# What famous musicians have even more famous musician children? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 7, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092 "2026-04-07T13:42:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/1 "2026-04-07T13:42:12Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Paul Simon - Something So Wrong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-something-so-wrong/1029043/47): The latest Paul Simon thread reminded me I’ve been meaning to pose this question in CS: There are a lot of successful, famous, or noteworthy musicians whose children are also musicians. I’m curious about which of those kids eclipsed their parent? For this question, there are just a few criteria to follow: 1. Both parent and child have to have been musicians and the success had to be musical. Any musical context is fine. 2. The parent must have been successful and achieved some level of fame. Lots of noteworthy musicians have had non-famous musician parents. 3. This is the key one: the child must have outshined the parent. However successful the parent was, the child must be greater. Jakob Dylan has been successful, but he has a long way to go to eclipse Bob. And some non-criteria: 1. Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. are fine too. 2. Eclipsed can be whatever you define it as: success, fame, etc. My hypothesis is that there aren’t a lot of examples in music, unlike other disciples – sports, business, acting, etc. If there is a non-musician example you really want to share, feel free. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/2 "2026-04-07T13:45:03Z")
There is some debate as to whether Leopold Mozart was a famous composer, but at least some folks think he was at least passingly famous in Germany. His son, Wolfgang, was rather more successful. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/3 "2026-04-07T13:47:34Z")
I think Miley Cyrus is arguably more famous than Billy Ray. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/4 "2026-04-07T13:48:41Z")
Oh thought of another one. John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful had a father also named John Sebastian that was a classical harmonica player. He had some recording and a successful musical career. I’m not sure what your threshold for a famous parent would be, but I’d think being known as “the master of the chromatic harmonica” might count? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/5 "2026-04-07T13:51:05Z")
Gonna go _way_ back: Johann Sebastian Bach’s music went out of style by the 1730s and was seen as stodgy and old-fashioned. While his skill as an organist was noted, as a composer his reputation was far overshadowed by first his second son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and later by his youngest son Johann Christian Bach, to the point where anyone in the music biz referring to “Bach” in the latter half of the 18th century meant one of the sons (usually CPE unless they were in England where JC lived and worked). It was really only in the 19th century with the Bach revival and Felix Mendelssohn’s championing of JS’s music that it made a comeback at all. The rest is literally history, and of course now the father overshadows his sons again. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/6 "2026-04-07T13:51:54Z")
At least in the US, I think Julio and Enrique Iglesias fit the OP. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/7 "2026-04-07T13:58:42Z")
Arlo Guthrie, son of Woodie; Nancy Sinatra, daughter of Frank; Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole; ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/8 "2026-04-07T14:00:12Z")
I have no knowledge of relative fame of the first pair, but the other 2 are clearly wrong. > [@fedman1](#): > > Arlo Guthrie, son of Woodie; Nancy Sinatra, daughter of Frank; Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/9 "2026-04-07T14:01:49Z")
what is wrong? and I only listed 3, not 4. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/10 "2026-04-07T14:04:16Z")
I would argue that despite the clear talent of all three, the fathers were more famous by far. Arlo did carve his own niche in the 1960s counterculture (particularly with “Alice’s Restaurant”) to set him apart from his iconic father, but the other two were basically just nepo babies who launched their careers based on their parentage. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/11 "2026-04-07T14:06:35Z")
okay, I went back over criterion by OP. and at least first 2 were not “greater” than parent (though Arlo and Natalie are subject to discussion) ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/12 "2026-04-07T14:07:22Z")
One could maybe make an argument that, at least these days, Arlo’s Alice’s Restaurant brings him more name recognition than Woody among the general public. I wouldn’t argue that that makes him ‘more famous’, though- Woody has a permanent and prominent place in the history books, while Arlo merits at most a footnote. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/13 "2026-04-07T14:08:33Z")
You missed the intent of the thread where the child is more famous. It might be close between Woody and Arlo, but Frank is far more famous than his daughter as is Nat King Cole. With Woody and Arlo I think Woody had the edge, but not so clear cut. Also what @Eonwe just posted. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/14 "2026-04-07T14:08:42Z")
RE Arlo–we could argue that Woodie was famous in different era, as was Nat King Cole ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/15 "2026-04-07T14:09:53Z")
Johann Strauss I ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/16 "2026-04-07T14:12:43Z")
So **Whitney Houston** achieved much greater fame than her very talented jazz singer mother **Sissy** Houston. **Nora Jones** ’s fame probably exceeds her father’s. A lot of people don’t know that her father is **Ravi Shankar** who in the west at least is mostly known for his association with the Beatles. Was **Mozart’s** Father famous enough to count? I’m going by the film only here and had the impression that **Leopold** was famous in his day. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/17 "2026-04-07T14:13:17Z")
What is the cutoff for famous? Billy Corgan (smashing pumpkins) had a father William Corgan who was a blues guitarist. However I don’t know if his father was famous or not. Whitney Houston’s mom was a musician too who mostly did back up vocals. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/18 "2026-04-07T14:14:54Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I think Miley Cyrus is arguably more famous than Billy Ray. This is the one I thought of as well. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > **Nora Jones** ’s fame probably exceeds her father’s. And this is the one that I _should_ have thought of. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/19 "2026-04-07T14:15:39Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Whitney Houston’s mom was a musician too who mostly did back up vocals. That doesn’t seem right, she performed as the lead but in the tiny Jazz realm instead of Pop, Rock or Country. I saw her live as a Jazz and Blues festival that I assisted at. She was great. It looks like she had 8 solo albums in Jazz & Soul and won to Grammy’s for Traditional Soul. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/20 "2026-04-07T14:16:08Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Nora Jones’s fame probably exceeds her father’s. A lot of people don’t know that her father is Ravi Shankar who in the west at least is mostly known for his association with the Beatles. TIL… I’m familiar with his daughter Anoushka and his nephew Ananda (whose eponymous album is a lot of fun), but I had no idea Norah Jones was his daughter too. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Johann Strauss I Good one! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092.md?page=2)