:List of people from Atlanta
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{{More citations needed|date=July 2012}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
This is a list of people who were born, raised, or otherwise closely associated with Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
{{Dynamic list}}
Academics
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Name
!Known for !Association |
|---|
| Ron Clark
|worked with disadvantaged students in rural North Carolina and New York City, and co-founded the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta; contestant on Survivor: Edge of Extinction |lives in Atlanta |
| Alfred Gudeman
|Classical scholar who died during the Holocaust |born in Atlanta |
| Thomas E. Hill
|Professor of Philosophy at University of North Carolina; fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences |born in Atlanta |
| Sheryl McCollum
|crime analyst, professor, founder and director of the non-profit Cold Case Investigative Research Institute |
| Sharlotte Neely
| Professor Emerita of Anthropology at Northern Kentucky University, author, expert on the Cherokees |lived in Atlanta |
| Bazoline Estelle Usher
|educator and administrator in the Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia Woman of Achievement |lived in Atlanta{{cite web|title=Usher, Bazoline (1885–1992) / Inducted 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311165214/http://georgiawomen.org/2014/04/usher-bazoline | archive-date=March 11, 2016 | url-status=dead | url=http://georgiawomen.org/2014/04/usher-bazoline | website=Georgia Women of Achievement | date=March 2014 }} |
| Blake Ragsdale Van Leer
|former president of Georgia Tech; the first to admit women and make steps towards integration |lived in Atlanta |
| James W. Wagner
|former president of Emory University |lives in Atlanta |
Actors
Athletes
Business people
Directors
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Name
!Known for !Association |
|---|
| Matt Hullum
|director of films, music videos and web series including Lazer Team and Red Vs Blue |born in Atlanta{{cite tweet |last1=Hullum |first1=Matt |user=MattHullum |number=691770677624508421 |date=January 25, 2016 |title=I'll be in Cincinnati Wednesday and my hometown Atlanta Friday for #LazerTeam! Get ATL tix http://fandango.com |url=https://twitter.com/MattHullum/status/691770677624508421 |access-date=January 24, 2017}}{{Primary source inline|date=September 2019}} |
| Spike Lee
|director of films including She's Gotta Have It, School Daze, and Do the Right Thing, and several music videos |
| Kenny Leon
|director of several Broadway plays and several television episodes |{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} |
| Tyler Perry
|director of films, plays, and television series, including Meet The Browns and Madea plays and movies |
| Steven Soderbergh
|film director, Out of Sight, Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Ocean's Eleven |born in Atlanta |
Journalists
Musicians
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Name
!Known for !Association |
|---|
| 21 Savage, real name Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph
|rapper and record producer |born in London, England, raised in Atlanta |
| 6LACK, real name Ricardo Valdez Valentine
|rapper, singer, songwriter |moved to Atlanta at very young age |
| Aliyah's Interlude
|rapper and influencer | born in Atlanta |
| André 3000, real name André Lauren Benjamin
|rapper, actor, record producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist; half of the rap group OutKast |born and raised in Atlanta |
| Murray Attaway
|singer-songwriter, founding member of Guadalcanal Diary | born in Atlanta |
| Johntá Austin
|singer-songwriter, signed to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings; won two Grammy Awards for songs "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey and "Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige |born in Atlanta{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/johnta-austin/723523 |title=Johnta Austin Biography |publisher=Artistdirect |access-date=July 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217173725/http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/johnta-austin/723523 |url-status=dead }} |
| B.o.B, real name Bobby Ray Simmons Jr.
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Bali Baby
|rapper |born in Atlanta |
| Bankroll Fresh, real name Trentavious Zamon White, Sr.
|rapper |from Atlanta and died in Atlanta |
| David Berkeley
|singer-songwriter with four studio albums and one live album{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/david-berkeley/discography/albums/593716#/artist/david-berkeley/discography/albums/593716 |title=David Berkeley discography |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 26, 2011 |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111000052/http://www.billboard.com/artist/david-berkeley/discography/albums/593716#/artist/david-berkeley/discography/albums/593716 |url-status=dead }} |moved to Atlanta for his wife to finish school{{cite web|author=Photo by Tobias Prasse |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/01/david-berkeley-keeps-moving.html |title=David Berkeley Keeps Moving | work = Paste |date= January 30, 2009 |access-date= July 15, 2012}} |
| Big Boi, real name Antwan Patton
|rapper, actor, record producer, songwriter; half of the rap group OutKast |born in Savannah, Georgia, raised in Atlanta |
| Big Kuntry King, real name Sean Merrett
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Bktherula
| rapper |born in Atlanta |
| Zac Brown
| country singer |born in Atlanta |
| Bobby V, real name Bobby Wilson
|recording artist (nicknamed "Valentino" because he was due to be born on Valentine's Day) |attended North Atlanta High School and Clark Atlanta University{{cite journal|title=Hot Singers to Watch for in 2005|journal=Jet|date=May 23, 2005|volume=107|issue=64|page=64|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M70DAAAAMBAJ|access-date=October 7, 2012}} |
| John Burke
|solo pianist and composer |born and lives in Atlanta |
| K Camp, real name Kristopher Thomas Campbell
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Ken Carson, real name Kenyatta Lee Frazier Jr.
|rapper |born in Atlanta |
| Ric Cartey, real name Whaley Thomas Cartey
|1950s rockabilly singer; songwriter |born in Atlanta |
| Cash Out, real name John-Michael Hakim Gibson
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Cat Power, also known as Chan Marshall, real name Charlyn Marshall
|singer-songwriter, actress and model |born in Atlanta |
| Eddie Chamblee
|jazz tenor saxophonist |born in Atlanta in 1920 |
| Ciara
|singer | |
| Clairo, real name Claire Elizabeth Cottrill
|singer-songwriter |born in Atlanta |
| Freddy Cole
| jazz singer and pianist | born in Chicago in 1931, resided in Atlanta for over 50 years until his death in 2020 |
| Roscoe Dash, real name Jeffery Lee Johnson Jr.
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Davido
|singer, songwriter, and record producer |born in Atlanta but based in Nigeria |
| Destroy Lonely, real name Bobby Wardell Sandimanie III
|rapper |born in Atlanta |
| Roy Drusky
|country singer |born in Atlanta |
| Drumma Boy, real name Christopher James Gholson
|record producer, songwriter |lives in Atlanta |
| Sonny Emory
|drummer |born and raised in Atlanta |
| Future, real name Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn
|rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer |born and raised in Atlanta |
| Sean Garrett
|rapper and songwriter |born in Atlanta |
| O.T. Genasis
| rapper |
| CeeLo Green, real name Thomas DeCarlo Gallaway
|rapper, singer, actor |born and raised in Atlanta |
| Kristin Hersh
|singer and guitarist |born in Atlanta |
| Keri Hilson
|singer-songwriter and actress from Decatur |attended Emory University{{cite web|last=Scott |first=Damien |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2009/07/keri-hilson/page/2 |title=Keri Hilson (Cover Story) |work=Complex |page=2 |date=August 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118003143/http://www.complex.com/music/2009/07/keri-hilson/page/2 |archive-date=January 18, 2012 |url-status=dead }} |
| iLoveMakonnen, real name Makonnen Kamali Sheran
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| India.Arie, real name India Arie Simpson
|singer-songwriter and record producer;{{cite web|url=http://www.efi-news.com/2011/10/on-spiritual-and-emotional-journey.html |title=On a Spiritual and Emotional Journey – India.Arie and Her Music |work=EF News International |access-date=October 28, 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108080225/http://www.efi-news.com/2011/10/on-spiritual-and-emotional-journey.html |archive-date=November 8, 2011 }} has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S.; has won four Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album |
| Graham Jackson
|theatre organist, pianist and choral conductor |moved to Atlanta in 1923{{cite web |url=http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/aafa/print/aafa_aarl89-004.html |title=Inventory of the Graham W. Jackson, Sr. Papers: Historical Sketch |publisher= Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System}} |
| Trinidad James, real name Nicholas Williams
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Erika Jayne
|singer |born in Atlanta |
| JID, real name Destin Route
|rapper, singer |born in Atlanta |
| Elton John
|singer-songwriter, English-born entertainer whose songs include "Your Song", "Crocodile Rock" and "Candle in the Wind" |
| Mario Judah
|rapper | |
| Kap G
|rapper, actor |born in Long Beach, California, moved to Atlanta |
| R. Kelly
|singer, songwriter, record producer |resided in Atlanta{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/06/17/r-kellys-house-linked-to-alleged-sex-cult-sells-for-2-1m/|title=R. Kelly's Atlanta house linked to alleged sex cult sells for $2.1M|last=Jacob|first=Mary|date=June 17, 2021|website=New York Post|access-date=June 23, 2022}} |
| Khujo, real name Willie Edward Knighton Jr.
|rapper |born in Atlanta |
| Killer Mike, real name Michael Santiago Render
|rapper, actor and activist |born and raised in Atlanta |
| Kaki King
|guitarist and composer |born in Atlanta |
| Jeezy, real name Jay Wayne Jenkins
|rapper, entrepreneur, and businessman |born in South Carolina, raised in Atlanta |
| Gladys Knight
|singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and author |born in Atlanta |
| Latto, real name Alyssa Michelle Stephens
|rapper |born in Columbus, Ohio, raised in Atlanta |
| Brenda Lee
|performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music; had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s,{{cite web | url = http://www.brendalee.com/pages/biography.html | title = Brenda Lee: The Lady, the Legend | publisher = Brenda Lee Productions | access-date = April 10, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090414094639/http://www.brendalee.com/pages/biography.html | archive-date = April 14, 2009 }} known for songs "I'm Sorry" (1960) and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (1958); recipient of Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2009) |born in Atlanta in 1944{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/brenda-lee-15177442 |title=Brenda Lee Biography – Facts, Birthday, Life Story |website=Biography.com |date=December 11, 1944 |access-date=March 8, 2014}} |
| Mable Lee
|dancer, entertainer, 2008 inductee into the Tap Dance Hall of Fame |born in Atlanta in 1921 |
| Lil Baby, real name Dominique Jones
|rapper |born and raised in Atlanta |
| Lil Gnar, real name Caleb Samuel Shepard
|rapper |born in Oakland, California, from Atlanta |
| Lil Gotit, real name Semaja Zair Render
|rapper |born in Atlanta |
| Lil Jon, real name Jonathan H. Smith
|rapper, record producer, songwriter and Grammy winner |born and raised in Atlanta |
| Lil Keed, real name Raqhid Jevon Render
|rapper |born in Atlanta and died in Los Angeles |
| Lil RT
|rapper |born in Atlanta |
| Lil Scrappy, real name Darryl Raynard Richardson III
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Lil Yachty, real name Miles Parks McCollum
|rapper, songwriter |from Atlanta |
| Baylee Littrell
|singer-songwriter and actor; son of Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell |born and raised in Alpharetta |
| Ludacris, real name Christopher Brian Bridges
|rapper |born in Champaign, Illinois, raised in Atlanta |
| Vivek Maddala
|composer, producer, multi-instrumental performer |attended Georgia Tech |
| MadeinTYO, real name Malcolm Jamaal Davis
|rapper |originated in Atlanta |
| Gucci Mane, real name Radric Davis
|rapper, actor |born in Alabama, raised in Atlanta |
| Mariah the Scientist
|singer |born in Atlanta |
| China Anne McClain
|singer-songwriter and actress (Jasmine Payne on TV series Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Chyna Parks on A.N.T. Farm) |
| Big Maceo Merriweather
|blues singer-pianist, made many recordings in the 1940s for Bluebird and Victor |born in Atlanta in 1905 |
| Migos (Quavo, Offset, Takeoff)
|rap group |all born and raised in Atlanta |
| Money Man
|rapper | |
| Shawn Mullins
|singer-songwriter |born in Atlanta |
| Eric Nam
|Korean-American singer-songwriter, television host, entertainer and entrepreneur currently based in South Korea |born in Atlanta |
| OJ da Juiceman, real name Otis Williams Jr.
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Pastor Troy
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Duke Pearson
|jazz pianist and composer, noted for work on the Blue Note label |born in Atlanta 1932, died in Atlanta 1980 |
| Scott Phillips
|drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, and co-founder of rock band Creed |born in Atlanta |
| Playboi Carti, real name Jordan Terrell Carter
|rapper and songwriter |born in Riverdale, Atlanta |
| Mac Powell
|Christian singer | |
| Rich Homie Quan, real name Dequantes Devontay Lamar
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Jerry Reed
|country-music singer-songwriter, guitarist and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films; signature songs include "Guitar Man", "East Bound and Down", "A Thing Called Love" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot" |
| Porter Robinson
|DJ, record producer, singer-songwriter |
| Rocko
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Tommy Roe
|singer-songwriter |
| Rubi Rose
|rapper |born in Lexington, Kentucky, based in Atlanta |
| Kelly Rowland
|singer-songwriter with Destiny's Child and as a solo artist; actress and television personality; two-time Grammy Awards winner |born in Atlanta |
| Russ
|rapper |
| SahBabii, real name Saaheem Valdery
|rapper and songwriter |born in Chicago, raised in Atlanta |
| Troy Sanders
|bass player, singer-songwriter of Grammy Award-winning{{cite web|title=60th Annual GRAMMY Awards 2017 GRAMMY.com|url= https://www.grammy.com/awards/60th-annual-grammy-awards-2017|date=2023-06-16|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230616195816/https://www.grammy.com/awards/60th-annual-grammy-awards-2017|archivedate=2023-06-16}} metal band Mastodon |
| Cappriccieo Scates
|drummer and record producer; won Phoenix Award in 2011 |lives and works in Atlanta{{cite news | url= http://www.narip.com/?page_id=3612 | title= Cappriccieo Scates Board Member, Atlanta Chapter | publisher= National Association of Record Industry Professionals | access-date= September 29, 2011 | archive-date= September 27, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927132553/http://www.narip.com/?page_id=3612 | url-status= dead }}{{cite news|url=http://www.grammy365.com/chapters/atlanta-chapter |title=Elected Leaders |publisher=The Recording Academy |access-date=September 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013074126/http://www.grammy365.com/chapters/atlanta-chapter |archive-date=October 13, 2011 }} |
| Kodie Shane
|rapper |born in Atlanta |
| Silentó
|rapper, singer and songwriter | |
| Natalie Lauren Sims, also known as Suzy Rock
|musician, songwriter, graphic and art designer, and music executive |
| Skooly, real name Kazarion Fowler
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Musiq Soulchild
|singer, songwriter |resides in Atlanta{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/entertainment/music/atlanta-plays-part-philadelphia-soul-for-musiq-soulchild/5tAFZLl0LLaCVmSZGGKYXK/|title=Atlanta plays part in Philadelphia soul for Musiq Soulchild|last=Murray|first=Sonia|date=June 15, 2009|website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=June 23, 2022}} |
| Soulja Boy, real name DeAndre Cortez Way
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Southside, real name Joshua Howard Luellen
|rapper, record producer |from Atlanta |
| Angie Stone
|singer and record producer |moved to Atlanta |
| T.I., real name Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.
|rapper, actor and businessman |born and raised in Atlanta |
| Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas
|singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress from TLC |born in Atlanta |
| Chris Tomlin
|contemporary Christian music artist, worship leader and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas |moved to Atlanta and began church |
| DJ Toomp
|record producer, songwriter and Grammy winner |born and lives in Atlanta |
| Trouble, real name Mariel Semonte Orr
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Unk, real name Anthony Platt
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Usher, real name Usher Raymond
|singer-songwriter, dancer and actor; rose to fame in late 1990s with release of second album My Way |attended North Springs High School{{cite web|url=http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/21134|title=North Springs High School|publisher=Public School Review|access-date=November 18, 2008}} |
| Waka Flocka Flame, real name Juaquin James Malphurs
|rapper | |
| Summer Walker
|singer |
| Florence Warner
|singer-songwriter; best known for her appearance on television commercials and local television image campaigns |born in Atlanta{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/444666-Florence-Warner|title=Florence Warner|website=Discogs.com|access-date=2020-04-15}} |
| Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins
|singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress from TLC |
| Freddy Weller
| singer-songwriter |
| Kanye West
|rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer and fashion designer; one of the best-selling artists of all time |born in Atlanta, raised in Chicago |
| YC, real name Christopher Daniels Miller
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| YFN Lucci
|rapper |born in Atlanta |
| Young Dro, real name D'Juan Montrel Hart
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Young Nudy, real name Quantavious Tavario Thomas
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Young Scooter, real name Kenneth Edward Bailey
|rapper |from Atlanta |
| Young Thug, real name Jeffery Lamar Williams
|rapper, songwriter |born and lives in Atlanta |
| Yung Joc
|rapper |born in Atlanta |
Politicians and activists
Religious leaders
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Name
!Known for !Association |
|---|
| Paul S. Morton
|founding pastor of Changing a Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church in Atlanta; founder and first presiding bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship;{{Cite web|title=Bishop Paul S Morton, Sr.|url=https://www.cagnow.org/bishop-morton/|access-date=December 10, 2021|website=www.cagnow.org}} Grammy-nominated gospel recording artist{{Cite web|title=(Bishop) Paul S. Morton|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/bishop-paul-s-morton/13416|access-date=December 10, 2021|website=www.grammy.com}} |lives in Atlanta |
| Andy Stanley
|senior pastor of North Point Community Church, Buckhead Church, and other local churches; founded North Point Ministries, a worldwide Christian organization |moved to Atlanta |
| Charles Stanley
|senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta; founder and president of In Touch Ministries; served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1984 to 1986 |moved to Atlanta |
Writers and artists
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Name
!Known for !Association |
|---|
| Bob the Drag Queen
|drag queen |
| Paul Darcy Boles
|author and advertising writer |long-time resident |
| Violet Chachki
|drag queen |
| Lewis Grizzard
|writer and humorist |lived in Atlanta |
| Joel Chandler Harris
|wrote the Uncle Remus stories |lived in West End of Atlanta{{cite web|title=Joel Chandler Harris Home|url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/har.htm|website=NPS.gov|access-date=October 7, 2012}} |
| Cheryl McKay
|wrote The Ultimate Gift |
| Margaret Mitchell
|wrote Gone With the Wind |born in Atlanta |
| Flannery O'Connor
|Southern gothic writer |lived in Atlanta |
| Judith Pordon
|poet and editor |born in Atlanta |
| Anne Rivers Siddons
|novelist |born in Atlanta |
| Lucy May Stanton
|artist |born in AtlantaFowler, Betty Alice (2009). [http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-972 "Lucy May Stanton (1875–1931)"]. New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 25, 2013. |
| Natasha Tretheway
|poet |lived in Atlanta |
See also
{{portal|Biography|Lists}}