Song: “Bed Bug Boogie” Artist: Chizmo Charles Album: Up All Night Year Released: 1999 Genre: Blues Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1928 Did you know?  Chizmo Charles began singing in the 1950’s but did not release his first solo album until 1999 at age 70 PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music […]

  Song: “Ordinary People” Artist: Danniebell Hall Album: Let Me Have a Dream Year Released: 1976 Genre: Gospel Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1938 Did you know?  Danniebelle Hall learned to play piano at the age of three and played piano in her church PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Danniebell […]

  Song: “Love in Bloom” Artist: Leo Robin (Bing Crosby) Album: She Loves Me Not Year Released: 1934 Genre: Popular Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1900 Did you know?  Leo Robin (lyrics) and Ralph Rainger (music), with over 50 hit songs, became the leading film songwriting duo of the ’30s and early ’40s PittSongs […]

  Song: “You Don’t Know What Love Is” Artist: Kendra Ross Album: Single Release Year Released: 2020 Genre: Neo-Soul Local Connection: Born near Pittsburgh in 1975 Did you know?  Kendra Ross is an independent feminist scholar and cultural anthropologist who holds a PhD in Community Engagement from Point Park University PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Kendra […]

  Song: “Teenage Jacket” Artist: Bottle Rat Album: All My Friends Are Animals Year Released: 2016 Genre: Punk Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 2013 Did you know? Bottle Rat has never released a song longer than 2 and ½ minutes PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Bottle Rat #PittSongs #SupportPGHMusic

  Song: “Shake” Artist: Trapgurl Rea (w/ Dae Adore) Album: Single Release Year Released: 2022 Genre: Rap Local Connection: Currently resides near Pittsburgh Did you know? Co-founder and co-owner of TrapGurlCustomz, LLC which offers custom apparel services PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support TrapGurl Rea #PittSongs #SupportPGHMusic

  Song: “Dancing with Joey Ramone” Artist: Amy Rigby Album: Little Fugitive Year Released: 2005 Genre: Rock Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1959 Did you know? Amy Rigby wrote an autobiography Girl to City: A Memoir in 2019 PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Amy Rigby #PittSongs #SupportPGHMusic

  Song: “No One But You” Artist: Billy Eckstine Album: Billy Eckstine Sings Year Released: 1949 Genre: Popular Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1914 Did you know? Billy Eckstine was a fashion icon. He was famous for his “Mr. B. Collar” – a high roll collar that formed a “B” over a Windsor-knotted tie (or without […]

  Song: “We’re at the Top of the World” Artist: The Juliana Theory Album: Emotion is Dead Year Released: 2000 Genre: Rock Local Connection: Band formed near Pittsburgh in 1997 Did you know? The Juliana Theory disbanded in 2006, reuniting in 2010, sporadically touring and recording including releasing a new album in 2021 PittSongs is […]

  Song: “Dancin’ Man” Artist: Q Album: Dancin’ Man Year Released: 1977 Genre: Disco Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 1976 Did you know? Q was short lived and members went on to form Pure Gold and No Bad JuJu PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Q #PittSongs #SupportPGHMusic

  Song: “Genie in a Bottle” Artist: Christina Aguilera Album: Christina Aguilera Year Released: 1999 Genre: Dance-Pop Local Connection: Moved to Pittsburgh in 1986 at age 6 Did you know? Christina Aguilera’s debut, self-titled album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and she won Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards PittSongs is […]

  Song: “Hassles” Artist: Fresh Blueberry Pancake Album: Heavy Year Released: 1970 Genre: Proto-Metal Local Connection: Formed in Pittsburgh in 1968 Did you know? Fresh Blueberry Pancake were a trio of teens who recorded their sole album as a demo mostly in one take, with no multi-tracking, overdubbing (except for a harmonica in one song), […]

  Song: “Andrew” Artist: Geri Allen Album: The Printmakers Year Released: 1984 Genre: Jazz Local Connection: Completed a master’s degree in enthnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1982 and eventually became an associate professor of music and director of the Jazz Studies program there in 2013 Did you know? Geri Allen was awarded many […]

  Song: “Fall to Pieces” Artist: Dinosoul Album: Single Release Year Released: 2021 Genre: Indie Rock Local Connection: Formed in Pittsburgh in 2016 Did you know? Dinosoul duo/partners Donny Donovan and Carolyn Hilliard champion many causes that they truly connect with including the sober/sober curious movement, veganism for animal rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights PittSongs is […]

  Song: “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” Artist: Melvin and Mervin Steals (The Spinners) Album: Spinners Year Released: 1972 Genre: Philadelphia Soul Local Connection: Songwriters Melvin and Mervin Steals are twins who were born in Pittsburgh in 1946 Did you know? The Steals brothers went by their professional names, Mystro & Lyric PittSongs […]

  Song: “Trapper Keeper” Artist: Dopapod Album: Redivider Year Released: 2012 Genre: Jam Band Local Connection: Last song played before a paying audience at the The Rex Theater before it prematurely shutdown due to the pandemic on March 7, 2020 Did you know? Dopapod was formed at Boston’s Berklee College of Music in 2008, as […]

  Song: “Par Dieu! Une poupée aux yeux d’émail” Artist: Mildred Miller (Jacques Offenbach) Album: Les Contes d’Hoffmann Year Released: 1955 Genre: Opera Local Connection: Moved to Pittsburgh in 1967 Did you know? Mildred Miller established the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh (now called Pittsburgh Festival Opera) in 1978 along with Helen Knox and for many years she […]

  Song: “Arara Yemonya” Artist: Madeleine Yayodele Nelson (Women of the Calabash Album: The Kwanzaa Album Year Released: 1998 Genre: Afro-Beat Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1948 Did you know? Madeleine Yayodele Nelson was an American percussionist and composer who specialized in playing the West African shekere and also played the djembe drum, the mbira thumb piano and the calabash PittSongs is a […]

  Song: “It Grows, Grows, Grows” Artist: Marrin Lewis Album: No More Comic Relief Year Released: 2020 Genre: Experimental Local Connection: Born and raised in Pittsburgh Did you know? Marrin Lewis produces everything heard on his music himself, in one room… the very definition of ‘bedroom pop’ PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music […]

  Song: “Can U Feel It?” Artist: Vaig Album: True to My Word Year Released: 2012 Genre: Hi-Hop Local Connection: Resides in Pittsburgh Did you know? Vaig’s music hit #1 in heavy rotation on San Jose’s 90.5 and has been featured on AllHipHop.com, DJ Booth, RepPittsburghHipHop.com, The UK’s Niji Magazine, HipHop Café PittSongs is a […]