2019 Songwriters Hall class: Missy, Cat Stevens, John Prine
NEW YORK — Missy Elliott is making history as the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, whose 2019 class also includes legendary British singer Cat Stevens and country-folk icon John Prine. The organization announced the new group of inductees Saturday. Other inductees include Tom T. Hall,...
Lawyer: R. Kelly denies all sexual misconduct allegations
CHICAGO — An attorney for R. Kelly said Friday that the R&B star denies all allegations of sexual misconduct involving women and underage girls, including those made in a recent documentary, although he says neither he nor Kelly has watched the entire movie. Attorney Steve Greenberg offered his most full-throated...
Navy band will host live webcast of ‘Jazz Origins’ performance
The United States Navy Band Commodores jazz ensemble, which marks its 50th anniversary in 2019, will present “Jazz Origins,” the second episode of the band’s “Origins” series in a live webcast on Jan. 22. A jazz combo will explore multiple styles including ragtime, Harlem stride, blues, second-line, Dixieland and others...
JazzLive series will mark 15 years with all-star jam session
The BNY Mellon Presents JazzLive series will celebrate its 15th year of presenting jazz performances in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District with a Jan. 15 all-star jam session. Led by legendary drummer Roger Humphries and RH Factor, the event is set for 7-10 p.m. in the Greer Cabaret Theater, 655 Penn Ave....
WDVE’s Sean McDowell is still rockin’ the airwaves after 4 decades
WDVE disc jockey Sean McDowell put on Don McLean’s “American Pie,” an 8-minute-and-33-second tune, thinking there was plenty of time to get to the men’s room and back. Well, McDowell got locked inside the bathroom. The year was 1986 and he was working on a Saturday, back in the days...
Lady Gaga apologizes for R. Kelly collaboration
NEW YORK — Lady Gaga is sorry for her 2013 duet with R. Kelly in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against the singer, and she intends to remove the song from streaming services. Posting on Twitter Wednesday, Gaga wrote she had collaborated with Kelly on “Do What U Want...
‘Baby Shark’ debuts at No. 32 on Billboard chartVideo
“Baby shark … doo doo doo doo doo doo.” “Mommy shark … doo doo doo doo doo doo.” “Daddy shark … doo doo doo doo doo doo.” Now that I have your attention … that quirky earworm has landed a spot on the Billboard Top 100. Pinkfong’s “Baby Shark” debuts...
Pittsburgh Symphony presents the brilliance of Rachmaninoff
The power of positive suggestion can be profound. It enabled Sergei Rachmaninoff to compose one of his most successful masterpieces, one that headlines the next weekend of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra subscription concerts. The Russian composer was depressed and apathetic for more than a year after the failure of his First...
Bluegrass pickers converge on Butler for annual January Ice Jam festivalVideo
For the past 21 years, the second weekend of January has meant one thing to western Pennsylvania bluegrass fans. It meant a pilgrimage to Butler for the annual January Ice Jam, where 25 bluegrass bands from the region will gather along with thousands of fans and fellow pickers at the...
Wiz Khalifa set to return to Pittsburgh’s Stage AE
Wiz Khalifa will be back in Pittsburgh for a March 2 indoor show at Stage AE on the North Shore. Also appearing will be Curren$y, an original member of Young Money Entertainment, a label founded by Lil Wayne. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 11 at ticketmaster.com. Pittsburghers...
Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy to play Carnegie Lecture Hall of OaklandVideo
Tickets go on sale at 7 p.m. Jan. 11 for an April 4 show by Jeff Tweedy in the Carnegie Lecture Hall of Oakland. Buck Meek will be the special guest for the concert by the Wilco frontman, who is touring in support of “Warm,” his first solo album of...
Cardi B leads iHeartRadio Awards with 13 nods, Drake gets 8
NEW YORK — Cardi B has 13 reasons to celebrate: She’s nominated for 13 honors at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards. IHeartMedia announced Wednesday that the rapper is the most nominated act, competing for honors such as song of the year for “Girls Like You” with Maroon 5 and female...
Jeff Goldblum adds second show to Carnegie music hall jazz gigVideo
A second show has been added to West Homestead native Jeff Goldblum’s Feb. 14 jazz gig in the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall. Due to demand for tickets, a 9:45 show has been added to the 7 p.m. show that will find Goldblum at the piano with his...
Childish Gambino, Post Malone, Cardi B to play Bonnaroo
NASHVILLE — The 2019 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will feature Childish Gambino, Post Malone, Cardi B, the Lumineers and multiple sets from Phish. The lineup was released Tuesday for the June 13-16 outdoor music festival held annually in Manchester, Tenn. Other top acts include Solange, The Grand Ole Opry,...
Bluegrass group incorporates Jewish heritage, will play free concert this weekendVideo
Like so many people around the world, Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff were floored by the news of the fatal attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. The husband and wife, who form the core of bluegrass band Nefesh Mountain, responded the only way they knew. “It really,...
Backstreet Boys tease ‘DNA World Tour’ with new video release
In advance of the Backstreet Boys beginning their “DNA World Tour,” their biggest arena tour in 18 years, including a stop at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on Sept. 14, the band has released a new track and video from the “DNA” album. “No Place” is among the songs included on...
