Arts & Literature

 Artists

• Blackbear Bosin, (1921-1980), Native American artist, Wichita, Kansas.
• Willard Roswell Cox, (1902-1974), painter/commercial artist, Wichita, Kansas.
• John Steuart Curry, (1897-1946), artist, Winchester, Kansas.
• Aaron Douglas, (1900-1979), artist, Topeka, Kansas.
• Gordon Parks, (1912-2006), photographer and film director, Fort Scott, Kansas.
• Gil Rumsey, painter, Overland Park, Kansas 

 Authors

• Laura Abbot, (born...), author of Harlequin romance novels, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Gwendolyn Brooks, (born 1917),author, poet, Topeka, Kansas .
• William Burroughs, (1914-1997), author, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Don Coldsmith, (born 1926), author of Western fiction, Iola, Kansas.
• Jerry W. Engler, (born 1946 at Topeka),author, Marion, Kansas.
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher, (1879-1958), author of childrens' books, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Thomas Frank, (born 1965), author and editor, Mission Hills, Kansas.
• Jane Heap, (1883-1964), author and publisher, Topeka, Kansas.
• Langston Hughes, (1902-1967), author and poet, Topeka, Kansas.
• William Inge, (1913-1973), playwright, Independence, Kansas.
• Bill James, (born 1949), author, Mayetta, Kansas.
• Vance Randolph, (1892-1980), folklorist, Pittsburg, Kansas.
• Damon Runyon, (1884-1946), author, Manhattan, Kansas.
• William Stafford, (1914-1993), poet and pacifist, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• James Houston Turner, (born 1947), author, Baldwin City, Kansas.
• William Allen White, (1868-1944), author and editor, Emporia, Kansas.
• Max Yoho, (born 1934), author, Colony, Kansas.

Musicians

• Karrin Allyson, jazz performer, Great Bend, Kansas.
• Chris Burnett, (born 1955), musician, Olathe, Kansas.
• Danny Carey, (born 1961), musician, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Dorothy DeLay, (1917-2002), violinist, Julliard Professor, Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
• Melissa Etheridge, (born 1961), musician, Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Eva Jessye, (1895-1992), choral conductor, Coffeyville, Kansas
• Kerry Livgren, (born 1949), founding member of Kansas, Topeka, Kansas.
• Martina McBride, (born 1966), musician, Sharon, Kansas.
• Charlie Parker, (1920-1955), musician, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Samuel Ramey, (born 1942), opera, bass-baritone, Colby, Kansas
• Steven Stucky, (born 1949), Pulitzer Prize-winner in music, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Joe Walsh, (born 1947), musician, Wichita, Kansas.
• Bobby Watson, (born 1953), musician, Bonner Springs, Kansas.
• David Wetzel, (born 1983), musician, Westwood, Kansas.
• Chely Wright, (born 1970), musician, Wellsville, Kansas.

courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Kansas