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Most popular cities in North Carolina
- Charlotte (1,650 profiles)
- Raleigh (1,024 profiles)
- Asheville (763 profiles)
- Wilmington (568 profiles)
- Greensboro (537 profiles)
- Fayetteville (446 profiles)
- Durham (368 profiles)
- Cary (266 profiles)
- Gastonia (258 profiles)
- Chapel Hill (248 profiles)
- Winston-Salem (222 profiles)
- Greenville (221 profiles)
- Jacksonville (215 profiles)
- Hendersonville (214 profiles)
- Winston Salem (214 profiles)
- Concord (195 profiles)
- Wake Forest (195 profiles)
- New Bern (193 profiles)
- Hickory (189 profiles)
- Mooresville (184 profiles)
- Burlington (153 profiles)
- Asheboro (149 profiles)
- Kannapolis (148 profiles)
- Salisbury (146 profiles)
- High Point (139 profiles)
- Statesville (139 profiles)
- Clayton (132 profiles)
- Apex (127 profiles)
- Boone (118 profiles)
- Lexington (108 profiles)
- Huntersville (107 profiles)
- Sanford (102 profiles)
- Matthews (101 profiles)
- Monroe (101 profiles)
- Kernersville (94 profiles)
- Cornelius (90 profiles)
- Goldsboro (87 profiles)
- Raeford (86 profiles)
- Clemmons (84 profiles)
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North Carolina Music Scene
North Carolina is known for a tradition of old-time music, such as jazz, bluegrass, rural blues, and Piedmont blues. In the 1920s groups like the North Carolina Ramblers were the signature sound of the state. Doc Watson, a great bluegrass guitarist, represented North Carolina in the bluegrass genre during the 1940s.
North Carolina’s most notable exports are Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, who are both jazz legends. Monk, a legendary pianist, lived in NC as a child. Coltrane resided in Hamlet until he was a young adult. Other famous jazz musicians from North Carolina include hard-bop saxophonist Lou Donaldson, pianist Billy Taylor, and innovative trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.
Today, North Carolina is still grinding out relevant artists. American Idol contestant and McLeansville, NC resident Chris Daughtry is enjoying one of the best careers that have been launched from Idol. Ben Folds Five, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and The Annuals are among other rock acts that got their start in “The Tar Heel State”.
Popular rapper Petey Pablo paid homage to his home state with his song “Raise Up”. The lyrics from his 2001 tribute say “North Carolina, go on and raise up!”. Pablo’s hit surprised the nation and the state by making the top ten R&B singles; it was surprising because North Carolina is not known for producing hip-hop artists.
Best Music Venues in North Carolina:
Charlotte – The Double Door Inn is a nationally known venue where Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton have played. This laid-back club has been open since 1973 booking blues, alternative-county, and rockabilly.
Raleigh – Many popular acts have been known to play at the Cat’s Cradle under surnames purely because of the club’s loyal crowd and intimate atmosphere. When big-names aren’t around Cat’s is known for it variety of bands, which ranges from ska to hip-hop.
Greensboro – Ziggy’s is a music venue first, bar second. This place is very eclectic: the crowd is mainly made up of hippies who sell their own yield of hemp necklaces, the stage is on the same level as the audience, and the building is made entirely of wood.
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