# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/21 "2026-04-07T14:17:00Z")
Here is a pairing, Sheila E. had a number of charting hits in the 80s and later, which would have been known to anyone who listened to top 40 radio stations at the time. Her most famous musician uncle is Alejandro Escovedo, who has had a very long career in punk and alt country, but never had the mainstream success of his niece. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/22 "2026-04-07T14:17:39Z")
[Cliff Townshend](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Townshend)’s son did pretty well for himself ---
**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, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/23 "2026-04-07T14:18:16Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > 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. These are the cases I was trying to avoid – like Jan Van Halen. > 1. The parent must have been successful and achieved some level of fame. Lots of noteworthy musicians have had non-famous musician parents. If it helps to define it, then the parent needs their own Wikipedia page. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/24 "2026-04-07T14:25:44Z")
Neneh Cherry is more famous than jazz musician Don Cherry (her stepfather who helped raise her for most of her childhood). ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/25 "2026-04-07T14:26:42Z")
Orchestra conductor Paavo Järvi is at least as famous as his father Neeme Järvi. ---
**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, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/26 "2026-04-07T14:31:04Z")
Whereas conductor Otto Klemperer’s son Werner, although also a talented conductor and singer, became more famous in a different field… ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/27 "2026-04-07T14:32:34Z")
Jeff Buckley’s father was Tim Buckley, a folk/jazz musician who peaked in 1969 with his album _Happy Sad_, which reached #81 on the US chart. Though Jeff only produced one album against his father’s nine, _Grace_ easily outsold his father’s combined output. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/28 "2026-04-07T14:33:24Z")
Violinist Joseph Suk is more famous nowadays than his identically named father. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/29 "2026-04-07T14:38:26Z")
Possible edge case, but Robin Thicke’s father is Alan Thicke, who is primarily known as an actor but was a successful songwriter as well, penning or co-writing, and sometimes performing on, the TV theme songs for shows like _Diff’rent Strokes_ and _The Facts of Life_. He wrote the original _Wheel of Fortune_ theme. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/30 "2026-04-07T14:46:00Z")
There’s nothing arguable about this. Miley has had substantially greater success than Billy Ray. I think Billy Ray’s first album sold more copies in the US than any single album Miley has put out, but she has multiple multi-platinum albums, more international fame by far (because the country scene is very US-centric compared to pop), many more top ten singles, and maybe even the bigger top single in “Flowers” compared to “Achy Breaky Heart”. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/31 "2026-04-07T14:59:16Z")
Not what the OP is asking, but I think Duncan Jones gets an honorable mention for having a far more successful cinematic career than his father David Bowie. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/32 "2026-04-07T15:11:22Z")
John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin was the son of Vaudeville musicians who toured as a family. Needless to say they never came close to his level of fame ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/33 "2026-04-07T15:13:58Z")
John Raitt, the virile, handsome, strong-voiced leading man of Broadway musicals in the 50’s. Well known, but probably not as well known as his daughter, Bonnie Raitt. Alan Jones had a 40+ year career as a handsome singer in movies, including _A Day at the Races, A Night at the Opera_ and the first version of _Showboat_. I’ll wager his equally handsome son, Jack, is better known simply for singing the theme to _The Love Boat._ ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/34 "2026-04-07T15:19:26Z")
Jarvis Cocker’s (lead singer of Pulp) father, Mac Cocker, is an Australian musician and DJ. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/35 "2026-04-07T15:22:54Z")
I’m not sure who would be the more famous musician because they both have done a lot, but Mother Maybelle Carter and daughter June Carter Cash. I give the nod to June as more famous, but Maybelle as more influential. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/36 "2026-04-07T15:28:25Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > June Carter Cash You could also argue her daughter Carlene Carter is a more famous musician than her. If son in laws count the I’d say Carlene’s ex husband Nick Lowe is definitely a more famous musician than his mother in law. June Carter Cash is probably more famous than Nick Lowe, but I’d argue thats more for being Johny Cash’s husband than as musician in her own right (that this is the case is unfair and sexist, but true unfortunately) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/37 "2026-04-07T15:38:14Z")
Jennifer Aniston? ---
**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, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/38 "2026-04-07T15:38:50Z")
A couple that I considered and rejected were: - [Justin Townes Earle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Townes_Earle) and Steve Earle - [Shelton Hank Williams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Williams_III) / Hank Williams Jr. / Hank Williams You could make a case that they are more well known among younger generations, but I don’t think they outshine their elders in influence and legacy. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/39 "2026-04-07T15:44:01Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > You could also argue her daughter Carlene Carter is a more famous musician than her. If son in laws count the I’d say Carlene’s ex husband Nick Lowe is definitely a more famous musician than his mother in law. Perhaps that’s true today (or at least in recent decades). June was a huge country and folk music star, starting long before she married Johnny Cash, from the 1940s (when she was part of “The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle”) through at least the 1970s (often recording with Johnny in later years). She recorded music for five decades, was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for fifty years, won five Grammy Awards, and is in the Country Music Hall of Fame. But, yes, _today_, in the awareness of the general public, she’s probably mostly known for being Johnny’s wife, and _maybe_ for co-writing “Ring of Fire.” Not to downplay Carlene Carter or even Nick Lowe, who have both had long, successful careers, but I don’t think that they can hold a candle to June, as far as peak fame or enduring fame. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092/40 "2026-04-07T15:49:44Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > - Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. are fine too. Randy Newman’s uncles Emil, Lionel, and Alfred were all successful composers and musicians who scored Hollywood films and TV shows. Alfred in particular won 9 Oscars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-musicians-have-even-more-famous-musician-children/1029092.md?page=3)