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 non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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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 solo artist, his backing band Zulu included guitarist Keb’ Mo’

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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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 of his early music, which addressed the dangers of crossing the wrong person or getting in the way of a guy who’s trying to make a living

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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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 to her wholesome image she was known for in many musical films

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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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 work of BMSR independently and has augmented their live show with various musicians

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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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 of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “Wolf Like Me”

Artist: Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio)

Album: Return to Cookie Mountain

Year Released: 2006

Genre: Rock

Local Connection: Attended Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel for high school

Did you know? Tunde Adebimpe may be best known as lead singer for TV on the Radio but is also an accomplished musician, singer-songwriter, actor, director, and visual artist

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “Finding My Way”

Artist: Rush

Album: Rush

Year Released: 1974

Genre: Prog Rock

Local Connection: The first song played from Neil Peart’s debut performance with Rush on August 14, 1974 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh

Did you know? Rush weren’t even listed on the bill with Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann and ended their five song set appropriately enough with a Peart drum solo

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “Mr. Right Now”

Artist: Povertyneck Hillbillies

Album: Don’t Look Back

Year Released: 2004

Genre: Country

Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 2000

Did you know? The Povertyneck Hillbillies changed their name to The Hillbilly Way in 2012

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “Little Girl”

Artist: Norma-Jean Wofford (Bo Diddley)

Album: Bo Diddley & Company

Year Released: 1962

Genre: Rock & Roll

Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1942

Did you know? Norma-Jean Wofford was Bo Diddley’s second female guitarist, replacing Peggy Jones (a.k.a. Lady Bo). When Jones left the band, disappointed fans asked Bo Diddley what had become of her. In response, he hired Wofford, nicknamed her “The Duchess”, taught her to play rhythm guitar, and told male admirers that she was his sister even though they were not related

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “SUB”

Artist: Slowdanger

Album: FURY ANGEL

Year Released: 2021

Genre: Techno

Local Connection: Duo formed in Pittsburgh in 2016

Did you know? Slowdanger is a project based multidisciplinary performance entity founded by Taylor Knight and Anna Thompson

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “Folk Fragments”

Artist: Nancy Galbraith

Album: Cuarteto Latinoamericano

Year Released: 2008

Genre: String Quartet

Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1951

Did you know? Nancy Galbraith currently teaches composition and music theory at Carnegie Mellon University

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “Did I Dream You”

Artist: Tawatha Agee

Album: Welcome to My Dream

Year Released: 1987

Genre: Soul

Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1954

Did you know? Tawatha Agee, best known as the lead singer of funk and soul band Mtume, is a prolific session vocalist and background singer and was featured on the Disney animated Hercules soundtrack from 1997 as a singing voice of one of the muses

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “All the Will in the World”

Artist: Candy Apple Blue

Album: Single Release

Year Released: 2022

Genre: Synthpop

Local Connection: Duo formed in Pittsburgh in 2010

Did you know? Candy Apple Blue are siblings Hoyt & Carly Emerick who got their musical start composing songs for the NYC based electronic band, The Inertia Case

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “I Really Love You”

Artist: The Stereos

Album: Single Release

Year Released: 1961

Genre: Doo-Wop

Local Connection: Band formed in Steubenville, OH in 1959

Did you know? George Harrison covered “I Really Love You” for his 1982 album Gone Troppo

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “Speak : Not Speak”

Artist: Eternal Sleep

Album: Dead Like Me

Year Released: 2013

Genre: Doom Metal

Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 2012

Did you know? Eternal Sleep have toured seemingly constantly since their inception, sharing the stage with Misfits, Bane, and Harms Way among many

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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SMiley inUSA is the electronica project from Pittsburgh artist Ben Smiley, creating music with new and different rhythms. A drummer himself, his ambient songs are taking music to a new level as he creates tunes that are their own plane of existence. His latest release from earlier this month, Choose Compassion Instead of Battle, is available on all musical platforms. I want to thank Ben for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

 

The first album you ever bought?
Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain was an influential album for me. My dad actually got it for me. The long trumpet sounds over the beautiful textural backdrop of sunsets and Spain was deeply moving. It helped shaped what I really like doing with music, creating new worlds.

Your last album bought?
Hiromi – Alive. There is some amazing themes in this one. The title track is one of my favorite with the crazy fast rhythms, and multiple parts. The fusion of rock and jazz is amazing and always makes me feel like this is the future of music.

Favorite album of all time?
Ooh… the hardest question there is. I definitely have one favorite in each genre. I can narrow it down to two. Junta from Phish, since it is their first album it is a great collection of amazing live pieces, with a huge variety of genres and parts, plus fun and comedy like on the song “Fee”. Second Koln Concert by Keith Jarrett. Learning to improvise from nothing has always been a basic tenant of how I make music and this most popular selling piano album is the apex of that one full album of improvised tracks.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Can I decline to answer? Music is personal in a lot of ways and I feel like everyone likes something different. So therefore labeling it as worst or disappointing belittles the attempt the artist made. Just because I am not their target audience doesn’t mean there isn’t someone who likes it.

First concert attended?
I got wrangled into playing a battle of the bands, I had just started playing congas and the band needed some extra percussion, so they got me and two of my friends to join last minute. We played the “Starship Troopers” last movement from Yes and “Eyes of the World” from the Grateful Dead. It turned out great from having no experience and the audience loved it. Unfortunately, we didn’t win.

Last concert?
Phish in Pittsburgh, always great although nosebleed seats suck. It was great to see them live. They jammed out a bunch of songs to a great length and found new and interesting ways to engage the audience through both music and light shows.

Favorite concert ever?
Maybe not my favorite but a great one was when I saw Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in Maryland. The amazing musicianship and the way the bass bounced of all the walls made this a concert to remember, not only that but they got to play with a bunch of great jam bands.

Least favorite concert?
Woodstock 2000 a total cash grab. We actually ended up going because my friend was trying to find his dog. We arrived at five in the morning, on the second day, there was no one awake so we just walked in through the medical bay on to the main stage. The bands there were great but it definitely wasn’t a peace and love feel. Also, it was a heat wave on concrete and they started charging like 12 bucks for a bottle of water people were dying from the heat and generally not interested in the bands. Really only the headliners kept people going. Also we didn’t find the dog. 🙁

Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
In general people are friendly in Pittsburgh, that is what I like most about this place. I feel like if everyone can learn from what Mister Rogers taught that we should all care about each other and lift each other up our town will only grow with love.

 

Thanks, Ben. I believe this is the first time someone’s first concert that they ever attended they actually performed.

 

 

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Song: “Clan in Da Front (feat. RZA & GZA)”

Artist: RZA (Wu-Tang Clan)

Album: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Year Released: 1993

Genre: Hardcore Hip-Hop

Local Connection: RZA moved to Steubenville, Ohio in 1990 to live with his mother. He spent weekends in Pittsburgh, where his father ran a convenience store

Did you know? RZA is known for having multiple aliases, for different lyrical styles and personalities: Prince Rakeem, The Abbot, Bobby Digital, Bobby Steels, the Scientist, Prince Delight, Prince Dynamite, Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah, and RZArector

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “Revolution”

Artist: Stacia Vonne

Album: Single Release

Year Released: 2021

Genre: Concious R&B

Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 2001

Did you know? Stacia Vonne is a singer, song-writer, dancer, photographer, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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Song: “To Be With You”

Artist: Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big)

Album: Lean Into It

Year Released: 1991

Genre: Glam Metal

Local Connection: Lead guitarist Paul Gilbert was born in Carbondale, Illinois in 1966 and moved to Greensburg at age two

Did you know? Mr. Big is frequently cited as an example of the “Big in Japan” phenomenon, where a musical act is disproportionately more popular in Japan compared to similar groups

PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music

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