FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13, 2017

DEAR JERRY: I recently heard New York City's "I'm Doin' Fine Now," and it triggered my curiosity as to how many more states are part or all of a performer's name. Might there even be 50?
—Wayne Koehler, Hempstead, N.Y.

DEAR WAYNE: I have successfully completed this challenge, having found 50 artists whose professional moniker includes a direct reference to a state.

Some states are more frequently found, such as New York, California, and Texas. But I had to dig deeper for Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and a few others.

Following the artist's name is one of their releases — for some it's their only one — with label info and year. Both sides are provided for singles using a different number on each side. Any LPs chosen are identified as such:

ALABAMA
Alabama "My Home's in Alabama" (MDJ 1002-JB) 1980

ALASKA
Alaska Troubadours (Vocal by Hap Smith) "Banoff Bounce"/"Sourdough Blues" Royal Recordings RR-116/RR-117) 1965

ARIZONA
Self-Titled LP: "Arizona" (RCA Victor LPL1-5123) 1976

ARKANSAS
Black Oak Arkansas "Jim Dandy" (Atco 6948) 1974

CALIFORNIA
The California Earthquake "What a Beautiful Feeling" (World Pacific 77931) 1969

COLORADO
Colorado "Country Comfort" (Uni 55280) 1971

CONNECTICUT
Rudy Vallée and His Connecticut Yankees (Vocal Refrain by Rudy Vallée and the Gentlemen Songsters) "Whiffenpoof Song" (Bluebird B-7135) 1937

DELAWARE
Delaware Valley U.S.A. West Featuring Ernie Walker "The Wreck of the Ninety 7" (Kay/Y KY-99785) 1965

FLORIDA
The Florida Deep Six "I Don't Wanna Cry" (Charay C-16) 1966

GEORGIA
Georgia Satellites "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" (Elektra 7-69502) 1986

HAWAII
Alfred Apaka and His Hawaiian Village Serenaders "My Hawaiian Souvenirs" (Decca 9-29651) 1955

IDAHO
Boots Faye and Idaho Call "Dreamy Moon" (RCA Victor 47-8211) 1963

ILLINOIS
Self-Titled LP: "Illinois Speed Press" (Columbia CS-9792) 1969

INDIANA
Joe Taylor and His Indiana Red Birds "Gonna Trade in My Saddle (On an Old Rockin' Chair)"/"(He's a) Cowboy Auctioneer" (Red Bird 1020/1021) 1955

IOWA
Iowa Roxx with the OHS Madrigal Chorus "Hawkmania" (Action Sports 001) 1984

KANSAS
Kansas "Dust in the Wind" (Kirshner ZS8-4274) 1978

KENTUCKY
The Kentucky Headhunters "Oh Lonesome Me" (Mercury 875450) 1990

LOUISIANA
Louisiana Red "I'm Too Poor to Die" (Glover GP-3002) 1964

MAINE
The Maine "Black & White" (Warner Bros. 523012-2) 2010

MARYLAND
The Marylanders with Buddy Lucas and His Band of Tomorrow "Make Me Thrill Again" (Jubilee 45-5091) 1952

MASSACHUSETTS
Dick Madison and the Massachusetts Delegation "Give a Damn" (Oracle 45-1002) 1968

MICHIGAN
Prince Arky and the Michigan Playboys "I'm Pickin' on You" (Judd 45-1963) 1963

MINNESOTA
Minnesota Marv and the Vanguards "Nobody's Darling But Mine" (Cuca J-1023) 1961

MISSISSIPPI
Self-Titled LP: "Mississippi" (Fantasy F-9438) 1974

MISSOURI
Missouri "Mystic Lady" (Panama PRS-2201) 1978

MONTANA
The Montanas "You've Got to Be Loved" (Independence IND-83) 1968

NEBRASKA
Larry Hobbs and the Nebraska Playboys "Love of the Common People" (Rene R45-1176D) 1968

NEVADA
Nevada Slim "Songs of the Wild West" (Rural Rhythm RRNS-162) 1966

NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Freaks "MMoss & Quilt" (Beyond Beyond Is Beyond Records BBIBR-004) 2013

NEW JERSEY
The New Jersey Queens and Friends "Party and Don't Worry About It" (Magnet 2) 1973

NEW MEXICO
New Mexico "Skate With Me" (Decade D-205082) 1980

NEW YORK
The New Yorkers "Miss Fine" (Wall 547) 1961

NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Ramblers "Wild Horse" (Columbia 15279) 1928

NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota "Reflection" (Innovative INV-04) 2006

OHIO
Ohio Players "Fire" (Mercury 73643) 1974

OKLAHOMA
Jack Tucker and His Oklahoma Playboys "Surrounded By Sorrow"/"Let Me Practice With You" (Bel Aire 22/23) 1957

OREGON
LP: Oregon "Music of Another Present Era" (Vanguard 79326) 1972

PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania Turnpike "People Are Falling in Love (Beautiful People)" (Perception P-516) 1972

RHODE ISLAND
The Rhode Islanders "Born to Wander" (Warner Bros. 5280) 1962

SOUTH CAROLINA
The Soul Searchers of Sumter, South Carolina "Through the Years" (Florentine 45-0015) 1975

SOUTH DAKOTA
LP: "South Dakota All State Chorus (Dr. Robert Berglund Directing the Chorus and Dr. James Neilson Directing the Orchestra)" No label name (S6-7243) 1966

TENNESSEE
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sixteen Tons" (Capitol F3262) 1955

TEXAS
Texas "I Don't Want a Lover" (Mercury 872 350-7) 1989

UTAH
Utah Carl "Sometime" (Starday 45-301) 1957

VERMONT
Vermont "Living Together" (Kindercore KC-032) 1999

VIRGINIA
Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys "Diesel on My Tail" (Epic 5-10138) 1967

WASHINGTON
Dinah Washington "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" (Mercury 71435) 1959

WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia "Stars on Magic" (Discomagic MIX-326) 1988

WISCONSIN
LP: "The Kids From Wisconsin" (MCM KFW78-12) 1977

WYOMING
The Wyoming Cowboy (Charles Baker) "Utah Carroll" (Champion 16724) 1934

IZ ZAT SO? Sandwiched between Maryland and Virginia is the District of Columbia, and though not a state, they do have a qualifying entry for our list. Here then is number 51:

WASHINGTON D.C.
The Washington D.C.'s "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (Ember EMB-8190) 1964