North Carolina

Lou Donaldson (born 1926) is a jazz alto saxophonist, born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker's improvisational approach. His first recordings were with bop emissaries Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk in 1952, and lead several small groups with other jazz luminaries such as trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Horace Silver and the indomitable skinsman, Art Blakey.

Phonte (b. Phonte Coleman) is an American rapper and a member of acclaimed North Carolina Duo with Rapper Big Pooh, Little Brother. His rhymes tend to be no-frills tales of working-class life. In addition to records by Little Brother, Phonte has also released a collaboration album with Dutch producer Nicolay under the group name Foreign Exchange, entitled Connected, and guested on numerous records by other artists, most notably from the Justus League collective. He has recorded R&B-flavoured output as a singer under the name Percy Miracles.