Pittsburgh's illustrious musical history (Washington, Taylor: homes, school, to live)

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by wpipkins2

My brother was a local poet and hip hip artist if that counts. He also plays the cello. He was recently showcased in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/pin...OS3WUZMZRBO4Q/

My mom made me play the cello. It lasted almost a year until it "accidentally" broke when it got slammed in my front door.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by guy2073

My mom made me play the cello. It lasted almost a year until it "accidentally" broke when it got slammed in my front door.

My brother lived in a artist loft community atop of the Dance Alloy in Garfield / Friendship. His neighbor a local cellist by the name Barrett Black was my brothers inspiration. Black played the cello in unconventional ways and it was dope in a rock star type of way. Black sparked my brothers interests. He learned the cello and made a puppet that actually plays the cello!!!

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by wpipkins2

My brother lived in a artist loft community atop of the Dance Alloy in Garfield / Friendship. His neighbor a local cellist by the name Barrett Black was my brothers inspiration. Black played the cello in unconventional ways and it was dope in a rock star type of way. Black sparked my brothers interests. He learned the cello and made a puppet that actually plays the cello!!!

Your brother sounds like an amazing man. My love of the cello never existed, i wanted to play the saxophone but my mom had other ideas.

[BUILD PENN SQUARE]

dedicating this thread to the coolest dude ever to graduate from my high school

chris frantz - co-founder and drummer for TALKING HEADS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Frantz

"Born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Charlton Christopher Frantz graduated from Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied in the early 1970s at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he met both David Byrne and Tina Weymouth. Byrne and Frantz formed a band called the Artistics, which went on to become Talking Heads, in 1973. Weymouth, then Frantz's girlfriend, joined the band in 1975 after they had moved to New York City. Frantz and Weymouth were married in 1977 and have two sons."

52 million views

Once in a Lifetime


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IsSpAOD6K8

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_i...ing_Heads_song)

"Once in a Lifetime" was certified gold in the UK in 2021. A live version, taken from the 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense, charted in 1986 on the Billboard Hot 100. NPR named "Once in a Lifetime" one of the 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame lists it as one of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll", and Rolling Stone ranked it at number 27 on its 2021 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

[BUILD PENN SQUARE]

let's not forget - andy warhol helped produce (promote/manage) the first VELVET UNDERGROUND album

The Velvet Underground & Nico

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ve...round_%26_Nico

"The Velvet Underground & Nico was recorded with the first professional line-up of the Velvet Underground: Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker. At the instigation of their mentor and manager Andy Warhol, and his collaborator Paul Morrissey, German singer Nico was also featured; she had occasionally performed lead vocals for the band.

Velvet Underground & Nico was recorded with the first professional line-up of the Velvet Underground: Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker. At the instigation of their mentor and manager Andy Warhol, and his collaborator Paul Morrissey, German singer Nico was also featured; she had occasionally performed lead vocals for the band. She sang lead on three of the album's tracks—"Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "I'll Be Your Mirror"—and back-up on "Sunday Morning". In 1966, as the album was being recorded, this was also the line-up for their live performances as a part of Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable.

The bulk of the songs that would become The Velvet Underground & Nico were recorded in mid-April 1966, during a four-day stint at Scepter Studios, a run-down recording studio in Manhattan. This recording session was financed by Warhol and Columbia Records' sales executive Norman Dolph, who also acted as an engineer with John Licata. Though the exact total cost of the project is unknown, estimates vary from $1,500 (US$12,528 in 2021 dollars) to $3,000 (US$25,055 in 2021 dollars)."

The V̲e̲lvet Unde̲rgro̲und & N̲ico Full Album 1967


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxA3jPaftok

[svband76]

Just heard this gem for the first time in a long time. Forgot how much I love this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH7UIfiO48U

Solidifies George Benson as #1 -- he could do it all. Such a sweet clear expressive voice as well.

[wpipkins2]

Pittsburgh's Black Music Festival was held over the weekend. The Saturday lineup included a musical tribute to Pittsburgh native Phyllis Hyman. Etta Cox along with other local singers performed her greatest hits with a live band. The festival was epic and showcased all genres of black music.

[svband76]

Originally Posted by BUILD PENN SQUARE

dedicating this thread to the coolest dude ever to graduate from my high school

chris frantz - co-founder and drummer for TALKING HEADS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Frantz

"Born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Charlton Christopher Frantz graduated from Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied in the early 1970s at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he met both David Byrne and Tina Weymouth. Byrne and Frantz formed a band called the Artistics, which went on to become Talking Heads, in 1973. Weymouth, then Frantz's girlfriend, joined the band in 1975 after they had moved to New York City. Frantz and Weymouth were married in 1977 and have two sons."
".

I recall one late afternoon in the early 2000s, waiting for a PAT bus on Smithfield Street when I notice a skinny guy looking lost with a silver spaceship type helmet riding a bicycle in the bus lane. Looking almost like David Byrne.

Sure enough I later discovered he was in town for a show. And his bike riding escapades were the basis on a book he later wrote. Quite a funny scene that day. He looked so clueless.

[cat1116]

Originally Posted by RetireinPA

Donnie Iris (we actually know him), the Granati brothers, B E Taylor (his christmas shows at the scottish rites were stellar), Grushecky(with and without the houserockers), Norm Nardini (with and without Tigers), Rick witkowski...and of course...the clarks.

Someone got me interested in the Iron City Houserockers many years ago. I may have one of their records. Do they still play together locally?

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by cat1116

Someone got me interested in the Iron City Houserockers many years ago. I may have one of their records. Do they still play together locally?

They just played at the music fest in the north side last month