One of the busiest seaports in the West Coast, Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
Seattle became a technology center in the 1980s, with the rise of companies like Microsoft and Amazon.
Seattle also has a rich musical history. The Seattle jazz scene developed the early careers of Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Ernestine Anderson, and others. Seattle is also the birthplace of rock musician Jimi Hendrix, as well as the bands Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters, and the alternative rock movement grunge.
