Shaw (1944–1989), trumpeter, DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame (Laurinburg) Nina Simone (1933–2003), singer, Grammy Award Hall of Fame (Tryon) Arthur Smith (1921–2014), composer, entertainer, producer (Charlotte) Chloe Smith, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist for Rising Appalachia (Buncombe County) Leah Song, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, frontwoman for Rising Appalachia (Buncombe County) Peter Stroud, guitarist, rock musician; co-founder of 65amps (Greensboro) Supastition (born 1976), hip-hop artist (Greenville) James Taylor (born 1948), singer-songwriter in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Chapel Hill) Randy Travis (born 1959), singer in Country Music Hall of Fame (Marshville) Loudon Wainwright III (born 1946), songwriter, folk singer, humorist (Chapel Hill) Doc Watson (1923–2012), folk guitarist (Deep Gap) Link Wray (1929–2005), guitarist, rock musician, songwriter (Dunn) George Younce (1930–2005), gospel singer (Caldwell County) Sportspeople A–B Dustin Ackley (born 1988), second baseman and outfielder for New York Yankees (Winston-Salem) Sam Aiken (born 1980), wide receiver; Buffalo Bills (2003–07); New England Patriots (2008–10) (Warsaw) Walt Aikens (born 1991), cornerback and free safety for Miami Dolphins (Charlotte) Dwayne Allen (born 1990), tight end for Indianapolis Colts (Fayetteville) Kadeem Allen (born 1993), basketball player in the NBA and currently for Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli Basketball Premier League Keenan Allen (born 1992), wide receiver for San Diego Chargers (Greensboro) James Anderson (born 1983), linebacker for Carolina Panthers (Roanoke Rapids) Stephone Anthony (born 1992), linebacker for New Orleans Saints (Polkton) Luke Appling (1907–1991), Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop for the Chicago White Sox (High Point) Chris Archer (born 1988), pitcher for Tampa Bay Rays (Clayton) Darrell Armstrong (born 1968), NBA point guard, assistant coach for Dallas Mavericks (Gastonia) Shawn Armstrong (born 1990), relief pitcher for Cleveland Indians (Bridgeton) J. J. Arrington (born 1983), pro football player (Rocky Mount) Kathleen Baker (born 1997), Olympic gold and silver medalist swimmer (Winston-Salem) Scott Bankhead (born 1963), former MLB pitcher (Raleigh) Billy Ray Barnes (born 1935), NFL player 1957–66 for Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, and Minnesota Vikings; 3-time Pro Bowl (Landis) Brian Barnes (born 1967), MLB pitcher for Montreal Expos, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers (Roanoke Rapids) Darrius Barnes (born 1986), Major League Soccer player (Raleigh) Jim Beatty (born 1934), track and field athlete, first person to break 4-minute barrier on an indoor track (Charlotte) Bobby Bell (born 1940), Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and defensive end for Kansas City Chiefs (Shelby) Walt Bellamy (1938–2013), basketball player, NBA Hall of Fame (New Bern) Ricky Berens (born 1988), two-time Olympic gold medalist in