Remembering the concert halls and clubs where generations of Pittsburghers enjoyed great performances the Stanley Theater, Syria Mosque, the Decade, Grafitti, Morry's, Moondog's, Electric Banana, Mancini's the Leona Theater, Danceland, the Staircase, Fat City, the Crawford Grill, the Hurricane, MCG JazzThe story of the birth of commercial radio and live music broadcasts at KDKA, KQV and WCAE. The stories of Pittsburgh's influential pioneering rock and Doo Wop DJs like Porky Chedwick, Mary Dee, Jay Michael, Clark Race, Bob Mack, Terry Lee, Mad Mike, Sterling Yates, Bill Powell, Bob Livorio, Jimmy and Steve, and Herschel.Singing superstars of Pop and R&B who hail from Pittsburgh are Christine Aguilera, Jackie Evancho, Phyliss Hyman, Dean Martin, Perry Como, and Chris Kirkpatrick of N'Sync, Bobby Vinton, Chuck Jackson, Shirely Jones, Vaughn Monore, Shanice, and Adam Wade. Pittsburgh is an up and coming center for Hip Hop and electronic mash up music with stars like Wiz Kahlifa, Mac Miller, Girl Talk, and TV on the Radio.. Awarding Winning Hall of Fame Artists Pittsburgh musicians have been honored with Grammy Awards, Oscars, and Emmys, along with Gold, Platinum, and Diamond records. The first ever Oscar award for best song and the first ever Grammy award for album of the year were won by Pittsburgher song writers. The first ever Gold Record and Gold Albums were awarded to Pittsburghers. Pittsburgh musicians have scored dozens of Top Ten Billboard Hit Records. Song Writers Hall of Fame Members Stephen Foster, Ethelbert Nevin, Jay Livingston, Herb Magidson, Henry Mancini, Leo Robin, and Gerome Ragni. Grammy Hall of Fame Honorees Twenty recordings that were written by or performed by or produced by Pittsburghers are included in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Henry Mancini, Errol Garner, Pine Top Smith, Perry Como, Jay Livingston, Art Blakey, George Benson, Gerome Ragni, Dean Martin, Earl Hines, and Leo Robins are in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Grammy Life Time Achievement and Trustee Honorees Art Blakey, Perry Como, Henry Mancini, Billy Strayhorn, Alan Livingston, Lena Horne, and Bob Babbitt as a member of the Funk Brothers Big
Band Hall of Fame Members Downbeat Jazz Hall of Fame Members Pittsburgh jazz musicians were founders of
the Be Bop, Hard Bob, and Vocalese styles of jazz. Earl Hines is credited as the originator of modern jazz piano and Roy Eldridge is heralded as one of the all time great trumpeters in the history of jazz. Kenny Clark invented modern jazz drumming. Ray Brown is the master bassist of Jazz. Maxine Sullivan created an innovative style of Jazz singing. Vocal
Group Hall of Fame Members The Skyliners, the Marcels, the Del Vikings, the Vogues, the Swan Silvertones and the Lettermen. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Blues Hall of Fame Member
Movie and Television Composer / Arrangers Multi-Million Selling Recording Artists Several Pittsburgher musicians are among the top selling artists of all time. Between 1943 and 1974, Perry Como had almost 150 hits and won five Emmy awards. Over a 50-year career, Perry’s total record sales topped 100 million. Also selling over 100 million records were Steubenville’s singer Dean Martin along with Tommy James and the Shondels with Pittsburgh members Mike Vale and Ronnie Roman. Canonsburg’s Bobby Vinton sold 75 million. *Nsync founded by Clarion’s Chris Kirkpatrick had sales of 56 million and Christina Aguilera has sold over 50 million records. Bret Michaels as a member of Poison has sold over 30 million records. In the realm of classical music two of the greatest pianist of the 20th century ares from Pittsburgh: Earl Wild and Byron Janis. Pittsburgh has also produced the world renown classical artists including conductors Lorin Maazel and Antonio Modarelli, pianist Oscar Levant, pianist Norman Frauenheim, opera stars Louise Homer,Florence Wickham, Herva Nelli, and Nan Merriman, and composers Adolph Martin Foester and Anna Priscilla Rischer. The Pittsburgh Symphony is ranked one of the top symphonies in the United States.Ahmad Jamal on Pittsburgh Music - All About Jazz January, 2002 "Pittsburgh is one of the most important cities in the world for music and musicians. There are very few cities that have produced music like Pittsburgh. Very few. Billy Strayhorn is from Pittsburgh. He wrote "Lush Life" when he was 16 years old, that is the kind of talent we had coming out of Pittsburgh. Everyone from Pittsburgh has been influential to the music world. From Art Blakey to Kenny Clarke to Roy Eldridge, to Mary Lou Williams, myself, Errol Garner, he also started playing at 3. Dodo Mamarosa, whom the world has forgotten. George Benson, Stanley Turrentine. All of those are from Pittsburgh. On the other end of the spectrum you have Oscar Levant, Earl Wild. When Andre Previn had the choice to conduct the London or the Pittsburgh symphony, he chose Pittsburgh. We have a very powerful statement musically from that town. Very powerful. It still remains so."Enduring Classic Songs Created by Pittsburgh Area Musicians:
| Featured New Stories
Join our Facebook page for updates and discussions
Hear the Music of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Music Video Channel
|
Home
Pittsburgh - The Birthplace of American Music
Virtual Museum Honoring Outstanding Musicians from the Pittsburgh Area
"An impressive encyclopedia of local music" -Scott Mervis Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Celebrate with the winners April 23, 2015 at the Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh