REO Speedwagon Voted Best Musician of Illinois in Bicentennial Poll | State and Region

SPRINGFIELD – They started as a garage group of the University of Illinois and reached the peaks of Rock Arena. Now, members of REO Speedwagon have been elected the best musicians in the history of Illinois by participants in the Illinois Top 200 Project, a celebration of the bicentennial of the state

REO Speedwagon has was followed by Alison Krauss, singer and violinist. wins, 27, than any other woman in history, and Nat King Cole, the crooner and African-American entertainer pioneer.

Cheap Trick, the Rockford band that is now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and jazz legend Miles Davis's Top 200 project was announced Monday.

The most remarkable thing about this list is the number of people who have contributed to different styles of music: blues, jazz, rock, soul, country, you name, "said Christian McWhirter, historian of the Presidential Library of Lincoln and music historian. "And it's not just Chicago, either.These great acts come from all over the state."

The project allows Illinoisers to vote every two weeks on the most inspiring leaders, the biggest inventions, the best companies and more. By the state's 200th birthday on Dec. 3, voters will have chosen 10 favorites in 20 different categories – the Top 200 from Illinois.

Voting in the next category, the best artists and architects, is underway on www.IllinoisTop200.com. Nominees are photographer Vivian Maier, painter Kerry James Marshall, architect Frank Lloyd Wright and sculptor Lorado Taft.

Here are the 10 best musicians from Illinois selected for online voting:

1. REO Speedwagon: Formed in 1967 in Champaign, the band has sold more than 40 million records and recorded 14 rock and pop hits from the Top 40.

2. Alison Krauss: Born in Decatur and raised in Champaign, Krauss is a virtuoso violinist and singer. She released her first album at 16 years old.

3. Nat Cole Cole: Cole grew up in Chicago and became a legendary pianist and jazz singer, recording and mapping more than 100 pop hits.

4. Cheap Trick: The group was formed in Rockford in 1973 and had its first big hit in 1978 with the album "Cheap Trick at Budokan". They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

5. Miles Davis: Raised in Alton and East St. Louis, Davis became a revolutionary jazz trumpet player and played a key role in the development of bebop and jazz fusion. His "Kind of Blue" is the best-selling jazz album in history.

6. Benny Goodman: The "king of swing" grew up in Chicago; he learned to play clarinet and became one of the most influential performers and group leaders in the history of jazz.

7. Buddy Guy: For almost 50 years, Guy has blended Chicago blues with rock, soul and jazz. He is in the Hall of Fame of Rock & Roll and has won seven Grammys.

8. Earth Wind & Fire: Founded in Chicago in 1970, they are one of the most popular bands of all time, with places in the Hall of Fame of Rock & Roll and the Hall of Fame of the Vocal Group and more of 100 million records sold

9. Muddy Waters: Waters was born in Mississippi but eventually became Chicago's ultimate bluesman with songs like "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Rollin's Stone". He is in the Hall of Fame of Rock & Roll

10. Sam Cooke: Influential both as a singer and composer, Cooke is often called the "king of the soul." He started as a gospel singer in Chicago, but moved on to secular music and achieved 29 successes in the American Top 40.

Among the nominated artists are rapper Kanye West, clbadical conductor Georg Solti, folk singer John Prine and rock band The Smashing Pumpkins

The Illinois Top 200 is a joint initiative of the Presidential Library and Abraham Lincoln Museum, The (Springfield) State Journal-Register and the Bicentennial Commission of Illinois.

unforgettable moments. Everyone is invited to suggest possible candidates in each category using the hashtag # ILtop200 on social networks.

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