Everyone knows how Alabama, Kansas, Boston, Chicago and even Asia got their names, but let’s not forget the extra-credit artists who, whether by birth or choice, got down to the real nitty-gritty of geography—a few where you’ll need GPS to find their origins:

Backstreet Boys
Calexico
Dick Dale
Dinah Shore
Dion and the Belmonts
E Street Band
Faith Hill
Fountains of Wayne
Johnny Rivers
Kid Rock
Kingston Trio
Little River Band
Manhattan Transfer
Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels
Mountain
New York Dolls
Nickel Creek
Richard Hell
Willie Nile
Z.Z. Hill