Rhode Island is Famous for You - Blossom Dearie

Blossom Dearie (yes - actually her real name!) was an American jazz singer and pianist, famous for the bebop genre she espoused in her music and remembered for her light and girlish voice.  She recorded a massive amount of music over her years as a performer, and had a very distinctive sound (which you will hear if you listen to the link below...)

A well known mainstay in the performing stage, she continued to perform well into her early 80's.

Happy listening!

Blossom Dearie – Rhode Island Is Famous For You

Pennsylvania Polka - Frankie Yankovic

Yup.  Pennsylvania.  Polka.  Does it get better than America's Polka King?  I think not.

Happy listening!

Frankie Yankovic & His Yanks – Pennsylvania Polka

Eugene Oregon - Dolly Parton

On to the state of Oregon!

Dolly is one of those musical icons that has transcended a particular genre - everybody knows her and loves her. Pretty impressive feat, especially for someone who has not really ever sought a crossover. A great little tune by this country queen.

Happy listening!

Dolly Parton – Eugene Oregon

Oklahoma - Movie Version

No song is quite as iconic as this one, and nothing but this song would do as we continue the journey across the 50 states.

One of the most memorable and well-known Broadway shows, Oklahoma was the very first musical written by the partnership of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It was a surprising box-office smash and actually won Rodgers and Hammerstein a Pulitzer.

Happy listening!

Gordon Macrae – Oklahoma

Ohio - Over The Rhine

I first heard Over The Rhine last summer at Wild Goose Festival.  It was a thousand degrees, I was being eaten alive by ticks, and I was on day three of camping.  And I was just told that the band - the latest in three days of bands - was coming up (Over The Rhine) and they were pretty good.

I sat mesmerized from their first song to their last song. This veteran group of musicians were polished, skilled poets who wrote and sang beautiful songs about all sorts of things from their lives. It was one of the loveliest live music experience I've ever enjoyed. I am genuinely grateful that in the midst of bugs and heat, sitting with a bunch of new friends, I stuck around to hear this amazing group.

Happy listening!

Over The Rhine – Ohio

North Dakota - Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett has been an active songwriter, singer, and actor (although I don't recognize a single movie that he was in), and he has released a boatload of studio albums to date, earning him four Grammys. He was also married to Julia Roberts for a short while, which I don't think I had previously realized.

Here is his tribute to North Dakota from his album Joshua Judges Ruth. It definitely reminds me of his soulful performance as a singer and songwriter.

Happy listening!

Lyle Lovett – North Dakota

North Carolina - The Poets of Rhythm

So, these guys are not actually from North Carolina.  They are a German funk band that started in the early 90's in Munich.  Heavily influenced from their exposure to the funk music from the 60's and 70's, they have made a name for themselves in Europe, but haven't become recognizable in the United States.  

Happy listening!

The Poets Of Rhythm – North Carolina