List of musicians from Des Moines

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There have been multiple musicians from Des Moines, Iowa, mainly rock bands and jazz musicians. The most popular being the rock band, Slipknot, with most its members being born in Des Moines. [1] Des Moines has a lot of local venues, independent radio stations, and community events that help expand music in the surrounding areas. Local festivals such as the Hinterland Music Festival and 80/35 Music Festival attract many visitors. [2] Many musicians from the area credit Des Moines in shaping their careers. [3]

Contents

The combined events venue of Casey's Center, EMC Expo Center, and the Community Choice Credit Union Veterans Auditorium ballroom has hosted 346 events so far, as of 2025, and has made a profit of $1.84 million. [4]

Bands

Des Moines-based group Slipknot performing at Roskilde Festival in 2013 Slipknot at Roskilde Festival 2013.jpg
Des Moines-based group Slipknot performing at Roskilde Festival in 2013
Josh Rand from Stone Sour performing in Nurnberg Rock Park 20180602 Nurnberg Rock im Park Stone Sour 0319 (Cropped).jpg
Josh Rand from Stone Sour performing in Nürnberg Rock Park

Slipknot is the most popular music group from Iowa, with 14.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify. [5] 10 members from the group were born in Des Moines, the oldest being Donnie Steele, born on December 31, 1967 (age 57), and the youngest being Michael Pfaff, born on May 17, 1980 (age 45). The group's album Iowa [6] has reached platinum status in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [7]

Slipknot members
NameBornYears activeReference
Donnie Steele December 31, 1967 (age 57)1993–1996, 2011–2014 [8]
Shawn Crahan September 24, 1969 (age 56)1992–present [9]
Craig Jones February 11, 1972 (age 53)1992–2023 [10]
Anders Colsefni April 15, 1972 (age 53)1988–2003, 2005–2015, 2020–present [11]
Chris Fehn February 24, 1973 (age 521998–2019 [12]
Mick Thomson November 3, 1973 (age 51)1992–present [13]
Corey Taylor December 8, 1973 (age 51)1992–present [14]
Joey Jordison April 26, 1975 (died July 26, 2021, aged 46)1990–2018 [15]
Sid Wilson January 20, 1977 (age 48)1992–present [16]
Michael Pfaff May 17, 1980 (age 45)2007–present [17]
Other band members
Name (band/group)BornYears activeReference
Josh Rand (Stone Sour)August 19, 1974 (age 51)1993, 2000–present [18]
Brenton Dean (Holy White Hounds)2005–present [19]
Ambrose Lupercal (Holy White Hounds)2005–present [19]
James Manson (Holy White Hounds)2005–present [19]
Seth Luloff (Holy White Hounds)2015–2018 [19]
Mike Butterworth (The Nadas)1995–present [20]
Jason Walsmith (The Nadas)1995–present [20]

Solo artists

Max Bennett in 1976 Max Bennett 1976.jpg
Max Bennett in 1976
Tionne Watkins performing in 2016 Tionne Watkins 2016.jpg
Tionne Watkins performing in 2016
Perfume Genius at a pop conference in 2017 Pop Conference 2017 - Mike Hadreas (Perfume Genius) 01 (cropped).jpg
Perfume Genius at a pop conference in 2017

The majority of solo artists from Des Moines are jazz musicians. Early 20th-century traveling artists travelled to the plains, into cities like Kansas City, Chicago, and Des Moines. As jazz grew in the United States, so did the midwestern venues, including Des Moines, which helped grow its popularity in the region. [21] Des Moines was a major stop for jazz musicians to perform in, and included a theatre from Balaban and Katz. Many famous jazz bands and musicians came to clubs throughout the city, including Charlie Parker and Thad Jones. [22] [23]

NameBornGenre(s)Reference
Samuel Siegel 1875 (died January 14, 1948, aged 73) Mandolin [24]
John Rox July 21, 1902 (died August 5, 1957, aged 55) Composer [25]
Dwight L. Armstrong September 15, 1904 (died November 17, 1984, aged 80) Hymnal [26]
George Roberts March 22, 1928 (died September 28, 2014, aged 86) Jazz [27]
Max Bennett May 24, 1928 (died September 14, 2018, aged 90) Jazz [28]
Lanny Morgan March 30, 1934 (age 91) Jazz [29]
Ellyn RuckerJuly 29, 1937 (died 2022, aged 84) Jazz [30]
Patty Larkin June 19, 1951 (age 74) Folk rock [31]
Dick Oatts April 2, 1953 (age 72) Jazz [32]
Bruce Brubaker February 1, 1959 (age 66) Classical [33]
Bill Stewart October 18, 1966 (age 58) Jazz [34]
Tionne Watkins April 26, 1970 (age 55) R&B, hip hop, pop, soul [35]
Stuart Davis January 11, 1971 (age 54) Alternative [36]
Farrah Franklin May 3, 1981 (age 44) R&B [37]
Perfume Genius (Michael Alden Hadreas)September 25, 1981 (age 44) Art pop, indie rock, baroque pop, indie pop, chamber pop, folk, modern classical [38]
Sarah Darling October 4, 1982 (age 43) Country [39]
Young Fyre (Tramaine Winfrey)March 9, 1986 (age 39) Hip hop, R&B, pop, alternative hip hop [40]
Max Jury May 12, 1992 (age 33) Alternative [41]

References

  1. ↑ Durden, Brandon; Tarre, Dylan (February 11, 2025). "Slipknot Members Through the Years: A Complete Lineup Chronology". The Nu Metal Agenda. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  2. ↑ Morelli, Brian (August 23, 2024). "Hinterland 2024 had the hottest lineup yet. But has Iowa's largest music festival gotten too big?". Little Village. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ Mitchell, Cece (February 14, 2023). "With a full report on the Des Moines music economy complete, the next step is addressing the issues". Iowa Public Radio. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  4. ↑ Joens, Philip. "Iowa Events Center profits drop after record concert year in 2024, arena managers say". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Slipknot". Spotify . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  6. ↑ Gibson, Caren (August 28, 2022). "'Iowa': Why Slipknot's Second Album Nearly Killed Them". Dig!. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ Schaffner, Lauryn (August 28, 2023). "10 Facts You May Not Have Known About Slipknot's 'Iowa'". Loudwire. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Des Moines, Iowa | Fun Facts & Cool Things About DSM". Do Something Greater. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  9. ↑ Ribeiro, Julian (November 26, 2024). ""I Felt the Whole Stage Moving": Slipknot Takes Us on Their 25th Anniversary Tour". Interview Magazine. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  10. ↑ Miller, Steven (November 15, 2021). "About Craig Jones from Slipknot". GWW. Archived from the original on February 22, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  11. ↑ Stapleton, Susan. "Clown from Slipknot talks about returning to hometown Des Moines for Knotfest 2024". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  12. ↑ Vrchoticky, Nick (October 14, 2020). "The Real Reason Chris Fehn Left Slipknot". Grunge. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  13. ↑ Roberts, Sam (November 3, 2024). ""I never wanted to be in a band, I just liked playing music. I was never a showman. If I didn't have my mask on I wouldn't be at the front of the stage": An interview with Mick Thomson, Slipknot's reluctant guitar hero". Louder. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  14. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon. "Slipknot's Early Years: The Twisted, DIY Origins of a Metal Juggernaut". Revolver. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  15. ↑ Ryu, Jenna. "Joey Jordison, Slipknot co-founder and longtime drummer, dies at age 46". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  16. ↑ Toledo, Marie (July 7, 2025). "Slipknot's Sid Wilson Proposed to Kelly Osbourne at Final Sabbath Gig". International Business Times UK. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  17. ↑ Schaffner, Lauryn (March 16, 2022). "Slipknot's Tortilla Man Reveals How He Was Hired + More in AMA". Loudwire. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  18. ↑ Moore, Samuel (May 30, 2025). "10 Famous Singers from Iowa". Singers Room. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Vigil, Dom (December 1, 2016). "Q&A With Ambrose Lupercal Of Holy White Hounds" . Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Purpura, Pepper (October 17, 2023). "Iowa band 'The Nadas' celebrating 30 years of music". KCCI. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  21. ↑ Rea, Bryson (October 31, 2024). "Sparks of a Midwestern Jazz Resurgence Fly in Des Moines - Urban Plains" . Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  22. ↑ Kemp, Larry (October 16, 2018). Early Jazz Trumpet Legends. Dorrance Publishing. p. 229. ISBN   978-1-4809-7637-5.
  23. ↑ Goldstien, Abe. "Des Moines has a surprisingly jazzy history to celebrate in April". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Samuel Siegel". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  25. ↑ Leimkuehler, Matthew. "An Iowan wrote one of the season's strangest Christmas songs". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  26. ↑ Dean, Aaron (November 26, 1984). "Dwight Armstrong succumbs to cancer at 80 in Washington". The Worldwide News. p. 3. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  27. ↑ Barnes, Mike (October 1, 2014). "George M. Roberts, 'Mr. Bass Trombone,' Dies at 86". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Max Bennett - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Lanny Morgan - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Ellyn Rucker | Colorado Music Hall of Fame". Colorado Music Hall of Fame. October 22, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  31. ↑ "FolkLib Index - Musician's Birthdays/Bibliography (L)". Folk Lib. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Dick Oatts". iHeart. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  33. ↑ Crane, Larry. "Bruce Brubaker: Classical Meets Electronic Production". Tape Op Magazine. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  34. ↑ Chinen, Nate (July 21, 2024). "Bill Stewart: The Tie That Binds". JazzTimes. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  35. ↑ Aniftos, Rania (April 26, 2020). "50 Fun Facts About T-Boz of TLC for Her 50th Birthday". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Stuart Davis Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor..." AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  37. ↑ Hall, Scotty (May 31, 2023). "These Iconic Artists Have Birthdays in May". 105.1 The Bounce. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  38. ↑ DeLine, Chris (December 29, 2023). "Ten music releases from 2023 that changed my mind about Iowa music". Little Village. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  39. ↑ "5 Questions With ... Sarah Darling | GRAMMY.com". Grammy. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Young Fyre". FL Studio. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  41. ↑ Murray, Robin (April 4, 2023). "In Conversation: Max Jury | Features". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
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