Homecoming: Branford Marsalis new artistic director at New Orleans music center named for his father
NEW ORLEANS — Branford Marsalis, the jazz saxophonist and composer acclaimed for his movie scores, Grammy-winning recordings and his stint as the leader of The Tonight Show band, is taking on the role of educator in a return to his hometown of New Orleans. Marsalis was named Tuesday as the...
Rock band critical of Putin is detained in Thailand, fearful of deportation to Russia
BANGKOK — Members of a rock band that has been critical of Moscow’s war in Ukraine remained locked up Tuesday in a Thai immigration jail, fearful they could be deported to Russia as a reported plan to let them fly to safety in Israel was apparently suspended. The progressive rock...
Chita Rivera, revered and pioneering Tony-winning dancer and singer, dies at 91Video
NEW YORK — Chita Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists and shrugged off a near-fatal car accident, died Tuesday. She was 91. Rivera’s death was announced by her daughter, Lisa...
Elton John and Bernie Taupin to receive the 2024 Gershwin Prize for pop music
NEW YORK — The songwriters who gave us “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer” and “Rocket Man” will add to their stuffed awards shelf later this year when Elton John and Bernie Taupin are awarded the Gershwin Prize. The Library of Congress said Tuesday that songwriter-performer John and lyricist Taupin will receive...
Banding together: Hampton grad, dad perform side by side in Altered Egos
One of people’s most common fears is public speaking. For folks who have such an aversion, try to imagine public singing. As a member of the band the Altered Egos, Hampton High School graduate Ann Hodos frequently treats audiences to her vocal talents. But she’ll admit to some trepidation as...
Heart, with Cheap Trick, coming to Pittsburgh this springVideo
After a five-year break from the road, Heart is heading out on another tour. The 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, known for songs like “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You” and “Magic Man,” are bringing their Royal Flush tour to Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on May 23. Heart —...
Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper bringing Freaks on Parade tour to Star LakeVideo
Two rock icons who rely heavily on horror imagery will visit the Pittsburgh region this summer. Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper are continuing their Freaks on Parade tour with a stop on Sept. 3 at the Pavilion at Star Lake. They’ll be joined by industrial metal stalwarts Ministry, as well...
Madonna, Drake highlight February’s top Pittsburgh concerts
The Material Girl and Champagne Papi headline February’s biggest shows in Pittsburgh. Madonna is set for a concert rescheduled from August, while Drake visits for two nights of shows. Here’s a look at the most notable shows coming to the area this month: Top shows Feb. 5: Madonna at PPG...
Packed house sings along to Three Dog Night hits at Carnegie HomesteadVideo
A band with a serendipitously catchy name spotlighting its three lead vocalists once dominated American radio. Three Dog Night scored 21 consecutive Top 40 hits during half a decade starting in 1969, reaching an apex of sorts when Billboard magazine named “Joy to the World” as the No. 1 pop...
Melanie, singer-songwriter of ‘Brand New Key’ and other ’70s hits, dies at 76Video
Melanie, the singer-songwriter who rose through the New York folk scene, performed at Woodstock and had a series of 1970s hits including the enduring cultural phenomenon “Brand New Key,” has died. Her publicist Billy James told The Associated Press that Melanie died Tuesday. She was 76 and lived in central...
Superstar ’80s musician Dave Stewart mounts 1st North American tour in 25 years
Eurythmics fans have long hoped that the iconic ’80s modern pop duo — consisting of supremely talented vocalist Annie Lennox and acclaimed musician Dave Stewart — might one day reunite and mount a major tour. But that’s probably not in the cards, says Stewart, for the band that produced such...
Billy Idol talks upcoming pre-Super Bowl show, recent Hoover Dam performance, working on a new album
LOS ANGELES — Billy Idol normally takes advantage of riding his motorcycle on the open road knowing there’s hardly any traffic because millions are usually glued to watching the Super Bowl. But this year, Idol’s bike won’t be leaving his garage on game day. Instead, the legendary British rocker will...
Man arrested outside Taylor Swift’s Manhattan townhouse reportedly spotted there about 30 times
NEW YORK — A man charged with stalking and harassment after his arrest near singer Taylor Swift’s Manhattan townhouse had been spotted there dozens of times in the past two months and was repeatedly asked to leave, according to court documents released Wednesday. David Crowe, 33, of Seattle was taken...
Changing stations: Val Porter moves from WDVE to 3WS radio
Those listening to 3WS Tuesday morning probably heard a familiar voice from another station. Val Porter, formerly of the WDVE Morning Show, announced Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she was joining iHeart Radio’s 3WS Morning Show with Jonny Hartwell. A call to the iHeart Media office, which...
Billy Joel to release 1st pop single in over 30 years
NEW YORK — Billy Joel is in a new music state of mind. The piano-playing legend from Long Island is set to release his first new pop single in 30 years next week, he hinted Monday, previewing the song with a brief teaser he published on social media. In 2007,...
Doobie Brothers heading to Star Lake this summerVideo
The Doobie Brothers are takin’ it to the streets this summer, including a show in the Pittsburgh area. The band, which features Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and John McFee, will play the Pavilion at Star Lake on Aug. 20. Known for songs like “Black Water,” “China Grove,” “Listen...
Mary Weiss, lead singer of the Shangri-Las, dies at 75Video
Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “Leader of the Pack,” has died. She was 75. Miriam Linna, founder of Weiss’ label, Norton Records, said Sunday that Weiss died Friday in Palm Springs, Calif. No cause of death was given. Rolling Stone...
Creed Bratton delivers stellar mix of music, ‘The Office’Video
Conventional wisdom holds that there are two Creed Brattons. One is the musician in the 1960s Top-40 band the Grass Roots, which he left because he felt that music-industry management practices of the time — with the amount of money involved, they probably still do — tended to stifle artistic...
Ariana Grande announces new album, ‘eternal sunshine,’ set to arrive in March
Ariana Grande announced Wednesday that her new album, “eternal sunshine,” is set for release on March 8. On Friday, Grande released her first single from “eternal sunshine,” a house-informed pop kiss-off to the haters, “yes, and?” News of the album first broke Dec. 27, when the two-time Grammy award winner...
‘Not rock ‘n’ roll’s little sister’: Inside country music’s new golden era — and what comes next
LOS ANGELES — It was an unexpected musical success story last year, one that has only continued to snowball: Country music, with its loyal listenership on the margins of pop’s mainstream, had a crossover moment. Some of the biggest albums and songs of the year are credited to country musicians...
Grammys 2024: From how to watch the music-filled show to who’s nominated, here’s what to know
LOS ANGELES — The 2024 Grammy Awards are fast approaching — and it is never too early to plan your viewing experience. The 66th annual Grammy Awards will take place Sunday, Feb. 4, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Most of the awards are handed out before that during...
Steely Dan, R.E.M., Timbaland, Hillary Lindsey and Dean Pitchford get into Songwriters Hall of Fame
NEW YORK — Steely Dan, R.E.M., Timbaland, Hillary Lindsey and Dean Pitchford will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, an incoming class of musicians who have scaled the heights of country, classic rock, pop, hip-hop and alt-rock. Steely Dan — co-founded by Donald Fagan and the late Walter...
Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire coming to Pittsburgh this summerVideo
It’s been almost 40 years since Pittsburgh music fans could go all night long with Lionel Richie. That’ll be resolved June 16, when the multiple Grammy winner brings his Sing a Song All Night Long tour to PPG Paints Arena, accompanied by Earth, Wind & Fire. Richie last played Pittsburgh...
From Green Day’s ‘Dookie’ to Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Ready to Die,’ these albums turn 30 in 2024
ANAHEIM, Calif. — There was something special going on in 1994. It was a year of numerous noteworthy debut album releases and mainstream breakthrough records for several acts. This period in time was particularly huge for Southern California acts. Garden Grove punk outfit the Offspring and Los Angeles punks NOFX...
Pittsburghers, punk fans celebrate Erik Bauer’s book documenting 25 years of shows
The crowd that packed a Point Breeze bookshop Friday to celebrate a book release by Pittsburgh-bred photographer Erik Bauer could’ve been pulled right out of a 1981 punk show at Oakland’s now-shuttered Electric Banana. Or cheering on The Bats, a local post-punk outfit led in May ‘84 by Pulitzer Prize-winning...
