quartet Lee Bowman Lee Tucker Libby Holman Little Willie & The Wonders Lo, the Loyal Conscripts Lone Catalysts Lynnea MUSE-Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir Mad Anthony Main Flow Mallory Mamie Smith Mandy Harvey Mark Ibold Mark Robertson Marsha Brady Marty Balin Marvin Isley Matt Berninger Max Geers Max Green Megan Schroer Michael Gruber Michael Lucarelli Michael Maniaci Michael Marcagi Michael Moore Mike Longo Milkmine Mind Soup Mitchell Ryan Moonbeau Moth Mr. Dibbs My Sister Sarah Nadi Qamar New World Nicholas Angelich Nick Dittmeier Nicole C. Mullen Nikki Glaser Nile Noble Ghost Nogothula OB1 Obsidian Mind Odd Nosdam Ohio Knife On Bodies One Nation Under Operation's Otis Williams Otis Williams & the Charms Ouiwey Collins Over The Rhine Overseer O’Kelly Isley Patricia Elaine Baumhardt Pearlene Penny Ford Peppermint Subway Pete Rose Peter Adams and The Nocturnal Collective Peter Wiley Phil Cody Poiesis Quartet Pomegranates Prayers Unanswered Probably Just Paranoid Q.R. Ghazala Quinn Bolton Rajiv Dhall Ralph Penland Randall Einhorn Ray Flerlage Reflection Eternal Renewal Ric Hordinski Rip Rock & Raunch Roger Hamilton Spotts Ronald Isley Rose Funeral Roy Rogers Rudolph Isley Ruth Lyons Ruth Shaw Wylie Sabre Saturday Supercade Scott Lindroth Second Alibi Shadow Lake Shag Lab Sheldon Reynolds Short Millie Skeets Herfurt Skeleton Hands Slang Ton Smoke Parade Smokey & His Sister Sonny Brown Sorceröt Spear Spike Spirit and the Bride Stan Lynch Standard Time Stays in Vegas Stephan Moore Steven Spielberg Still Crossed Sudan Archives Suffocate Faster Sword Ted Turner The Casinos The Chosen Lot The Comforts The Deele The Dopamines The Fabulous Fish The Glass Wall The Greenhornes The Group The Isley Brothers The Kelly Richey Band The Light Wires The Menus The Modern Jazz Disciples The National The National Trust The Pinstripes The Sacred Mushroom The Seedy Seeds The Seniors The Socials The Sundresses The Tillers The Wakedead Gathering Them Thomas Michael Thorns of the Carrion Throneberry Till Plains Tom Segura Tony & The Bandits Tony Miceli Touchdown Jesus Turtledoves Unseen Vacation Vacillantes Valdrin Velvet Crush Vicki Lewis Virginia Payne WALK THE MOON WHY? Walter Connolly Water and Sand Weezy Jefferson Westfauster Whalefeathers Wheels William Earl Collins William Howard Taft William Merrigan Daly William Slapin William Weber William “Hicky” Kelley Wintter Watts Withhold Yoni Wolf Zack Attack Zanister Zayex cLOUDDEAD iSWHAT?! psychodots weakness Almo, KY Benton, KY Brownie, KY Chillicothe, OH Cincinatti, OH Greenville, KY Hawesville, KY Henryville, IN Hickman, KY Louisville, KY