Blog

HughShows Blog has featured thousands of original live band photos and has conducted over 1000 musician interviews (including Brian Wilson, Mavis Staples, and Bruce Hornsby) since starting. With the original ‘First/Last’ questionnaire, you get a sense of where the musician has come from and where they are going with their artistic expression.

PittSongs – Dopapod

Posted on April 29, 2022

  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 […]

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PittSongs – Mildred Miller

Posted on April 28, 2022

  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 […]

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PittSongs – Madeleine Yayodele Nelson

Posted on April 27, 2022

  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 […]

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PittSongs – Marrin Lewis

Posted on April 26, 2022

  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 […]

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PittSongs – Vaig

Posted on April 25, 2022

  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 […]

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PittSongs – Andy Warhol

Posted on April 22, 2022

  Song: “Venus in Furs” Artist: Andy Warhol (The Velvet Underground) Album: The Velvet Underground & Nico Year Released: 1967 Genre: Drone Rock Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1928 Did you know? Andy Warhol was credited as a co-producer on the album (with Tom Wilson) but besides designing the groundbreaking cover art, bringing together […]

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PittSongs – Dakota Staton

Posted on April 21, 2022

  Song: “The Late, Late Show” Artist: Dakota Staton Album: The Late, Late Show Year Released: 1957 Genre: Jazz Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1930 Did you know? Dakota Staton’s debut album The Late, Late Show was a #4 chart hit, unusual at the time for a Jazz record which usually had more moderate […]

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PittSongs – Lady Beast

Posted on April 20, 2022

  Song: “Lone Hunter” Artist: Lady Beast Album: Vicious Breed Year Released: 2017 Genre: Heavy Metal Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 2009 Did you know? Lady Beast are the organizers of the Metal Immortal Music Festival which will return for a second year this June PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music […]

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PittSongs – Mae Scott

Posted on April 19, 2022

  Song: “Different” Artist: Mae Scott Album: Single Release Year Released: 2021 Genre: Hip-Hop Local Connection: Born and resides in Pittsburgh Did you know? Mae Scott (aka Mae Majesty) is a songwriter, MC, and producer of pop, hip-hop and R&B who has created her own eponymous record label PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh […]

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PittSongs – Al Cleveland

Posted on April 18, 2022

  Song: “I Second That Emotion” Artist: Al Cleveland (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) Album: 45 RPM Single Release Year Released: 1967 Genre: Soul Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1930 Did you know? Al Cleveland co-wrote many Motown classic songs including “Dinah” for The Temptations and “What’s Going On” with Marvin Gaye PittSongs is […]

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PittSongs – Herb Magidson

Posted on April 15, 2022

  Song: “The Continental” Artist: Herb Magidson (Fred Astaire Album: The Gay Divorcee Year Released: 1934 Genre: Swing Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1906 Did you know? Herb Magidson won the first Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1934 for his lyrics to “The Continental”, used in film The Gay Divorcee PittSongs is a non-chronological history […]

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PittSongs – Sarah Marince

Posted on April 14, 2022

  Song: “Just Feel Right” Artist: Sarah Marince Album: You’re My Summertime EP Year Released: 2008 Genre: Country Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1990 Did you know? Sarah Marince relocated to Orlando, FL and began doing radio, television and voiceover work. She has done commercial work for Disney, Wal-Mart, Nestle, Gaylord Palms Resort, Florida […]

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PittSongs – S!MONE

Posted on April 13, 2022

  Song: “Ball Out” Artist: S!MONE Album: Divine Mistakes Year Released: 2021 Genre: R&B Local Connection: Graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2021 Did you know? S!MONE (Simone Joy Jones) is currently playing Lisa in Bel-Air, a dramatic retelling of the story of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh […]

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PittSongs – J.C. Moses

Posted on April 12, 2022

  Song: “Beautiful Love” Artist: J.C. Moses (Kenny Dorham Quintet) Album: Matador Year Released: 1962 Genre: Jazz Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1936 Did you know? Percussionist J.C. Moses moved to Copenhagen around 1969, where he was house drummer at the Montmartre Club, playing with Ben Webster and Dexter Gordon among others PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support […]

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PittSongs – Jim Fidler

Posted on April 11, 2022

  Song: “Downtown Girl” Artist: Jim Fidler Album: Gypsy Year Released: 1995 Genre: Celtic Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1960 Did you know? Jim Fidler has been legally blind since the age of nine and plays most of the instruments on his songs. He is a first cousin to Christina Aguilera PittSongs is a […]

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PittSongs – Papa John Creach

Posted on April 8, 2022

  Song: “Walkin’” Artist: Papa John Creach (Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, & David Freiberg) Album: Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun Year Released: 1973 Genre: Art Rock Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1917 Did you know? Violinist Papa John Creach was invited to join both Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna in 1970. As a […]

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PittSongs – Hardo

Posted on April 7, 2022

  Song: “Nothin to Me” Artist: Hardo Album: Fame or Feds 3 Year Released: 2021 Genre: Hardcore Rap Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1992 Did you know? Joseph Barnett came up with the name Hardo from the forceful, compelling way he was able to spit rhymes. It also had to do with the content […]

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PittSongs – Shirley Jones

Posted on April 6, 2022

  Song: “I Think I Love You” Artist: Shirley Jones (The Partridge Family) Album: Partridge Family Album Year Released: 1970 Genre: Bubblegum Pop Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1934 Did you know? Shirley Jones won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1960 for playing a vengeful prostitute in Elmer Gantry, a role that was counter […]

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PittSongs – Black Moth Super Rainbow

Posted on April 5, 2022

  Song: “Forever Heavy” Artist: Black Moth Super Rainbow Album: Dandelion Gum Year Released: 2007 Genre: Psychedelic Local Connection: Formed in Pittsburgh in 2003 Did you know? Black Moth Super Rainbow is considered a solo music studio project created by Tom Fec, who is also well known as TOBACCO. Fec writes, records, and produces the […]

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PittSongs – 1.8.7.

Posted on April 4, 2022

  Song: “Dis Soun’ (1.8.7. Jungle Dub)” Artist: 1.8.7. Album: This is Jungle Sky Vol. 2 Year Released: 1996 Genre: Drum and Bass Local Connection: Born and raised in Pittsburgh Did you know? 1.8.7. is an outspoken trans musician, producer, and DJ who now goes by the professional name Jordana PittSongs is a non-chronological history […]

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