A brief timeline of Music in Arizona since statehood.

1912: Arizona is granted statehood as the 48th state in the United States of America.

1914: Lalo Guerrero, later known as “The Father of Chicano Music” is born in Tucson, Arizona (Guerrero).

An approximation for the establishment of the premier concert spot in Phoenix, Riverside Park Ballroom (Airdo).

1922: Legendary jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus is born on a military base near the Mexican-American border in Nogales, Arizona. However, before the year was out, his family would move out of Arizona. Mingus would not move back to Arizona (“Biography.”)

1923: Loy Clingman, “The Father of Arizona Folk” is born in the northern Arizona city of Williams (Dixon).

1925: Country, crossover, and NASCAR legend Marty Robbins is born in Arizona near Glendale (“Marty Robbins”).

1929: The Phoenix Madison Square Garden was established at Seventh Avenue and Van Buren Street. While the venue was not originally intended so much for music, more for boxing and wrestling, by the 50s it would become a key venue for up and coming country and rock’n’roll stars like Duane Eddy and Al Casey (Zetino).

Lalo Guerrero’s band, Los Carlistas, represents Arizona in The New York World’s Fair. Shortly after this he would move out of Arizona, to fully pursue his music career (Guerrero).

1931: Little Jimmy Dickens makes a guest appearance on Marty Robbins' small-time local TV Show on KPHO. Stunned by his performance, Dickens convinces Colombia records to sign Robbins (“Marty Robbins”).

1936: Al Casey, key session and solo guitarist for country and rock is born (Dixon).

1946: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Linda Ronstadt is born in Tucson, Arizona (Lewis).

1947: Phoenix Boys Choir is established (“Phoenix Boys Choir”)

1951: The soon-to-be Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Duane Eddy and his family move to Coolidge, Arizona, where he meets a young Lee Hazelwood at KCKY (Masley).

Ray Odom moves to Arizona (“Ray Odom”).

1953: The Calderon Ballroom is established by Leonard Calderon (Overend).

Marty Robbins joins the Grand Ole Opry as a regular member and heads off to Nashville to pursue his music career (“Marty Robbins”).

1955: KEHP, the state’s first exclusively country radio station is established by Ray Odom and radio titan, A.V. BAM Bamford (“Ray Odom”).

1956: The year the Phoenix sound was born. In this year, the essential early country hit for Arizona “The Fool” was released. This song was written by the rising Lee Hazelwood, and performed and released under Sanford Clark’s name with studio guitar from Al Casey. It would break the top 10 of the nationwide charts and total over 750,000 copies sold. Jim West cites this as the birth of the local Phoenix music scene. (Azmusichall) Johnny Dixon, Arizona’s unofficial music historian states: “That's the beginning of the Phoenix sound, if you want to call it that, establishing Lee as a songwriter and producer, Al as a player, Sanford as a singer and Audio Recorders as a studio.” (Masley, “Remembering the Phoenix Rockabilly Star…”)

1957: Audio Recorders is officially established by Floyd and Mary Ramsey. (Although Floyd and Mary had already started a small recording studio that recorded songs like “The Fool,” it was in 1957 that they officially established the name and business (“Floyd Ramsey”).

The hit single from Duane Eddy “Rebel Rouser” is released. After the moderate success of “Movin’ n’ Groovin” Duane Eddy followed it up with “Rebel Rouser,” with writing help from Lee Hazelwood. It was recorded in the up-and-coming Audio Recorders. Famously, the distinctive and influential “twang” sound was made possible by a DIY solution for echo of recording into a 2000 gallon water tank (Masley, “We Need to Cut an Instrumental…”).

1960: Rock’n’Roll teenager, Frank Fafara (later Frank Fara), releases his first hit “Only in my Dreams,” and like that he was an Arizona star (Kreuger).

1961: Waylon Jennings, “The Father of Outlaw Country,” moves to Coolidge, Arizona. This is where he would create his backing band, The Waylors, later Waymore’s Outlaws (“Arizona Musicfest”).

1964: By now, Jennings was the name in town. He performed frequently at venues in Phoenix and Scottsdale such as, Frankie’s Cocktail Lounge, and Wild Bill’s, and the 3000 person capacity, JD’s where he was the featured artist 7 days a week (“Arizona Musicfest”).

1965: Waylon Jennings is signed to RCA and heads to Nashville, Tennessee. He would go on to be one of the biggest country stars of the 1970s and beyond, later earning his induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame (“Waylon Jennings”).

At 17 years old and after just one semester at the University of Arizona, Linda Ronstadt leaves to pursue her music dream in L.A. She would go on to have an incredibly successful career, earning the title of “the Queen of Rock” in the 1970s and had a streak of five Platinum albums in the 1970s (“Linda Ronstadt Remembers Kenny Edwards”).

1966: Under Governor Sam Goddard, Arizona becomes the first state to create the position of Official State Balladeer (“The Balladeer”).

Grammy winner, Dolan Ellis, becomes Arizona’s first Official State Balladeer and still holds the position to this day (“The Balladeer”).

1969: Two Arizona bands, “The Red, White and Blues,” and the rising controversial collective “The Beans,” both relocated to San Francisco (“About Amehof”), (“The Tubes - Live in San Francisco. 1983).

1970: Arizona band Goose Creek Symphony is signed to Capitol Records, and releases their first album which they recorded at Audio Recorders. The band would never reach mainstream success, however their unique blend of a jam style of performing with country, folk, and rock and big band left an impact on Arizona. They still play today (“Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame”).

1972: “The Beans” and “The Red, White and Blues” broke up and mixed members to form The Tubes. Although they were based in San Francisco the formation and members of the band had Arizona roots (Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame). By 1975 the tubes had reached success, with their first single “White Punks on Dope,” but it wasn’t till 1983 that they would reach true mainstream success with their top 10 Billboard hit “She’s a Beauty.” The Tubes still play shows. They are a deeply theatrical band that puts on am all-around performance with costumes, dance and much more (“The Tubes”). Folk and blues artist, Hans Olson begins his music career (“Hans Olson”).

1973: Formation of The Bob Meighan band (“Bob Meighan”).

1976:The Bob Meighan band’s debut album was picked up by Capitol Records and re-recorded for national distribution (“Bob Meighan”). Chester Bennington, later to be Linkin Park’s frontman is born in Phoenix (“Chester Bennington…”).

1977: The year punk broke in Arizona.

The hardcore punk rock band The Consumers is formed. They are cited as Arizona’s first punk rock band (boredout305).

The Exterminators, another very early Arizona punk band is born (Masley, “Remembering Doug Clark…’).

The Feederz, a punk project of controversial Frank Discussion is born (“Feederz”).

Local KDFB would begin annually releasing compilation records of a variety of local bands and artists under the name Arizona Sounds Volume (“KDKB”).

1978: The Consumers would relocate to Los Angeles and break up later in the year (boredout305).

Billy Clone and the Same is established. Another early Arizona punk rock band with New Wave influences (“Billy Clone & The Same”).

Frank Fara and wife Patty Parker create Comstock Records, after years of performing with their country road show (“Comstock Records”).

1979: The Spiffs, Arizonan punk rock band known for their antics is formed. Known for advertising their shows wearing only black garbage bags around Arizona State University’s campus (Larsen, “The SPIFFS”).

The Mason Jar, which would later become the Rebel Lounge, is established. The Spiffs would play at the first show at “The Mason Jar,” and would become mainstays of the venue (“About: The Rebel Lounge”), (“Mason Jar”).

Legendary experimental rock band soon-to-be Sun City Girls, then known as Fuck You, is founded in Phoenix AZ by the Bishop brothers (“A Sun City Girls Chronology”).

1980: The Meat Puppets are born when two musician brothers meet a drummer at Brophy Preparatory Highschool. (“Meat Puppets”). Giant Sandworms, later Giant Sand, the alt-country is born in Tucson, Arizona (“Giant Sand”).

1981: The Meat Puppets, first EP, In a Car, is released. Black Flag’s Greg Ginn signs Meat Puppets to SST Records (“Meat Puppets”). Hardcore and skate punk band, JFA (Jodie Foster’s Army), is formed in Phoenix (“Goldstein”).

Phoenix’s Glam Metal/Hard Rock band Icon (previously Schoolboys) is officially founded (“Icon (20)).

1982: Tempe’s The Jetzons, a New Wave band formed from the broken pieces of Billy Clone and the Same following member Mike Corte’s death, releases their only non-archival release, a 12” EP, 米国製 (Larsen, The Jetzons).

1984: Icon is signed to Capitol, and they release their self-titled album (“Icon (20)”).

The Meat Puppets hugely influential album Meat Puppets II is released in 1984 (“Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II”).

Doug Clark, previously of The Exterminators forms controversial and pioneering Death Rock band, Mighty Sphincter (Masley, “Remembering Doug Clark…”).

1987: Defining alternative rock outfit Gin Blossoms forms in Tempe Arizona (“Gin Blossoms”).

CRAS (Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences) moves to Phoenix, Arizona where it still is today (“About CRAS”).

1988: Cowpunk and later hard rock outfit, The Supersuckers, form in Tucson, Arizona (“Supersuckers”).

1989: Fervor Records is founded in Scottsdale, Arizona by David Hilker (“Fervor Records”).

R. Carlos Nakai releases the Canyon Trilogy. He becomes the first Native American to release a Platinum album (“R. Carlos Nakai…”).

1990: The Silver Dollar Club is established in Downtown Phoenix (Leatherman, “The Silver Dollar”).

The prolific experimentalist Sun City Girl’s release the LP Torch of the Mystics. It is often referred to as their magnum opus (“A Sun City Girls Chronology”).

1991: Phunk Junkeez, one of Arizona’s first notable Hip-Hop artists is formed in Phoenix, Arizona (“Phunk Junkeez”).

1992: Gin Blossoms would rocket to national success with the release of their LP New Miserable Experience, later going 5 times Platinum (“Gin Blossoms”).

Arizona native CeCe Penistion would rise to stardom with the release of her debut LP Finally, and the #5 on the Billboard pop chart hit single, “Finally” (“CeCe Peniston”).

1993: Jimmy Eat World is formed in Mesa, Arizona (“Jimmy Eat World”).

The Silver Dollar Club plays it’s last show, starring a pre-Dookie, Green Day. The Silver Dollar had a short life but it was essential for creating the Downtown Phoenix music scene and further developing the punk scene (Leatherman, “The Silver Dollar”).

Kurt Cobain invites the Kirkwood brothers of the Meat Puppets on-stage at Nirvana’s legendary MTV Unplugged performance to help him cover 3 of their songs (“Meat Puppets”).

The city of Nogales begins the still running annual Charles Mingus Hometown Jazz Festival (“Celebration Date”).

Grey Daze, a grungy alternative rock band starring a yet-unknown Chester Bennington is formed (“Grey Daze”).

1994: Skate-punk band Authority Zero form in Mesa, Arizona (“Authority Zero”).

1995: Rap-rock band Chronic Future is formed in Scottsdale, Arizona (“Chronic Future”).

The Consumers, Arizona’s first punk rock band’s only recorded LP, All My Friends are Dead, was finally released on vinyl almost two decades without being distributed (boredout305).

1996: Tempe’s The Refreshments would release their breakout album, Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy, along with their biggest hit, “Banditos (“Refreshments”).”

Dolan Ellis founded the “Arizona Folklore Preserve,” which states its purpose as "Preserving the cowboy way through music and folklore (“Home of Dolan Ellis”).

1997: A new animated sitcom, King of the Hill, uses The Refreshments southwest alternative rock song “Yahoos and Triangles” as their theme song (“Yahoos and Triangles”).

1998: Tempe’s The Refreshments split up (Kiefer).

2001: A yet-unknown Nate Ruess and Sam Means form indie band, The Format, in suburban Peoria, Arizona (“The Format”).

2002: Scary Kids Scaring Kids, an emo and post-hardcore band from Gilbert, Arizona is formed(“Scary Kids Scaring Kids Hometown, Lineup, Biography.”).

2004: Long Wong’s, a longtime Tempe and Mill Avenue staple closes it’s door. Long Wong’s was essential to the coming up of many Arizona bands such as, Gin Blossoms and The Refreshments (“Long Wongs - Mill Ave”).

The Trunk Space opens. A soon-to-be an essential venue for Downtown Phoenix’s all ages and DIY scene (Villarreal).

Phoenix death metal band, Landmine Marathon, forms (“Landmine Marathon”).

2005: Andrew Jackson Jihad, later renamed their acronym AJJ, essential indie and folk-punk band is formed (“AJJ Songs…”).

After years of use as an auto-parts warehouse, the Phoenix Madison Square Garden building was torn down by the city of Phoenix (Zetino).

Deathcore band Knights of the Abyss form in Glendale, Arizona with Andy Rysdam previously of Job for a Cowboy (“Knights of the Abyss”).

2006: Raheem Jarbo, then known as Random, but later taking the moniker Mega Ran. A humble middle school teacher begins his music career with his nerdcore debut rap album, “The Call” (Masley, “When He Became a Dad…”).

2007: Andrew Jackson Jihad (later AJJ), releases their breakout and hugely influential album People Who Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People in the World (“AJJ”).

Emo indie-rock band, The Maine, form in Tempe, Arizona (“The Maine Hometown, Lineup, Biography.”).

2008: Nate Ruess splits from The Format and the band goes on an indefinite hiatus (“The Format”).

In New York, supergroup “fun.” would form with Arizona native Nate Ruess, as the frontman (Vogue). fun. would go on to be one of the biggest pop groups of the 2010s with the Billboard certified #1 hit “We Are Young” (Trust).

Maynard James Keenan of Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer, opens The Puscifer Store in the small mining town of Jerome, Arizona (“Tool Frontman Opens Store”).

Famed melodic metalcore band, “The Word Alive,” is born in Phoenix, Arizona (“The Word Alive”).

2009: The influential Powerviolence band Sex Prisoner is born in Tucson, Arizona (“Sex Prisoner”).

2010: ROAR, a quasi-solo project of Owen Evans of AJJ since 2006 and previous band Asleep at Sea, releases their debut and, soon to be massively popular, EP I Can’t Handle Change (“AJJ - Rate Your Music”).

The Maine would release their top charting album, their second LP Black & White, which broke the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 (“The Maine”).

Scary Kids Scaring Kids, loses their vocalist Tyson Stevens to a suspected heroin overdose (“Scary Kids Scaring Kids”).

2011: Arizona’s Dom Flemmons, a multi-instrumental roots artist, wins best Traditional Folk Album for his 2010 LP Genuine Negro Jig at the 53rd Grammy’s Awards (“Dom Flemons”).

2012: The Nash is created by internationally renowned jazz drummer Lewis Nash in downtown Phoenix. The Nash is now recognized as one of the “Great Jazz Venues in the World,” and is a staple to the Arizona jazz community (“About the Nash”).

Arizona resident, Alice Cooper, opens the Rock Teen Center in Phoenix, an afterschool home for musical education for teens and young adults (“Make An Everlasting Difference…”).

2013: Tucson/Phoenix Death Metal band, Gatecreeper is formed (“Gatecreeper”).

Experimental Hip-Hop group, Injury Reserve, is born (Pearce).

Tempe favorite pop-punkers, Playboy Manbaby, form (Kamp).

2014: Famed Arizona-born Mexican-American Banda musician was shot and killed in Mexico in a restaurant near the border (Press).

2015: The Rebel Lounge’s grand opening in Phoenix. The Rebel Lounge serves as the successor to the locally-famed, Mason Jar which closed in 2005 after 26 years of performance. The first performance featured extreme metal bands, The Atlas Moth, Take Over and Destroy, and the still small Gatecreeper (Masley, “Rebel Lounge…”).

2016: Experimental noise and dark industrial artist, Lana Del Rabies, releases her first LP, In The End I am a Beast (“Lana Del Rabies”). 2017: Arizonan Tito Torbellino Jr., son of the famed Mexican musician of the same name, releases his breakout hit "Vas A Llorar Por Mi,” reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart (“Tito Torbellino Jr”).

2019: Indie Rocker Veronica Everheart releases her debut LP, Thank You, I Love You, independently (“Thank you, I Love you, by Veronica Everheart”).

2020: Famed rapper of Phoenix’s Injury Reserve, Stepa J. Groggs (known as Groggs), dies at age 32 (Hussey).

Sometime shortly after the rise of TikTok, the Arizona band ROAR went viral for two of their songs, used as “sounds” on TikTok, off their 2010 EP I Can’t Handle Change. Between the two viral songs “I Can’t Handle Change” and “Christmas Kids” collectively as of 4 Dec 2023 have over 600 million plays on Spotify (“I Can’t Handle Change”).

Out of the disbandment of Dovi, a rising star in Arizona is born as Aislinn Ritchie forms Glixen, an ethereal shoegaze band. (Ritchie).

2021: Pop-rock duo Diva Bleach is formed in Phoenix, Arizona (“Diva Bleach”).

Mid-western emo’s from the Southwest form Bethany Home in Mesa, Arizona (“Young Interview: Bethany home”).

Goth-industrial trio, Tassel, is formed in Tempe, Arizona.

A rising experimental and noise rock band from Phoenix, Police State, release their first LP, Machine Era (“Machine Era”).

2022: The Valley’s Psyko Steve Presents launches an Arizona musical festival, “Zona Fest” featuring national artists, as well as local artists such as, Glixen, Veronica Everheart, and Diva Bleach (“Phoenix's Zona Music Festival”).

Tassel releases their first EP, Steel Patch. (“Steel Patch EP, by Tassel”).

2023: Phoenix-based scramz band seahorsechoke releases their debut LP (“Everything went to shit like I thought it would and you didn't believe me”). Glixen releases their first EP, She Only Said. (“She Only Said, by Glixen”).