Post date: May 18, 2011 11:31:49 AM

Beaver Falls native launches virtual music museum

Scott Tady | Posted: Sunday, May 15, 2011 12:15 am

A western Pennsylvania music museum is as close as your computer or handheld device.

Welcome to the virtual Pittsburgh Music Museum launched online by Beaver Falls native Paul Carosi.

Visitors to sites.google.com/site/pittsburghmusichistory can study photos, stories, videos, audio clips and timelines outlining the region’s rich musical heritage.

Carosi runs a musical thread from 19th-century composers Stephen Foster and Ethelbert Nevin to jazz artists Art Blakey, Earl Hines and Billy Strayhorn, through the doo wop and pop of the Marcels and Skyliners, to the world beat of Rusted Root to today’s hiphop and laptop musical stars, Wiz Khalifa and Girl Talk.

“Music is one of Pittsburgh’s greatest lasting exports to the world,” said Carosi, a local music buff whose virtual museum began humbly in 2005 as a single webpage.

Today’s multi-page site features plenty of Beaver Valley artists.

There’s:

•Papa John Creach, a Beaver Falls native who played violin for Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna.

•Florence Wickham, a Beaver opera star and early classical recording artist.

•Henry Mancini, the Aliquippa graduate who won 20 Grammies and four Oscars.

•The Harmonist Society Orchestra, one of the first symphonies in America.

•The Jaggerz, who scored a No. 2 Billboard hit with “The Rapper.”

•The Steals Brothers, Melvin and Mervin, Aliquippa siblings who wrote the Spinners’ 3-million selling “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love?”

•Dusty Drake, the Monaca native who scored the country hits “Say Yes” and “One Last Time” and who co-wrote the 1996 Joe Diffie single “C-O-U-N-T-R-Y.”

•The Granati Brothers, who opened 78 show for Van Halen and recorded on A&M Records

•Donnie Iris, the local rock icon who charted on Billboard with “Ah Leah!” and “Love Is Like A Rock.”

•B.E.Taylor, the Aliquippa native who recorded for MCA Records and whose annual Christmas shows are a Pittsburgh tradition.

“If you know of other influential Beaver County musicians who should be remembered in the Pittsburgh Music History website, I would welcome your suggestions,” Carosi said.

Read More at: http://www.timesonline.com/entertainment/beaver-falls-native-launches-virtual-music-museum/article_6266cf78-d91c-5273-9c41-f1a80574b01d.html