This list includes 54 Music artists that start with R, from “R. Kelly” to “Röyksopp”. They span solo acts and bands across genres and eras, useful for playlists, research, and quick reference.
Music artists that start with R are performers and groups whose stage names begin with the letter R. They include chart-topping stars and underground acts, from R. Kelly to Norwegian duo Röyksopp.
Below you’ll find the table with Artist, Primary genre, Debut year, and Origin.
Artist: The performer or group’s stage name, so you can identify and search for their recordings quickly.
Primary genre: The main musical style associated with the artist, helping you filter lists and build themed playlists.
Debut year: Year of first release or formation, giving you chronological context for trends and era-based selections.
Origin: City and country where the artist formed or began, useful for regional research and cultural context.
Music artists that start with R
| Artist | Primary genre | Debut year | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| R.E.M. | alternative rock | 1980 | Athens, USA |
| Radiohead | alternative rock | 1985 | Abingdon, UK |
| Rage Against the Machine | rap rock | 1991 | Los Angeles, USA |
| Rammstein | industrial metal | 1994 | Berlin, Germany |
| Ramones | punk rock | 1974 | Forest Hills, USA |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | funk rock | 1983 | Los Angeles, USA |
| Rolling Stones | rock | 1962 | London, England |
| Rush | progressive rock | 1968 | Toronto, Canada |
| Run-D.M.C. | hip hop | 1981 | Hollis, Queens, USA |
| Run The Jewels | hip hop | 2013 | New York, USA |
| Rihanna | pop | 2005 | Saint Michael, Barbados |
| Robyn | pop | 1995 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Rick Astley | pop | 1987 | Newton-le-Willows, England |
| Robbie Williams | pop | 1997 | Stoke-on-Trent, England |
| Rod Stewart | rock | 1969 | London, England |
| R. Kelly | R&B | 1992 | Chicago, USA |
| RZA | hip hop | 1992 | Staten Island, USA |
| Rakim | hip hop | 1986 | Wyandanch, USA |
| Redbone | rock | 1969 | Los Angeles, USA |
| Reel Big Fish | ska punk | 1992 | Huntington Beach, USA |
| Refused | punk | 1991 | Umeå, Sweden |
| Relient K | pop punk | 1998 | Canton, USA |
| Roxy Music | art rock | 1970 | London, England |
| Roxette | pop | 1986 | Halmstad, Sweden |
| Roy Orbison | rock | 1956 | Vernon, USA |
| Rufus | funk | 1970 | Chicago, USA |
| Rufus Wainwright | baroque pop | 1998 | Montreal, Canada |
| Róisín Murphy | electronic | 2005 | Arklow, Ireland |
| Rob Zombie | metal | 1998 | Haverhill, USA |
| Roy Ayers | jazz | 1967 | Los Angeles, USA |
| Rina Sawayama | pop | 2013 | London, England |
| Rascal Flatts | country | 1999 | Columbus, USA |
| Reba McEntire | country | 1977 | McAlester, USA |
| Rick James | funk | 1978 | Buffalo, USA |
| Ritchie Valens | rock | 1958 | Pacoima, USA |
| RJD2 | electronic | 2002 | Columbus, USA |
| Röyksopp | electronic | 1998 | Tromsø, Norway |
| Ryuichi Sakamoto | electronic | 1978 | Tokyo, Japan |
| Roxanne Shanté | hip hop | 1984 | Queens, USA |
| Raphael Saadiq | R&B | 2002 | Oakland, USA |
| Robert Plant | rock | 1968 | West Bromwich, England |
| Roberta Flack | soul | 1969 | Black Mountain, USA |
| Rae Sremmurd | hip hop | 2013 | Tupelo, USA |
| Rag’n’Bone Man | soul | 2016 | Uckfield, England |
| Rudimental | drum and bass | 2012 | London, England |
| Ratatat | electronic | 2001 | Brooklyn, USA |
| Rilo Kiley | indie rock | 1998 | Los Angeles, USA |
| Ryan Adams | singer-songwriter | 2000 | Jacksonville, USA |
| Rebecca Black | pop | 2011 | Irvine, USA |
| Ravi Shankar | classical | 1950 | Varanasi, India |
| Rhapsody of Fire | power metal | 1997 | Trieste, Italy |
| Rauw Alejandro | reggaeton | 2014 | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Ritchie Blackmore | rock | 1966 | Heston, England |
| Randy Newman | singer-songwriter | 1968 | Los Angeles, USA |
Descriptions
R.E.M.
Influential alternative rock band from Athens, Georgia; pioneers of college rock with hits like “Losing My Religion” and multiple Grammys.
Radiohead
British band known for experimental rock and landmark albums like OK Computer and Kid A; highly influential across modern alternative music.
Rage Against the Machine
Politically charged rap-rock quartet famous for explosive riffs and “Killing in the Name”; known for activism and ferocious live shows.
Rammstein
German industrial-metal powerhouse, theatrical pyrotechnic-heavy concerts, global hit “Du Hast” and long-running international success.
Ramones
Foundational punk band from New York City; short, fast songs like “Blitzkrieg Bop” helped define punk rock worldwide.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Fused funk, punk and rock into stadium-filling hits like “Californication” and “Under the Bridge”; enduring global success.
Rolling Stones
One of rock’s longest-running, most influential bands; decade-spanning hits, legendary live shows and cultural impact.
Rush
Virtuosic Canadian trio known for complex compositions, musicianship and classics like “Tom Sawyer.”
Run-D.M.C.
Trailblazing hip-hop crew who brought rap into the mainstream and famously collaborated with Aerosmith on “Walk This Way.”
Run The Jewels
Hard-hitting duo (El-P & Killer Mike) praised for electrifying beats, political lyricism and acclaimed collaborative albums.
Rihanna
Global pop and R&B superstar with numerous hits (“Umbrella,” “Work”), fashion and business ventures worldwide.
Robyn
Swedish pop icon known for emotive electro-pop like “Dancing On My Own” and influential independent releases.
Rick Astley
1980s pop star best known for “Never Gonna Give You Up”; later enjoyed renewed popularity via internet culture.
Robbie Williams
Former Take That star turned solo icon with hits like “Angels” and decades of chart success in Europe.
Rod Stewart
Distinctive-voiced British singer with hits like “Maggie May” and a long, varied career across rock and pop.
R. Kelly
R&B singer-songwriter behind hits like “I Believe I Can Fly”; commercially successful but later a controversial, convicted figure.
RZA
Leader and primary producer of Wu-Tang Clan; influential beats, solo work and film/score projects.
Rakim
Revolutionary MC as half of Eric B. & Rakim; widely hailed for complex, influential lyricism.
Redbone
Native American rock band best known for the enduring hit “Come and Get Your Love.”
Reel Big Fish
High-energy ska-punk band known for the hit “Sell Out” and lively live performances.
Refused
Swedish hardcore punk band whose album The Shape of Punk to Come reshaped punk and post-hardcore sounds.
Relient K
Christian-influenced pop-punk band that crossed to mainstream radio with catchy hooks and lyrical wit.
Roxy Music
Art-rock innovators led by Bryan Ferry; stylish, experimental music that influenced glam and new wave.
Roxette
Swedish pop duo behind global hits like “It Must Have Been Love” and “Listen to Your Heart.”
Roy Orbison
Powerful-voiced singer-songwriter behind classics like “Oh, Pretty Woman” and a major early rock star.
Rufus
Funk band that launched Chaka Khan’s career; known for soulful grooves and hits like “Tell Me Something Good.”
Rufus Wainwright
Distinctive singer-songwriter blending pop and classical influences; known for ornate tunes and theatricality.
Róisín Murphy
Former Moloko vocalist turned adventurous solo art-pop artist with eclectic electronic productions.
Rob Zombie
Horror-tinged metal rocker and filmmaker; transitioned from White Zombie to a successful solo career (“Dragula”).
Roy Ayers
Vibraphonist and funk-jazz pioneer whose 1970s work like “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” influenced soul and hip hop.
Rina Sawayama
Genre-blending pop singer who rose from internet buzz to critical acclaim for bold, eclectic albums.
Rascal Flatts
Country-pop trio known for radio-friendly ballads and chart-topping singles like “Bless the Broken Road.”
Reba McEntire
One of country music’s biggest stars, with decades of hits, awards and a crossover media career.
Rick James
Funk star behind energetic hits like “Super Freak,” influential in dance and R&B music.
Ritchie Valens
Early rock & roll and Chicano music pioneer; famous for “La Bamba” before his untimely death.
RJD2
Producer/DJ blending hip-hop, samples and electronica; debut album Deadringer earned critical praise.
Röyksopp
Norwegian electronic duo known for melodic, cinematic electronica and collaborations with many vocalists.
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Composer and electronic pioneer who rose with Yellow Magic Orchestra and acclaimed solo, film-scoring career.
Roxanne Shanté
Early and influential female MC from the 1980s Juice Crew era, noted for battle raps and early hip-hop impact.
Raphael Saadiq
Singer, producer and former Tony! Toni! Toné member known for soulful retro-modern R&B productions.
Robert Plant
Led Zeppelin frontman with powerful vocals; later solo work blended rock, folk and world music.
Roberta Flack
Soul and R&B vocalist known for emotional ballads like “Killing Me Softly with His Song.”
Rae Sremmurd
Vocal hip-hop duo whose energetic trap-pop singles like “Black Beatles” achieved global chart success.
Rag’n’Bone Man
Powerful-voiced British singer who broke through with the hit “Human” and bluesy soul stylings.
Rudimental
UK drum-and-bass collective mixing live instrumentation and soulful vocals; known for “Feel the Love.”
Ratatat
Instrumental electronic rock duo blending guitars and synths; acclaimed for cinematic, sample-driven albums.
Rilo Kiley
Indie-rock band known for literate songwriting and Jenny Lewis’s early rise as a solo artist.
Ryan Adams
Singer-songwriter who moved from alt-country band Whiskeytown to a prolific solo career with rock and folk records.
Rebecca Black
Viral pop figure whose song “Friday” became an internet phenomenon leading to continued music releases and reinvention.
Ravi Shankar
Legendary sitar virtuoso who popularized Indian classical music worldwide and collaborated with Western artists.
Rhapsody of Fire
Italian symphonic/power metal band known for cinematic compositions and fantasy-themed concept albums.
Rauw Alejandro
Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin pop star who gained rapid international success with contemporary Latin hits.
Ritchie Blackmore
Influential guitarist known for Deep Purple and Rainbow; key figure in hard rock and neo-classical guitar.
Randy Newman
Wry, orchestral singer-songwriter and film composer known for satirical songs and acclaimed scores.