When it comes to music Jacksonville, Florida is one of those cities that tends to fly under the radar. One of the greatest musicians of our time, Ray Charles, started his career in Jacksonville, with several others following suit. Today, Jacksonville’s local music scene is thriving more than ever and the spirits of the city’s late and great musicians live on. If you’re a music fan like me, you’ll be searching for homes for sale in Jacksonville after seeing how many great musicians got their start in this great city.
While Ray Charles may have been one of the first musicians to make it big in Jacksonville; the music scene there didn’t really take off until the late 1960s. In 1969, The Allman Brothers Band got together and wrote what would become some of the greatest songs of that generation; including “Midnight Rider” and “Ramblin’ Man.” Shortly after another Jacksonville group; Lynyrd Skynyrd became an international sensation with songs like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird.” Jacksonville was a huge hub for the Southern Rock genre, and the bands that came out of the area in the 60s and 70s continue to be recognized as some of the best.
The 1980s was a pretty quiet time for Jacksonville music, especially after the tragic death of several Lynyrd Skynyrd members. Although many of the same Southern Rock bands continued to tour and put out records; the 80s was a relatively slow time for music in Jacksonville. However, things picked up in the 1990s after several Jacksonville groups gained mainstream recognition. Nu-metal band Limp Bizkit found success in the late 90s; after the release of their third studio album, “Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.” Another popular band; Yellowcard, originated in Jacksonville and saw commercial success with their 2004 single “Ocean Avenue.” Shinedown and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are two more Jacksonville bands that had breakout hits in the early 2000s.
Today, the local Jacksonville music scene continues to thrive, and the city is home to countless venues to see live music. Jacksonville is an exciting city for music fans who want to soak it all in. Make sure to catch a live show next time you’re in the area!
