Also, my intention was never to give an exhaustive list of artists that went to elite schools, but your point focused on "great" culture, and while Lady Gaga is

Also, my intention was never to give an exhaustive list of artists that went to elite schools, but your point focused on "great" culture, and while Lady Gaga is definitely beloved by many (and I personally think she's pretty great), it's understandable that some would find that a controversial choice. So here are a few more "cherry-picked" pop musicians, surely some of them would qualify under your rubric: - Tom Morello - Rage Against the Machine - Harvard - Lauryn Hill - Columbia (dropped out, but released The Score while still a student) - Alicia Keys - Columbia (dropped out after growing fame) - Greg Graffin - Bad Religion (punk band) - Cornell PhD In the non-pop world, at least classical and much avante garde, much of the new activity is based out of these "elite institutions".