Alma Maters of Top 40 Artists

[woolebull]

I mentioned this in another post, but the other day I was running by a high school that happened to be the alma mater of the act that I was listening to on the "show" for 3/21/98, ("Brick", Ben Folds). I started thinking about how Ben got his big break at college at one of my alma maters even though he went to another school (big break at Duke, school he went to...located in chapel hill, nc) It got me thinking:

At the two universities I attended: James Madison University and Duke University, I can think of a single AT 40 artist that attended/graduated from there (JMU: Everything; Duke: Mike Posner). I also know that both of my school's rivals had AT/CT 40 artists as well that attended/graduated: (Seven Mary Three for william & mary, Ben Folds and Rick Dees for chapel hill). I was curious if you ever noticed a college or university that can claim AT/CT 40 artists? Some are wild...Harvard at least had Rivers Cuomo and MIT can claim Tom Scholz. USC has a few that I can think of off the top of my head (Young MC and Dexter Holland of The Offspring who has a PhD in molecular biology, I believe). Imperial College can claim Brian May for all of his education, just like Holland can from USC.

Many artists do not go to college, but for those who do, any schools stick out to you? Interested to see some of the answers, and I will add more that I come up with as well.

EDIT: After doing a little research, I realized something that I have never known: although Ben Folds Five was formed in chapel hill, they did not go there. Ben actually went to UNC-Greensboro. Sounds a little like how the Dave Matthews Band gets connected with UVa even though they didn't attend there. So that leaves the school in chapel hill with...Rick Dees!

[mga707]

I'll kick it off: Steely Dan. Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson NY. 'Annandale' is 'name checked' in "My Old School" (which should've been a top 40 single but peaked at #63 at the end of '73).

[1finemrg]

Members of REO Speedwagon and Head East (no Top 40 hits) attended the University of Illinois.

Dan Fogelberg also was a student at University of Illinois.

Members of Styx attended Chicago State College (became Chicago State University in 1971).

[mga707]

Young MC was a USC student when he recorded "Bust a Move". He graduated soon after with a degree in Economics.

[mkarns]

Mar 29, 2023 17:06:07 GMT -5 mga707 said:

I'll kick it off: Steely Dan. Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson NY. 'Annandale' is 'name checked' in "My Old School" (which should've been a top 40 single but peaked at #63 at the end of '73).

And I always thought Annandale referred to the suburb in Northern Virginia...but this makes more sense. (Virginia does get a mention in the song with Williamsburg's William and Mary.)

[mrjukebox]

The Blackbyrds of "Walking In Rhythm" fame were formed at Howard University in Washington,DC.

[mga707]

Mar 30, 2023 15:31:02 GMT -5 mkarns said:

Mar 29, 2023 17:06:07 GMT -5 mga707 said:

I'll kick it off: Steely Dan. Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson NY. 'Annandale' is 'name checked' in "My Old School" (which should've been a top 40 single but peaked at #63 at the end of '73).

And I always thought Annandale referred to the suburb in Northern Virginia...but this makes more sense. (Virginia does get a mention in the song with Williamsburg's William and Mary.)

I had thought that also. Got the Annandale story on these boards some years back.

[1finemrg]

Tuskegee University (Institute) gave us the Commodores.

[80sat40fan]

* Devo formed at my dad's college alma mater... Kent State University in Ohio.
* Hall & Oates formed while they were at Temple University.
* Three members of the Talking Heads met while they were students at Rhode Island School of Design.
* Michael Stipe and the other members of REM formed while they were attending the University of Georgia.

[woolebull]

Going to stick in the South for these two:

Darius Rucker formed Hootie while he was a freshman at the University of South Carolina. What blew my mind was that they formed in 1985!


Edwin McCain decided to head to the coast of South Carolina having attended both Coastal Carolina University as well as the College of Charleston.

[mrjukebox]

Walt Parazaider,James Pankow,& Lee Loughnane of Chicago met when they were students at De Paul University.

[trekkielo]

The founding members of Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Anthony “Ant” Phillips, Mike Rutherford, and drummer Chris Stewart, met at Charterhouse School, a public school in Godalming, Surrey. Banks and Gabriel arrived at the school in September 1963, Rutherford in September 1964, and Phillips in April 1965. The five were members in either one of the school's two bands; Phillips and Rutherford were in Anon with singer Richard Macphail, bassist Rivers Jobe, and drummer Rob Tyrrell while Gabriel, Banks, and Stewart made up Garden Wall.

In January 1967, after both groups had split, Phillips and Rutherford continued to write together and proceeded to make a demo tape at a friend's home-made studio, inviting Banks, Gabriel, and Stewart to record with them in the process.

In August 1970, Phil Collins became the new drummer for Genesis.

[retrodaddy]

Most (perhaps all, couldn't confirm) of the guys in Sister Hazel attended the University of Florida. I attended UF and remember hearing two members of the band, Ken & Andrew, playing at places around town before Sister Hazel hit the pop chart.

[mrjukebox]

The members of Looking Glass formed at Rutgers University in New Jersey.