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Song: “Congalegre”
Artist: Horace Parlan
Album: Headin’ South
Year Released: 1961
Genre: Post-Bop Jazz
Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1931
Did you know? Horace Parlan was stricken with polio as an infant, resulting in the partial crippling of his right hand. The handicap contributed to his development of a particularly “pungent” left-hand chord voicing style on piano, while comping with highly rhythmic phrases with the right
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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Song: “River’s Rising”
Artist: Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon)
Album: Euphoria
Year Released: 1997
Genre: Slamgrass
Local Connection: Lead singer-songwriter Vince Herman was born in Pittsburgh in 1962 and graduated from Carlynton High School
Did you know? In 2012, Leftover Salmon is the featured “house band” at the Whales Tail Bar in Breckenridge, Colorado on the Deadliest Catch – After the Catch episodes
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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Song: “Transfusion”
Artist: Walt Harper Quintet
Album: Harper’s Ferry
Year Released: 1962
Genre: Jazz
Local Connection: Born in Pittsburgh in 1926
Did you know? In the 1970s, Walt Harper and his band were hired by the owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the house band to play at all home games, and they did so until 2002
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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Song: “Loosening Up the Queen”
Artist: Guy Klucevsek
Album: Flying Vegetables of the Apocalypse
Year Released: 1990
Genre: Improvisation
Local Connection: Raised in Pittsburgh in the 1960’s
Did you know? Guy Klucevsek is one of relatively few accordion players active in new music, jazz and free improvisation
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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Song: “Paper Machete”
Artist: The Real Sea
Album: Single Release
Year Released: 2021
Genre: Dream Pop
Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 2019
Did you know? The Real Sea got their band name when guitarist Chris James referenced a Sylvia Plath poem called ‘Two Lovers and a Beachcomber by the Real Sea’
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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Song: “Psycho”
Artist: The Swamp Rats
Album: Single Release
Year Released: 1966
Genre: Garage Rock
Local Connection: Band formed in Pittsburgh in 1966
Did you know? In 2007, The Swamp Rat’s song “I’m Going Home” would be sampled by the band Black Lips for their song “Veni Vidi Vici” on their album Good Bad Not Evil
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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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 is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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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 is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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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 Douglas Show at the age of five
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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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
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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 own weekly radio series
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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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 with Deadheads outside of the arena after ticketless fans tried to get into the show
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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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
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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
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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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 is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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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
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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
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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 season beginning March 25th, 2022 with the production of The Pirates of Penzance at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie, PA. I want to thank cast member Catherine Coco (flute/piano/voice) who will be playing one of the Major-General’s daughters in the show for taking the time to participate in this edition of First/Last.
The first album you ever bought?
The Beatles, (While Album.)
Your last album bought?
I don’t buy albums anymore; instead, I subscribe to Spotify. The last album that I downloaded, Bach: The Art of Life.
Favorite album of all time?
Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin Hush.
Least favorite/most disappointing album?
I don’t usually remember albums I don’t like.
First concert attended?
James Taylor was the first non-classical concert I attended. But my first memory of a jazz concert was a hazy scene from childhood, filled with love and joy. I remember sitting on Daddy’s knee while he bounced me to the beat! From that day forward I was a musician.
Last concert?
Princess Ida, Pittsburgh Savoyards. I didn’t perform in that show, as I was concerned about COVID-19. But I’m back with them this spring.
Favorite concert ever?
Yikes! I’ve seen some historic performances but one that sticks out is Roger Waters with Lucius at the Newport Folk Festival a few years back. A sun shower came down in the middle of the set. It was surreal. Also, Marlon Williams at Newport. He was like a young Elvis Presley.
Least favorite concert?
I simply forgot any concert I don’t enjoy. I never let negative energy cloud my mind.
Favorite thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
The arts community in Pittsburgh is the warmest, most welcoming scene I’ve encountered… and I have worked all up and down the East Coast! The following anecdote proves my point. When my husband and I moved to Pittsburgh in 2018, we lived in an apartment. I’m a music teacher, and I taught online only due to COVID-19. Well, we were flabbergasted when the management sent us a letter threatening to not renew our lease unless I stopped working! I posted my sad story on Facebook. Before I knew it, my new Pittsburgh community (friends I had met from performing) went to work. Susan Medley, Bryan Sable, and Sarah Drinkwater got together and found us a beautiful house to buy at a reasonable price, right next door to Bryan! I often well up with tears when I think of their kindness. This sort of stuff is just normal for yinzers, unlike people in Philadelphia, Raleigh, or NYC.
Thanks, Catherine. That is one great story about community coming together to help each other out, especially in these crazy times. I was surprised to even learn about your group and that it was founded in 1938 and still going! Amazing.
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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 study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology but she was disillusioned by the teachers and dropped out immediately to design on her own. She designed and sold eccentric disco-inspired clothes to people she met at nightclubs
PittSongs is a non-chronological history of Pittsburgh music
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