Top 20 Athletes Who Have the Most Musical Talent

20 Athletes With Musical Talent

Getty Images

There has been a natural crossover between athletes and musicians, as both greatly admire the mix of talent and hard work that each other display. Both sides have to work nearly from birth to become the best of the best at what they do, and a certain level of so-called bromance seems to develop between rocks stars and the best athletes in the world in every generation.

And while it is nearly impossible for musicians to step up and become an all-world athlete out of nowhere, there are a number of athletes who are great musicians. The likes of Wayman Tisdale, John McEnroe and Guy Lafleur are amongst those who have been able to move from being a Hall of Fame worthy athlete in their respective sport to playing a musical instrument in front of large crowds, and even at times making money off of this skill. Nonew of these people will be winning awards for their musical skills, but they are talented enough to make a living playing music.

Keeping this in mind, I have identified 20 athletes who have great musical skills. Each of the athletes chosen have released a song either showcasing their singing ability, ability to play an instrument, or in some instances both.

Enjoy!

Tyler Leli is a Washington Capitals writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter, "Like" him on Facebook or join his network on Google.

20. Roy Jones Jr.

Getty Images

Roy Jones Jr. has had a relatively lengthy rap career. He has released two albums, titled Round One: The Album and Body Head Bangerz: Volume One during. Neither was a huge success and certainly were not filled with church choir songs.

19. Drew Gooden

Getty Images

Washington Wizards forward Drew Gooden has been playing music since the time he was a young kid as he learned to play the piano by simply listening to songs by ear. Gooden can now read music, and he has even been able to showcase his abilities in a professional setting once or twice.

18. Carlos Arroyo

Getty Images

Carlos Arroyo is now playing basketball with Galatasaray over in Turkey, but he is still making spanish hip-hop and reggae music under his record label Arroyo Hit Music. Since forming this label back in 2009, Arroyo has released a few singles, with his song Se Va Conmigo even ranking as high as no. 13 on the Billboard latin rhythm digital songs chart.

17. Bob and Matt Bryan

Getty Images

Bob and Matt Bryan have won 15 Grand Slam Titles as a doubles team, and they have taken this chemistry off the court in the form of playing music together. The identical twins play the keyboard and drums, and their father joins in on the guitar. They have been fortunate enough to play at numerous live events, and were even on the cover of February 2010 issue of Making Music Magazine.

16. Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson and Ben Crane

Getty Images

Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson and Ben Crane are all friends off the golf court, and they have taken to making hilarious songs in their free time. The so-called Golf Boys have made a number of witty songs, and have even had music videos that accompany them.

15. Metta World Peace

Getty Images

Metta World Peace is a bit of a character on and off the court, and he even taken up becoming a rapper in his free time. The 34-year-old released a rap album titled My World back in 2006, which featured such high-profile names as P. Diddy and Mike Jones.

14. Chris Kluwe

Getty Images

Free agent kicker Chris Kluwe played the violin as a youngster growing up, but switched over the playing the bass guitar as an adult. Kluwe used his connections while in Minnesota to team up with the band Tripping Icarus, an alternative rock band that the kicker has played numerous live shows with.

13. Barry Zito

Getty Images

Barry Zito has been an avid guitar player ever since he entered the big leagues, and was able to display his talents in 2013 by rocking out with Metallica.

12. Manny Pacquiao

Getty Images

Manny Pacquiao has been a boxer, politician and actor during his lifetime, so it only makes sense that he would delve into making music as well. Pacquiao has released many songs on the secondary adult contemporary charts in the last few years, and even performed his version of the song Sometimes When We Touch on the Jimmy Kimmel Show back in 2009.

11. Coco Crisp

Getty Images

Coco Crisp he recorded a song titled We Got That Thing for a compilation album from MLB players. He actually produced the beat by himself at his home, and his musical talents are evident.

10. Clint Dempsey

Getty Images

Clint Dempsey is one of the faces of the USMNT right now, but few know about his short lived rap career. As part of a marketing promotion with Nike back in 2006, the American put together a rap song titled Don't Tread, and even had a music video to go along with it.

9. Carl Edwards

Getty Images

NASCAR driver Carl Edwards has taken forays into the country music scene. He appeared in a music videos with Justin Moore and Sara Evans, and he has also been on stage playing guitar with the Zac Brown Band at a concert.

8. Serena Williams

Getty Images

Serena Williams has tried her hand in recent years at rapping, with one song that has gone viral titled Cook the Track Up Like Frozen Pizza.

7. Jake Peavy

Getty Images

Boston Red Sox pitcher Jake Peavy likes to play the guitar and sing country music in a band with a couple of his friends, and did so in 2013 at the MLB Fan Cave.

6. Henrik Lundqvist

Getty Images

Henrik Lundqvist is a stoic man, but he shows a bit more emotion off the ice when playing the guitar. Lundqvist has previously played with John McEnroe in a concert benefiting the Garden of Dreams Foundation, and has also been featured on the Jimmy Fallon Show.

5. Tony Parker

Getty Images

Back in 2007, Tony Parker released a French hip-hop album titled TP, which even featured a spot from Jamie Foxx. It is hard to tell if Parker is actually saying anything worth noting unless you speak French, but the beats definitely sound energetic and exciting.

4. Bronson Arroyo

Getty Images

Bronson Arroyo is an exceptional guitar player. He released an album back in 2005 titled Covering the Bases, in which he covered songs from Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and the Foo Fighters, amongst other bands.

3. Nick Swisher

Getty Images

Nick Swisher has previously played the saxophone, trumpet and trombone, and was a singer on the children's album he released back in 2011 titled Believe. The album received features from Bernie Williams and Barry Zito, and was actually an impressive piece of work.

2. Iman Shumpert

Getty Images

New York Knicks shooting guard Iman Shumpert is a great rapper. He has released a mixtape and numerous singles since entering the NBA back in 2011. The highlight of his rap career has to be his song titled Dear Kendrick, which came in reaction to Kendrick Lamar's verse on the song Control.

1. Bernie Williams

Getty Images

Bernie Williams is an incredible guitarist in the jazz, classical and latin genres, and is currently signed to Paul McCartney's publishing company. He has released two albums thus far, which have ranked third and second on the jazz charts, and have included collaborations with artists such as Patti Scialfa and Bruce Springsteen.