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 – Margot Bingham

Posted on March 7, 2022

  Song: “Farewell Daddy Blues” Artist: Margot Bingham Album: Boardwalk Empire OST Vol. 3 Year Released: 2014 Genre: Blues Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1988 Did you know? Margot Bingham is a musician, writer and actress, best known for her television roles in Boardwalk Empire, She’s Gotta Have It, and The Walking Dead PittSongs […]

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PittSongs – Gerome Ragni

Posted on March 4, 2022

Song: “The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In)” Artist: Gerome Ragni Album: Hair (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Year Released: 1968 Genre: Musical Theater Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1935 Did you know? As a co-writer of Hair: An American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, Gerome Ragni played the part of Berger in the initial production PittSongs […]

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PittSongs – Poogie Bell

Posted on March 3, 2022

Song: “Breezeword” Artist: Poogie Bell Band Album: Get on the Kit Year Released: 2006 Genre: Jazz Fusion Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1961 Did you know? Poogie Bell made his concert debut with his father’s band at age two and a half, playing at Carnegie Music Hall and in 1966, he performed with Pearl Bailey on the Mike […]

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PittSongs – Gabby Barrett

Posted on March 2, 2022

 Song: “I Hope” Artist: Gabby Barrett Album: Goldmine Year Released: 2020 Genre: Country Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 2000 Did you know? Gabby Barrett has won CMT Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and American Music Awards PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Gabby […]

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PittSongs – Maxine Sullivan

Posted on March 1, 2022

Song: “Loch Lomond” Artist: Maxine Sullivan Album: 10” Single Release Year Released: 1937 Genre: Jazz Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1911 Did you know? In 1940, Maxine Sullivan and her then second husband John Kirby were featured on the radio program Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm, making them the first black jazz stars to have their […]

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PittSongs – The Grateful Dead

Song: “Shakedown Street” Artist: The Grateful Dead Album: Download Series Vol. 9: Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, April 2 & 3, 1989 Year Released: 2006 Genre: Acid Rock Local Connection: Performed in Pittsburgh on April 2, 1989 Did you know? The second night of this pair of Grateful Dead concerts made national news when Pittsburgh police clashed […]

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Photos – Buffalo Rose Soundcheck

Buffalo Rose ‘Rabbit’ EP Release / Friday, February 25, 2022 / Thunderbird Café / Pittsburgh, PA wsg Broken Fences  

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PittSongs – Ethelbert Nevin

Song: “The Rosary” Artist: Ethelbert Nevin Album: Sheet Music Single Year Released: 1898 Genre: Popular Song Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1862 Did you know? The first grand piano ever taken across the Allegheny Mountains was carted over for Ethelbert Nevin’s mother PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Ethelbert Nevin #PittSongs #SupportPGHMusic

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PittSongs – Phyllis Hyman

Song: “Give a Little More” Artist: Phyllis Hyman Album: You Know How to Love Me Year Released: 1979 Genre: R&B Local Connection: Born in Philadelphia in 1949 and moved to and raised in Pittsburgh shortly after her birth Did you know? Phyllis Hyman received the first ever music scholarship to Robert Morris College in 1967 […]

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PittSongs – Brownie Mary

Song: “I’ll Be the One” Artist: Brownie Mary Album: Naked Year Released: 1998 Genre: Pop/Rock Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 1993 Did you know? Brownie Mary was named after a hospital volunteer named Mary Rathbun, who was arrested several times for handing out marijuana brownies to patients suffering from cancer and AIDS PittSongs […]

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PittSongs – Earl Hines

Song: “Skylark” Artist: Earl Hines and his Orchestra Album: 78 RPM Release Year Released: 1942 Genre: Jazz Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1903 Did you know? Earl Hines was called the greatest piano player in the world by Count Basie PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Earl Hines #PittSongs #SupportPGHMusic

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PittSongs – Mailbox Office

Song: “Cosmic Dust” Artist: Mailbox Office Album: Single Release Year Released: 2022 Genre: Experimental Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 2021 Did you know? Mailbox Office produced their first recordings on a Mac in high school and continues to do so at Penn State PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Mailbox […]

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First/Last – Pittsburgh Savoyards

The Pittsburgh Savoyards, Inc. is a semi-professional, community-based, non-profit classical/operatic theater company funded primarily by local contributions and ticket sales. They operate for the purposes of perpetuating the heritage of Gilbert & Sullivan comic operas, and providing a hands-on opportunity for interested persons to learn about and experience musical theater. They are closing their 84th […]

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PittSongs – Lady Miss Kier

Song: “Groove Is in the Heart” Artist: Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite) Album: World Clique Year Released: 1990 Genre: House Local Connection: Lead singer Lady Miss Kier was born in Youngstown, OH in 1963 and lived in Pittsburgh as a young child Did you know? Lady Miss Kier moved to New York City at the age of 17 to […]

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PittSongs – Zao

Song: “Resistance” Artist: Zao Album: All Else Failed Year Released: 1996 Genre: Metalcore Local Connection: Formed in West Virginia in 1993, the band later relocated to Pittsburgh Did you know? Zao comes from the Greek word (ζάω), which means “alive” or “to have life” PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Zao #PittSongs #SupportPGHMusic

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PittSongs – Johnny Daye

Song: “What’ll I Do for Satisfaction” Artist: Johnny Daye Album: Single Release Year Released: 1967 Genre: Soul Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1948 Did you know? Johnny Daye was taken to Stax Records after being discovered in Pittsburgh by Otis Redding PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music Support Johnny Daye #PittSongs #SupportPGHMusic

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PittSongs – The Rave-Ups

Song: “Positively Lost Me” Artist: The Rave-Ups Album: Town + Country Year Released: 1985 Genre: New Wave/Power Pop Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 1979 Did you know? The Rave-Ups appeared in the 1986 movie Pretty in Pink playing in a club scene performing two of their original songs PittSongs is a non-chronological history […]

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PittSongs – Syreeta

Song: “I Love Every Little Thing About You” Artist: Syreeta Album: Syreeta Year Released: 1972 Genre: R&B/Detroit Soul Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1946 Did you know? Syreeta Wright married Stevie Wonder in 1970 eventually divorcing 18 months later in 1972 but still remained close friends and collaborators for the next two decades PittSongs […]

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PittSongs – Vera Barstow

Song: “Viennese Popular Song: The Old Refrain” Artist: Vera Barstow Album: 78 RPM Year Released: 1920 Genre: Instrumental Local Connection: Born near Pittsburgh in 1891 Did you know? Vera Barstow fell ill in the 1918 flu pandemic while in France but survived to live until her death in 1975 at age 84 PittSongs is a non-chronological history […]

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PittSongs – Richard D Johnson

Song: “Nokomis (Trio)” Artist: Richard D Johnson Album: Here I Am Year Released: 2013 Genre: Jazz Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1975 Did you know? In 2005, Richard Johnson became a musical director for the Atlanta Hawks. This position allowed him the chance to put together a Hip-Hop instrumental quartet which performed during the in […]

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